Lawmakers Open to Changes in Military Benefits

According to the numbers, the cost of military healthcare has skyrocketed in the past ten years, and now politicians are hinting at changes to the budget.

WASHINGTON — The government's promise of lifetime health care for the military's men and women is suddenly a little less sacrosanct as Congress looks for ways to slash trillion-dollar-plus deficits. Republicans and Democrats are signaling a willingness to make military retirees pay more for coverage. It's a reflection of Washington's fiscal austerity and the Pentagon's push to cut health care costs that have skyrocketed from $19 billion in 2001 to $53 billion.

I've never heard good things about the healthcare that's provided to our military, but the servicemen and women are ready to fight the cut of a more than doubled budget.

Veterans groups are mobilizing to fight any changes. They argue that Americans who were willing to die for their country should be treated differently than the average worker. Lawmakers are sympathetic to that argument but many are unmoved by it.

source

I know that most of my family is technically eligible for the free healthcare, but we've never elected to take advantage of it. Military healthcare isn't very good. Is this inflated spending in that area a reflection of the country? Reflection of the fact that people no longer have the luxury to pass up that free health care like they once did?

TRICARE would be a $200 annual premium.

I pay more than that in a month.

No offense, but serving in the military does not make you more deserving than any other person. If I'm going to choose someone to give charity to it's going to be the elderly, the disabled, not fully functioning bodies that can work and pay for their own insurance.

They should make them pay something for their health care so they will understand how hard it is for civilians to deal with and maybe the military wouldn't be quite as republican as it is now. I did enjoy not paying for health care while I was in the Navy, but I think it would be better for the country if they had to share some of the pain.

reply to post by CB328


The military used to be democrat. All three of the servicemen in my family are democrat.

There are already changes in health benefits. The cost of Tricare has increased for anyone registering after Oct 1st. For people registered before this date they will see an increase in their yearly costs next year.


Additionally, there will be prescription co-pays for dependents and anyone who is no longer active duty. Personally, I think the change is great. Too many Tricare patients present for the stupidest reasons.

It has been two generations since anyone in my family has served. However, I would fight to keep military benefits. And, the military is more deserving of free healthcare than anybody else, since you know, they put their health at risk for the country. It isn't the fault of the men and women in uniform if their work has been abused the last decade or so; they are following orders and risking their lives at the command of the very people who are now open to seeing their benefits cut.

This is pathetic. And, it's stupid. Rule number one of any empire is pay the troops and pay them well.

They think there is dissent in this country now? Screw over the military. That will bring things to a head pretty quickly.

Plus, it's just wrong.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


Thousands of Vietnam veterans are signing up for health benefits in the past few years. Because they have lost their jobs, their homes, their retirements they are finally turning to the government that promised healthcare after they forced them into war. Now because the cost is too much they want to cut it off? Pathetic. We would have no problem maintaining our domestic responsibilities if we stopped funding the world and policing other nations. How about we start overseas cuts before cutting off our most needy citizens from any help? How about we convert our military to mainly doctors and health professionals, educators, and bring them all home. Our problems are that we have been engaged in war almost my entire lifetime. Bring the troops home and their will be far fewer on veteran healthcare in 30 years.

Originally posted by watcher3339
It has been two generations since anyone in my family has served. However, I would fight to keep military benefits. And, the military is more deserving of free healthcare than anybody else, since you know, they put their health at risk for the country. It isn't the fault of the men and women in uniform if their work has been abused the last decade or so; they are following orders and risking their lives at the command of the very people who are now open to seeing their benefits cut.

This is pathetic. And, it's stupid. Rule number one of any empire is pay the troops and pay them well.

They think there is dissent in this country now? Screw over the military. That will bring things to a head pretty quickly.

Plus, it's just wrong.

Welders put their health at risk for the country. So do electricians, miners, farm workers, pilots, EMTs, refinery workers, boilermakers, steel workers, etc.

And while I was trying to avoid this, I feel it needs to be stated. The wars we are currently involved in, and pretty much EVERY war since 1945 have been wars of aggression to secure resources or other commodities for those who have the most dollars. So I believe the argument that they put their lives on the line for our way of life is a moot point. This isn't an attack on the individual serviceman, as most of them believe in this ideal. I'm just saying the ideal is a lie and I'm running out of compassion for people who give their lives away for 4+ years not realizing this. If those who join the military are unaware of this, well ignorance isn't a strong defense as far as I'm concerned. If you are ready to pull the trigger and end lives you damned well better be ready to understand WHY you are doing it.

Originally posted by TinkerHaus

Originally posted by watcher3339
It has been two generations since anyone in my family has served. However, I would fight to keep military benefits. And, the military is more deserving of free healthcare than anybody else, since you know, they put their health at risk for the country. It isn't the fault of the men and women in uniform if their work has been abused the last decade or so; they are following orders and risking their lives at the command of the very people who are now open to seeing their benefits cut.

This is pathetic. And, it's stupid. Rule number one of any empire is pay the troops and pay them well.

They think there is dissent in this country now? Screw over the military. That will bring things to a head pretty quickly.

Plus, it's just wrong.

Welders put their health at risk for the country. So do electricians, miners, farm workers, pilots, EMTs, refinery workers, boilermakers, steel workers, etc.

And while I was trying to avoid this, I feel it needs to be stated. The wars we are currently involved in, and pretty much EVERY war since 1945 have been wars of aggression to secure resources or other commodities for those who have the most dollars. So I believe the argument that they put their lives on the line for our way of life is a moot point. This isn't an attack on the individual serviceman, as most of them believe in this ideal. I'm just saying the ideal is a lie and I'm running out of compassion for people who give their lives away for 4+ years not realizing this. If those who join the military are unaware of this, well ignorance isn't a strong defense as far as I'm concerned. If you are ready to pull the trigger and end lives you damned well better be ready to understand WHY you are doing it.

edit on 23-10-2011 by TinkerHaus because: (no reason given)

There is a difference between putting yourself in danger in another occupation and in the military. And, injuries in another occupation get you workman's compensation...
As per my original post, it is not the fault of those in uniform if we the people have allowed them to be subject to orders that are less than alturistic. We need to own that because absent a draft we simply haven't cared enough about what is or is not happening with our military to stand up. Some of the people currently serving have done back to back to back tours of duty. It would be wrong to cut their benefits. Just because other people have been treated poorly by our government is no reason to add the military to the list.

reply to post by watcher3339


Sooo many friends and members of my family have served. We're talking recently.

So I have up close experience with what these people go through and I still believe they made that choice. Their benefits are not going to be CUT. They are just being asked to contribute now. An immediate family member recently went to the VA hospital complaining of pain in his knee. He visited a GP, was told he needed X-rays. He got the X-rays, it uncovered nothing. So he was referred to an orthopedic specialist. This doctor also could find nothing wrong with him so they ordered an MRI to see if there was muscle damage. So he gets the MRI, turns out there is nothing wrong with him whatsoever. But he did get a week off work and a narcotic to deal with the pain. Now, it might seem insensitive, but I grew up with this kid and know how dramatic he can be. He gets the sniffles and it's the end of the world - so I wasn't surprised when all the doctors sent him home saying there is nothing wrong.

Now I'm not saying if you feel there is a problem you shouldn't be able to see a doctor, but I am trying to highlight a problem with giving free health care to some while charging others up the wazoo for it. You and I just spend a cool $10,000 on a bunch of doctor visits, xrays and MRIs that amounted to nothing. Money wasted.

I don't think there is any problem asking members of the military to contribute to their health care. Next on the chopping block, I hope, are government employees.

Here's a thought. Maybe they could cut into the benefits of our senators and congressmen. Most of them are wealthy anyhow, so I'm sure that they won't mind helping out for the better good. Oh yeah, and maybe they shouldn't get better healthcare than the rests of us are given with the insurance that we pay for through our jobs, or a pension for the rest of their lives after only serving for a couple of years. I wonder, If you add up the cost of the salaries and benefits of all of the members of the house and congress, and all of the people that are employed to assist them, what would the total of that be? Surely there is a way that they can contribute! Do we really need that many government officials in Washington? How hard are they really working for us anyhow? How hard are they working to line their own pockets and cater to the big corporations and lobbyists that line their pockets?

It is hard to believe where this thread is going. Gotta rant....

1. If you feel the benefits you have as a civilian are somehow worse than the the military and you feel that is unfair, then enlist. Walk the walk. Go to where the grass is greener and they got it so good.

2. If you feel people in the military are stupid or evil because of all the wars they fight, my question to you is what are you doing about it? Everybody complains about the wars but does nothing about it. The best they can do is vilify people who are sworn to defend the Constitution while the rest of America sits on their butts and runs their mouths?

3. If you feel other jobs are risky too, they may be. But that is your choice as serving in the military is another choice.

4. People in the military will sooner or later pay their own health care to some degree. It has been slowly going that way for years. That is not where the obscene amounts of money in the DoD budget go. Never has been. Compared to the money that goes to civilian contractors, medical care is peanuts. I can tell you Congress will look to cut health care because they do not serve like most Americans. But mess with a lucrative post public service position possibility, never.

Originally posted by ABNARTY
4. People in the military will sooner or later pay their own health care to some degree. It has been slowly going that way for years. That is not where the obscene amounts of money in the DoD budget go. Never has been. Compared to the money that goes to civilian contractors, medical care is peanuts. I can tell you Congress will look to cut health care because they do not serve like most Americans. But mess with a lucrative post public service position possibility, never.

I think the information shows a revival in using of this health care, and is further evidence that America is not doing very well right now! Are we gong to start cutting everything that people are actually using? I'd rather cut from somewhere else personally. I know it's just my money and all, but I've got an opinion about where my money should go.

reply to post by Evolutionsend


old news in a manner of speaking, didn't "Robber" Baron Prick cut off all those WWII vets
that reenlisted after the war in exchange for lifetime healthcare?

what do you think all these private military orgs like blackwater are for

get ready for the cuts

oh well, at least you and your folks were smart enough not to depend on the VA.

don't have much sympathy for soldiers really,

but if they kept their end of the deal,

then those who were the major economic and political beneficiaries should keep theirs IMO.


not much these future victims are gonna be able to do about it really

when whatever was in their vaccines get's triggered.

reply to post by TinkerHaus


I already posted the information from the military times of what is been asked to the military and veterans to pay for.

My husband is a retired marine and we used tricare, our "annual insurance premium is not 200 dollars" and our premium is the cheapest one in the package we pay way more than that. So inform yourself before posting.

I believe that my husband serving in the military deserve better than the government is giving us and now is going to take away, so they can keep increasing their spending, wasting and give away

reply to post by ABNARTY


You are right I applaud you for that, I believed until today that my husband and I were paying pretty much for our tricare prime and that it was the top of the line, my husband just inform me that we have the cheapest package and still pay more than just "200" dollars a year, plus deductibles and medicines. (yes we have deductibles and medicine as they are not free, unless we get them at a veterans hospital and they no always have the prescriptions needed so the military encourage retirees and families to use regular pharmacies).

So much for what some "armchair warriors" call cheap. nothing is free or cheap in "Amerika" this days.

reply to post by ABNARTY



I'm personally sick of seeing Tricare dependents book an acute appointment for a rash x2 days. I am further sickened by seeing that the "rash" is 2 bumps on their hand or some other idiotic place. Get some Calamine, hydrocortisone, or pop a Benadryl and KIM.

I support the military. God bless them and I appreciate their service. But there are some beneficiaries who have nothing to do all day but visit MTFs for stupid stuff. Those appointments can be used by someone who is really sick.

reply to post by CB328


Uh... bull#. Straight-up bull#.

it is not "good for the nation" to cut benefits for our veterans. And I don't care what the hell political alignment they might hold, it still holds. You can be the Glen Beck-iest son of a bitch ever to serve, but you know what, have your health care, you get it for putting your neck out there.

A nation that doesn't want to pay for its veterns shouldn't go around making so many of them.

As for you, personally? Nice try, chubs. This "I'm on hte left and i hate the soldiers because they're republicans so let them suffer!" act might work on other forums you troll, but ATS is honestly pretty resistant to that sort of BS.

With no more money being allocated to Iraq in the Hundreds of Billions annually that money can be shifted to finance the healthcare of the vets. Problem solved!

reply to post by TheWalkingFox


Exactly, my friend, one of the new proposals are to cut benefits to active duty and increase the age you can retire, now this will make the military no very attractive to career military personnel.

Kind of discouraging the feeling of been proud of serving once nation until retirement.