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Old 08-10-2023, 05:25 AM   #1
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Proposed Tricare for Life changes

I know this is many steps away from reality and recently most changes get watered down.... but so far this is one of the most lopsided proposals against retirees.

This from a military service magazine....


Proposed TRICARE For Life enrollment fees would cost Medicare-age beneficiaries $575 a year for individual coverage or $1,150 for family coverage.

Proposed cost-sharing measures would include an $850 deductible, meaning TRICARE For Life would not cover any of the first $850 of a beneficiary’s Medicare cost-sharing.

After the deductible, the proposed cost-sharing plan allows TRICARE For Life to cover only 50% of the next $7,650 in Medicare cost-sharing, meaning beneficiaries would pay up to $4,675 in cost-sharing per year.
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Old 08-10-2023, 07:08 PM   #2
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So for a family of 2 it would be twice the $4675? In addition to the annual premium and Medicare Part B.
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Old 08-10-2023, 07:28 PM   #3
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So for a family of 2 it would be twice the $4675? In addition to the annual premium and Medicare Part B.
Unfortunately either the article wasn't clear on that or I just breezed over it being single....but I don't think so.

I am only guessing..... but it sounded like you would pay the extra for being a family over a single person, but then the deductible and 50% cost share sounded like it was applied evenly to both single and family plans.

Which seems unfair to singles and I don't trust media articles to be all that accurate so I really can't say for sure.
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Old 08-15-2023, 09:12 PM   #4
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IMO, as less and less congress members are military veterans, their only concern with retired military veterans is their vote, not the promises made to them decades ago. Time to wait and see what happens.
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Old 05-10-2024, 09:36 AM   #5
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IMO, as less and less congress members are military veterans, their only concern with retired military veterans is their vote, not the promises made to them decades ago. Time to wait and see what happens.
I had a response from one of my Senators about my concern but so far it is all boilerplate and and invite to talk to his staff via video when they come to my area.

So far seems lobbying is holding it's own and while the military in general is loosing some credibility with the general public (maybe because Americans are losing faith in many things), the legislators still favorably lean towards helping vets/families.....probably afraid of backlash.

I wish some of these over the top programs to entice recruiting were balance with keeping the promises to those who have already served faithfully and done their duty.

Recruiting with money and programs attracts mercenaries versus patriots...bodies are important to fill billets, but quality over quantity has it's merits too.
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Old 05-11-2024, 04:49 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Psneeld View Post
I had a response from one of my Senators about my concern but so far it is all boilerplate and and invite to talk to his staff via video when they come to my area.

So far seems lobbying is holding it's own and while the military in general is loosing some credibility with the general public (maybe because Americans are losing faith in many things), the legislators still favorably lean towards helping vets/families.....probably afraid of backlash.

I wish some of these over the top programs to entice recruiting were balance with keeping the promises to those who have already served faithfully and done their duty.

Recruiting with money and programs attracts mercenaries versus patriots...bodies are important to fill billets, but quality over quantity has it's merits too.
The Army has eliminated slots because they cannot meet recruiting goals.
Sounds like a great plan_not.
Military veterans are 7% of the population, so fulfilling past promises is not a political goal.
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Old 06-20-2024, 09:22 PM   #7
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Once upon a time

It used to be when we reached 65, we lost all military medical coverage. Some one or group, I do not remember, took this to court since recruiters promised medical care for life.
Somehow, somewhere, I do not remember as I was active duty and not on my radar, the end resulting compromise was Tricare for Life(rs). I do not have any references, so feel free to fact check me.
Changes may be difficult.
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Old 06-21-2024, 05:40 AM   #8
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It used to be when we reached 65, we lost all military medical coverage. Some one or group, I do not remember, took this to court since recruiters promised medical care for life.
Somehow, somewhere, I do not remember as I was active duty and not on my radar, the end resulting compromise was Tricare for Life(rs). I do not have any references, so feel free to fact check me.
Changes may be difficult.
One can still get free med for life (maybe not dental/eye) if near a base that provides it to retirees, but the space is limited and starting back in the early 2000's it was on it way out due to med staff shortages. The bad news is you just can't walk in for emergency or urgent care. They tell you to head to the emergency room or urgent care nearby. Makes it hard when RVing and staying on base.

For me in the USCG it Med was on again/off again at USCG Cape May (one of the USCG's largest facilities because it is the only boot camp). Finally no more so it was out of pocket for me till 65 then at least Tricare for Life kicked in.
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Old 10-24-2024, 05:17 PM   #9
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This is very interesting. I am not 65 yet but very close. Open season is coming up in November and I plan to sign up for the Tricare US Health Plan which is my area (WV) is with John Hopkins Medical Center. Cost for single person is $375 year.
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Old 10-29-2024, 11:56 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by Ray,IN View Post
IMO, as less and less congress members are military veterans, their only concern with retired military veterans is their vote, not the promises made to them decades ago. Time to wait and see what happens.
I’m not positive this is the reason for these proposed changes, but it’s possible. I think retirees may need a small amount of perspective though. Costs for healthcare have gone WAY up over the years. So the future cost to maintain static Tricare for life benefits was not realized when it was passed originally. Meaning something has to give at some point. The same with lifespan. People are living way longer, exhibiting way more cost to the program.

We can argue all day long about why those costs are going up, but regardless of why, they are. It’s not unreasonable to expect to pay for extremely good healthcare coverage. Arguably some of the best available to anyone, anywhere. Yes, it’s earned, but the expectation it should continue the way it’s been for years it’s somewhat shortsighted. There’s likely just not enough funding for it.
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Old 10-29-2024, 05:37 PM   #11
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I’m not positive this is the reason for these proposed changes, but it’s possible. I think retirees may need a small amount of perspective though. Costs for healthcare have gone WAY up over the years. So the future cost to maintain static Tricare for life benefits was not realized when it was passed originally. Meaning something has to give at some point. The same with lifespan. People are living way longer, exhibiting way more cost to the program.

We can argue all day long about why those costs are going up, but regardless of why, they are. It’s not unreasonable to expect to pay for extremely good healthcare coverage. Arguably some of the best available to anyone, anywhere. Yes, it’s earned, but the expectation it should continue the way it’s been for years it’s somewhat shortsighted. There’s likely just not enough funding for it.
When I see quite a few benefits given to today's generation of veterans and even their family members, I am not sure when all I asked for was a decent pension and health care as promised for 20+ years of service. My son who only spent 6 years in the Navy has way more benefits than me and even he says it's crazy knowing what me and a lot of other guys went through.


Not sure we retirees should be at the end of the line for earned benefits. Shortsighted....not even in the ballpark.... I prefer to think that retirees should be closer to the head of the line like combat veterans.

If I could get VA to offset some costs that would be one thing but after applying, the VA seems to have no use to care for a 23 year operational type. Thanks but ) benefits available. So I really don't think that taxpayer dollars are really going to all those that paid their dues as fairly as possible.

It's less about the money....than respect. Every time I meet a retiree someplace...they seem to agree that we are the forgotten breed. We are just ghosts and the new breed needs all the attention. Fine...I will pay for my own health care totally if necessary...but at least a little respect is all I ever thought I deserved for a pretty darn good military career.
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Old 10-29-2024, 07:26 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by Psneeld View Post
When I see quite a few benefits given to today's generation of veterans and even their family members, I am not sure when all I asked for was a decent pension and health care as promised for 20+ years of service. My son who only spent 6 years in the Navy has way more benefits than me and even he says it's crazy knowing what me and a lot of other guys went through.


Not sure we retirees should be at the end of the line for earned benefits. Shortsighted....not even in the ballpark.... I prefer to think that retirees should be closer to the head of the line like combat veterans.

If I could get VA to offset some costs that would be one thing but after applying, the VA seems to have no use to care for a 23 year operational type. Thanks but ) benefits available. So I really don't think that taxpayer dollars are really going to all those that paid their dues as fairly as possible.

It's less about the money....than respect. Every time I meet a retiree someplace...they seem to agree that we are the forgotten breed. We are just ghosts and the new breed needs all the attention. Fine...I will pay for my own health care totally if necessary...but at least a little respect is all I ever thought I deserved for a pretty darn good military career.
Listen, you're barking up the wrong tree here. I agree vets should be at the front of the line. You all get the short end pretty often. And we've all heard about the VA hospitals and their horrible care (a generalization of course, but generalizations exist for a reason). Ultimately it's a raw deal. I'm not against you here.

Just keep in mind that health insurance has become a raw deal for almost everyone. There are constant complaints from people about their employer coverage progressively getting much worse year over year. Obamacare has driven up the cost of individual policies dramatically. Sometimes nearly $1500/mo for a healthy guy in his 30's who never even goes to the doctor. That's with a $5000 deductible.

We can have a separate conversation about whether the Federal Government should make promises they can't keep or not. And whether anyone should ever trust the Federal Government when they make those promises. Or whether the Federal Government should be giving benefits to non citizens etc.
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Old 10-30-2024, 05:50 AM   #13
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I think you are missing the complaint from me and other retirees I meet. The complaint is that vets and retirees get lumped together by the general public and politicians all too often. I am not disparaging vets in any way....but that's like a person who works for a company for 20-30 years and usually gets lumped in with someone who just worked there a couple. It IS a bit of a respect thing.
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Old 10-30-2024, 07:28 AM   #14
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Good news is I haven't seen any changes yet...but I could have just missed what bills are what in congress.
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