Higher Tricare fees among cost-cutting ideas

[unhappycamper]

Higher Tricare fees among cost-cutting ideas
By Rick Maze - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Feb 10, 2009 14:24:04 EST

A Senate committee wrestling with ways to get the federal deficit under control is weighing recommendations from a nonpartisan arm of Congress that include increases in health care fees for retirees and their families, as well as limits on veterans’ health care benefits.

At a Senate Budget Committee hearing Tuesday, Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., committee chairman, said the $11.6 trillion national debt is expected to more than double by 2019, with federal health care costs a key factor.

Conrad said he thinks even that forecast is “overly optimistic” and that the debt will be larger.

The Congressional Budget Office, a nonpartisan arm of Congress, has compiled a list of 115 options for changes in medical care programs, mostly ways to cut federal funding, that Conrad’s committee is considering as it tries to prepare a 2010 federal spending guide.

The options include raising enrollment fees, copayments and deductibles for military retirees younger than age 65 and their families using the Tricare health benefits program; requiring some veterans to pay copayments when being treated for medical issues not related to military service; and a novel idea of allowing active-duty families to pocket money — up to $500 each year — if they don’t use health benefits.


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/02/military_tricarefees_spendingcuts_021009w/%2e

[liberal N proud]

1. Higher fees is not cost cutting.

That is revenue enhancing.

The only way it will cut cost is by forcing some of the patients out of the system.