Panel is recommending changes to military health care, benefits

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald-AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say an independent commission is recommending broad changes to the military’s retirement and health care systems that could save more than $20 billion over the next four years.

But the proposals, which would allow some of the programs to operate more like existing federal employee systems, are likely to face an uphill battle from members of Congress who vigorously protect military benefits and have so far resisted change.

According to officials familiar with the report, the panel is recommending that the military’s TRICARE health care system largely be replaced, giving families the ability to choose from a wider menu of insurance plans, similar to those used by federal employees.

The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission plans to unveil its report Thursday. Officials described the recommendations on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly before the report’s release. Recognizing how difficult it is to make changes to the entrenched systems, in many cases the panel grandfathers in current service members, allowing them to keep existing programs.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://www.omaha.com/news/nation/panel-is-recommending-changes-to-military-health-care-benefits/article_e2ac8a46-a79e-11e4-a9aa-8b0f6f6225d4.html

[fasttense]

1. I was suppose to have free medical

when I gave the military 20 years of my life. Now after the last reforms to the military retirement medical system that saved the government money, it is costing me over $3,000 a year to use the crappy medical plan Tri-Care. I use to pay only about $300 to $400 a year. So we had nine fold increase or 900% increase in cost for the free medical and now they want to reform my free medical yet again. Yeah, to a lot of you $3,000 isn't a lot but it is $2,700 I had not planned for and no one expected.

I don't think I can take anymore reform. It's going to put me in bankruptcy.

So it's just more austerity for the troops. So when are the excessively wealthy going to suffer the same austerity????????? Maybe they should be forced to give back their bailouts? I mean since this country is just so poor it can't keep it's promises to its military.

[Skittles]

10. who exactly thinks $3000 isn't a lot?

we know we are all getting stiffed, including the military

Sgt Skittles

[sulphurdunn]

12. When you're in uniform you are an asset

when you're out of uniform you are a liability. Panels of rich assholes are convened to reduce that liability in the name of doing you a favor. It's nothing personal. Just business.

[Autumn]

2. I wish some fucking panel would suggest that the fucking wars end, and that

taxes be raised on the wealthy.

[marble falls]

3. TriCare works. Leave it the freak alone!

[sorefeet]

4. If I had it to do over again

I would be living in Canada right now.

[groundloop]

5. Leave benefits alone and quit making war

IMO we owe it to our military to give them quality healthcare, retirement, etc. We could save a hell of a lot more money by closing bases all over the world that do us no good and to put people to work building roads, bridges, water systems, and schools rather than fighting wars.

[CountAllVotes]

6. +1,000

n/t

[cstanleytech]

7. Here is a question, why dont they just eliminate the VA and Tricare and use the money

they would have used for those to programs for medicaid and medicare and let the vets use those to programs instead?
I mean surely it would save money because they could close most if not all of the VA facilities not to mention they could shift some of the people who work at the VA over to working with medicare and medicaid which would be a win for everyone.

[AC_Mem]

11. I work for the VA

We help veterans every single day at no cost to them. I work harder than I've ever worked in my life because the number of Veterans has increased. Our clinics and hospitals are PACKED with our wonderful Veterans.

With Veteran's Choice they ALREADY Have the right and the choice for non-VA care, most are choosing to stay with the VA.

Do you have any idea how many Veterans your idea would put out of work???? Do you have any idea how many Veterans work at the VA?

I'm shaking my head that anyone would even consider closing our facilities!

And I also see how many physicians and surgeons are contacting us to come to work at the VA. You really have no idea.

Annette, PROUD of the VA AND OUR VETERANS.

[cstanleytech]

13. Look closing the VA itself doesnt mean it would put veterans of work unless your talking the

programs that are setup to hire veterans but they can do a similar program with medicare and medicaid and hire vets to work there and as for the closing of VA facilities they could encourage civilian hospitals to hire vets more.
Now it wouldnt be an easy transition but if done right it doesnt have to sacrifice any care for the vets.

[lark]

8. Congress - just say "no".

If it's saving 20 billion, you can be sure that the health care will be LOTS worse and the price will go way up. My lower income military retiree dad had cancer for 13 years, and had chemo on and off for his last 4 years of life. During the time he was having chemo, his actual out of pocket total cost was $13 for a noncovered special bandage. He had Medicare and Tricare for Life. It's a great system, gave him and mom such great coverage and peace of mind. Even though they didn't have much money, they were always able to get the medical care they needed. It was such a blessing to them and us.

Please, Don't fuck up something that works so well for our military folks.

[packman]

9. We must think-

how many aircraft carriers can 20billion buy? THAT is the real question.