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+--- Thread: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon (/showthread.php?tid=116663)
Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - rankandfile - 05-08-2011
http://apnews.excite.com/article/20110508/D9N3BOOG0.html
Excerpts:
"Costs of the program that provides health coverage to some 10 million active duty personnel, retirees, reservists and their families have jumped from $19 billion in 2001 to $53 billion in the Pentagon's latest budget request.
Desperate to cut spending in Washington's time of fiscal austerity, President Barack Obama has proposed increasing the fees for working-age retirees in the decades-old health program, known as TRICARE. After years of resisting proposed increases for the military men and women who sacrificed for a nation, budget-conscious lawmakers suddenly are poised to make them pay a bit more for their health care, though not on the president's terms.
The current fees, unchanged in 11 years, are $230 a year for an individual and $460 for a family. That's far less than what civilian federal workers pay for health care, about $5,000 a year, and what most other people in the U.S. pay.
Obama is seeking a fee increase of $2.50 per month for an individual and $5 per month for families, which approaches the current price of a gallon of gasoline. Future increases starting in 2013 would be pegged to rising costs as measured by the national health care expenditure index produced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which projects 6.2 percent growth."
...
"I strongly believe military retirees have made significant down payments through their dedicated service to the nation," said the subcommittee chairman, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C. "In view of that service, it is not right for the nation to ask them to pay more for the health care for which they are entitled as all citizens are being personally challenged financially by rising gas prices."
_____
I was particularly interested in Rep. Wilson's comments since he is my congressman. He has had no problem in voting for drastic increases in other people's health costs, especially via the Ryan/Republican Budget Bill.
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - Grateful11 - 05-08-2011
$230 a year and I bet it's cadillac coverage too. I bet they pi$$ and moan about the $5/month.
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - Pam - 05-09-2011
Most of the service people around here understand the need for the increase and are ok with it. They think it's fair. Note, it's working age retirees. What they are afraid of are the future automatic increases http://hamptonroads.com/2011/03/veterans-groups-split-fee-increases-tricare
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - freeradical - 05-09-2011
There is inflation even though the government refuses to admit it. This is a great example.
The Obama administration/Congress has not given social security recipients or military retirees a cost of living increase in two years.
Prices are clearly rising. Two months ago, bacon by the slice cost $3.99 a pound in my local supermarket. It was often marked down to $2.59 a pound. A month ago the price rose to $4.99 a pound. It is now $5.49 a pound.
Sugar is no longer sold in 5 pound bags. It is now all sold in 4 pound bags, and these cost more than the old 5 pound bags. Salt has doubled in price. I'm sure you can find more examples.
The Fed is monetizing the debt, and our two party kleptocracy cheers this on.
The price of Gold is a clear indicator of the value of the dollar.
Batten down the hatches; things are going to get worse before they get better.
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - freeradical - 05-09-2011
.
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - mattkime - 05-09-2011
>>The price of Gold is a clear indicator of the value of the dollar.
nonsense, the value of a dollar is what it can buy. gold is a commodity like any other.
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - freeradical - 05-09-2011
mattkime wrote:
>>The price of Gold is a clear indicator of the value of the dollar.
nonsense, the value of a dollar is what it can buy. gold is a commodity like any other.
How much gasoline can you buy for a dollar today?
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - mrbigstuff - 05-09-2011
just as this problem is exemplified at the local level, the real issue is out-of-control health care costs. if no one is willing to "regulate" that cost (hello, death panels!), the market will rule.
and in the case of healthcare market, it's artificially supported by emotion. since we don't like death, especially a slow and painful one, we'll pay whatever it costs. whatever. in addition to fast-food nation, we're healthcare nation, as well.
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - Mac1337 - 05-09-2011
You know health care costs are under control when Aetna is on TV as much as Progressive.
Re: Health care costs a hefty price tag for Pentagon - Grace62 - 05-09-2011
This is the 8th time that you're using that line Dakota. Has it furthered your argument at all? Please find something fresher. You shouldn't be complaining about other people using "tired lines."
from this:
Posted by: Dakota [PM]
Date: December 13, 2010 05:00PM
Single payer is Medicare and it is going out of business. They knew that throwing in millions more into the system would have raised the Medicare tax through the roof so they had to disguise it as "individual mandate". The way is to make Aetna advertise as much as Progressive does. The solution is right in front of us but since it did not involve putting government in charge nobody was interested.
to this:
Posted by: Dakota [PM]
Date: May 04, 2011 08:39PM
When Aetna feels the need to go on TV as much as Progressive you know someone has fixed the health care system.
and again today?