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Panel warns Tricare in ‘death spiral’ (Different than Husseincare's death panels)
Stars & Stripes ^ | 2/11/15 | Travis J. Tritten

Posted on 02/12/2015 5:51:48 PM PST by Libloather

WASHINGTON — The military’s Tricare health insurance is a broken system that is now in a “death spiral” and must be replaced, a congressional review commission told the House on Wednesday.

The insurance has been veering toward less choice and access since it was created and now falls far behind other networks in its number of providers and ability to incorporate new types of medical care, members of the Military Retirement and Compensation Modernization Commission testified before an Armed Services subcommittee.

The testimony is the beginning of hearings on Capitol Hill so lawmakers can consider legislation to overhaul the health coverage, troop retirement system and other compensation that the Pentagon says is growing too expensive to sustain. The Senate has also planned a series of subcommittee hearings to weigh a number of the commission recommendations, including a complete restructuring of 20-year military retirement system.

(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: death; military; spiral; tricare
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Commission member Stephen Buyer warned House lawmakers that the Pentagon and contractors will likely try to persuade them the Tricare system is not in trouble and they should not believe the claims.

Well, it is or it isn't.

1 posted on 02/12/2015 5:51:48 PM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

The whole country is broke.
Now we can argue over which parts will/should collapse first (Medicare, Tricare, VA, SocSec, etc) but the fundamental problem is insolvency.
The rest is just apportioning the pain.


2 posted on 02/12/2015 5:54:08 PM PST by nascarnation (Impeach, convict, deport)
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To: Libloather

Tri Care Pays Physicians and Hospitals less than Medicare.


3 posted on 02/12/2015 5:57:45 PM PST by therut
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To: Libloather

Obama and the Dems keep trying to destroy it.


4 posted on 02/12/2015 5:58:47 PM PST by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same.)
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To: Libloather
The military’s Tricare health insurance is a broken system that is now in a “death spiral” and must be replaced

How come I never hear these same words used about EBT, SNAP, Section 8, SSI, the Immigration System, Affirmative Action,...?

5 posted on 02/12/2015 5:59:36 PM PST by Gritty (Islam is not a peaceful religion. It never has been. It never will be .- Franklin Graham)
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To: Libloather

Sorry Fellow Vets -

The money is needed to provide free healthcare, food stamps, social security, college and EITC tax refunds to illegal aliens.


6 posted on 02/12/2015 6:06:38 PM PST by Iron Munro
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To: Libloather

Yep, they’re too close to Exempt status, so they’re going to try to slap them with Body Mortgage Exchanges also.

The new MBS, leveraged to any amounts, to any forced deductibles, any forced premiums, any forced coercion taxation, any forced account seizures. The selling and trafficking in Human Body Mortgages


7 posted on 02/12/2015 6:12:48 PM PST by Varsity Flight (Extortion-Care is is the Government Work-Camp: Arbeitsziehungslager)
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To: Libloather

Ah yes - death panels - so wife had to go to doctor the other day - Medicare suddenly decided it wasn’t going to pay any longer for topical pain patches wife has been using successfully for back pain for six years - because the pain was coming as a residual of a fractured spine and not diabetes or shingles - now wife has to try, without much success so far, new narcotic pain patches - wife remarked to doc that the government has to save money because they stole funds from Medicare to help pay for Obamacare - doc sneered “Obamacare is horrible, terrible, it stinks - people come in here and they hate it - they can;t afford it because of the high deductibles” - as for Medicare, “I think they’re trying to kill people”, she said - Sarah was right.......


8 posted on 02/12/2015 6:14:12 PM PST by Intolerant in NJ
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To: Intolerant in NJ

My old Doctor that I had in California had nothing but terrible things to say about Obamacare. I think he has retired now.

I hope the new patch works for your wife.


9 posted on 02/12/2015 6:18:16 PM PST by funfan
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To: Libloather

Funny, I haven’t noticed any problems.

What they really want us to do is buy insurance through Obamacare.


10 posted on 02/12/2015 6:18:46 PM PST by rbg81
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To: Intolerant in NJ; funfan

when Obamacare first reared its ugly head our doctor quipped “it will be good for you and good for me” . I wonder how he feels now.

I am not going to ask him.


11 posted on 02/12/2015 6:22:47 PM PST by Ditter
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To: All

They tested a program back in 2010 and it was great but the staff was overwhelmed. We went through three primary care docs in two years because they kept trying to squeeze more patients into the program. This was the basis for obamacare and it eventually returned to the clinic style. I give tricare five years before it becomes Medicare. It’s pretty much just a medicine dispensary anyway.


12 posted on 02/12/2015 6:24:58 PM PST by newnhdad (Our new motto: USA, it was fun while it lasted.)
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To: Ditter

Wow. Well I guess you know who he voted for if he voted.


13 posted on 02/12/2015 6:29:30 PM PST by funfan
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To: Libloather; blueyon; KitJ; T Minus Four; xzins; CMS; The Sailor; ab01; txradioguy; Jet Jaguar; ...

Active Duty/Retiree ping.


14 posted on 02/12/2015 6:30:58 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
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To: Libloather

I have Tricare and I love it. Claims are paid quickly. I am very satisfied.


15 posted on 02/12/2015 6:33:06 PM PST by ozaukeemom (Is there even a republic left?)
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To: funfan

Yep!


16 posted on 02/12/2015 6:34:49 PM PST by Ditter
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To: Libloather
I've not had a problem.

I have had the same primary care Doc for nearly 25 years, since I retired.

So has my wife.

Both physicians appear to very happy with the arrangement.

The premiums have slowly crept upward, but I'm not going to complain about that, since it is less than $45.00 per month, with a $12.00 co-pay and $25.00 hospital fee.

The drug fees are beyond my comprehension, with some new rule or something coming out nearly every other day.

One month, I pay .82 cents for 4 antibiotics for a dental visit (I'm a "medicate for life", due to knee replacement), the next time it's $4.80.

Express Scripts sometimes sends my meds and my wife's free, sometimes they charge.

But in comparison to what others around me are paying, I am truly blessed.

I go to Medicare with Tricare for Life this year and my copays go away completely, as does a premium for Tricare for me. My wife's goes to something like $215.00 per year.

I do have to start paying the $110.00 a month or whatever the amount is for Medicare.

I have never been turned down at any hospital or in any doctor's office.

Every referral made by my primary care Doc has been accepted and treatment was first class.

Other than the damned politicians threatening on an almost daily basis to take it away, I have no problem with Tricare.

I must say that I was promised FREE medical care for me and my family for life, if I gave them at least 20 years of my life.

I kept up my side of that bargain...they have not quite lived up to their side of it, although what they have charged me for it has not been a deal breaker, compared to what the rest of the public is paying.

So, all in all and all things considered, I can't really complain.

17 posted on 02/12/2015 6:48:29 PM PST by OldSmaj (obama is a worthless mohametan. Impeach his ass now!)
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To: Libloather

Walgreens will not sign a contract with Tricare because they would lose too much money filling the prescriptions.


18 posted on 02/12/2015 6:49:25 PM PST by yawningotter
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To: therut
"Tri Care Pays Physicians and Hospitals less than Medicare."

You are so right. My wife recently needed a MRI for a spinal issue. The local hospital, 3 miles from our home does not accept TRICARE. (Read "Not in the so called Network") We had to drive 85 miles to a facility in another state for an MRI. I am not really complaining as we did get the care the Government promised me and family after 30 years service. I am retired. However, it was a major unnecessary inconvenience to say the least especially one with a major spinal problem driving 170 miles round trip.

19 posted on 02/12/2015 6:51:32 PM PST by mosaicwolf (Strength and Honor)
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To: OldSmaj

I’m retired & on Tricare. I’ve seen a doctor one time in the last 3 years. The visit lasted 2 minutes, tops. He asked me one question. The PA who used to handle my stuff left and was not replaced, so they now outsource me to whoever is willing to take almost no pay. I reckon I’d better stay healthy, because I’m screwed if I get sick.


20 posted on 02/12/2015 6:52:27 PM PST by Mr Rogers (Can you remember what America was like in 2004?)
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