Bill would freeze Tricare fees for retirees

[unhappycamper]

Bill would freeze Tricare fees for retirees
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Feb 4, 2009 9:45:47 EST

A key lawmaker has reintroduced legislation that would freeze Tricare fees for military retirees, a preemptive strike in case the Defense Department tries again to raise deductibles, copayments and enrollment fees in an effort to hold down its health care costs.

The Military Retirees’ Healthcare Protection Act, introduced Tuesday, is important because of its chief sponsor — Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas — and because of the timing.

Edwards, an ally of President Barack Obama who had been discussed as a possible vice presidential running mate, is chairman of the House appropriations subcommittee responsible for military quality of life programs and veterans health care. Overcoming Edwards’ opposition would be difficult.

Additionally, Edwards’ move to drop a bill even before the Obama administration has announced its plans for military health care is a warning sign to the White House and Defense Department that it might be a mistake to assume that Tricare fee increases could be used to help cover health care costs in the 2010 defense budget.

For three consecutive years, the Defense Department has asked Congress to increase Tricare fees for retirees and to revise pharmacy copayments for active-duty families and retirees in order to reduce costs. Congress has rejected the idea every time.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/military_tricare_freezefees_020409w/%2e

[izzie]

1. I have always been sad to have lost this care

Really run so much better than the local care I now have. No waste I could see and the care very good. After 40 years of govt. health care I found the out side not as good. Mostly in how it is run and not the job done if you get what I mean.

[fasttense]

2. Thank You, thank you, thank you.

Every year the Pentagon scares the crap out of me by trying to increase my Tri-Care payments by about 400%. Every year I scramble to let my useless Senators Corker/Porker and Lamar (another useless repuke) know that a 400% increase will devastate my family and every year they back down. I'm afraid one year I'll miss it, and I'll be paying out the kazoo for my free health-care for life that the military promised me.

Now, that we are unemployed, we really can't afford an increase.

I think I'll write my House rep. Who was that crazy idiot in the house? Oh Roe, a doctor, who like Frist, made tons of money off the sick and suffering.