http://www.veteransnewsnow.com/2011/10/30/john-mccain-eyes-barring-retirees-from-tricare-prime/John McCain eyes barring retirees from Tricare Prime
By Rick Maze
The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, the Super Committee, now has to contend with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) feasting his eyes on veterans’ benefits.
McCain who is not a member of the Super Committee, for no apparent reason than spite at Pres. Obama who is vowing to protect veterans’ benefits, is talking up his radical proposal that could be devastating to veterans and active-duty family members, barring military retirees from signing up for Tricare Prime, the least expensive Tricare option available.
The Super Committee has until November 23, 2011 to make its recommendations. And Congress has until December 23, 2011 to vote on the recommendations or face massive cuts.
The congressional panel tasked with making deficit-reduction decisions is facing sharply conflicting views on whether military retirement and health benefits should be put on the chopping block.
In the mix is a radical proposal from Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would have potentially far-reaching effects on the health care of retirees and active-duty family members. McCain, ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, has proposed barring military retirees from signing up for Tricare Prime, the least expensive Tricare option available to them.
The proposal is drawn from a March 2011 report from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on ways to reduce the federal deficit.
(more at link)
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And they wonder why more Veterans are committing suicide? This is NOT good and it needs to be circulated widely that this Repub Veteran and ex-Prisoner of War, John McCain, is the one proposing it while President Obama is trying to save or improve benefits for Veterans!