Obama Health-Care Hikes Hit Military, Spare Unions; Vets Vow to Fight ....True?

[Demonaut]

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/barack-obama-health-care-hikes-hit-military-spare-unions-vets-vow-fight

Does anyone know if this is true?
An FB posting caused me to look more into this propaganda but I cannot find anything dispelling this nor confirming it, nothing official at least

[sinkingfeeling]

1. The DOD announced plans to raise premiums by 13% for working-age retirees.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2011/02/military-retiree-health-care-costs-021411w/

Health care coverage rates for working-age military retirees would increase about 13 percent under a controversial plan unveiled by Pentagon officials Monday.

The fee increases, which will require approval from Congress, are part of Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ broader plan to cut $7 billion from the military health system’s budget during the next five years.

The proposal does not change health coverage fees for active-duty members and their families or for Medicare-eligible Tricare for Life beneficiaries.

*************************
Partially true. Note that the only ones affected would be people who could hold jobs and receive benefits from another employer while 'retired' from the military.

[ProSense]

4. It still

has to be approved by Congress:

The proposed fee increase of 13 percent on retirees’ enrollment fees was significantly smaller than past proposals and far less than many veterans groups expected.

Starting in 2013, annual fees for retirees using Tricare Prime coverage would increase over time at the rate of medical inflation, which typically rises more rapidly than the broader inflation rate and cost-of-living adjustments.

Other proposed changes to Tricare include pharmacy co-pay fees. Tricare would eliminate the $3 drug co-pay fee for generic drugs obtained through the military’s mail-order pharmacy system, while fees for drugs purchased through neighborhood retail pharmacies will increase by up to $3.

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Yes, and of course, the House is determined to vote it down. Who really wants to

cut the budget and debt? DOD spends $50 billion on health care.

[ProSense]

7. Exactly,

which is why the the RW hit piece on unions is quoting the lunatic Alan West.

[tallahasseedem]

9. ProSense...

since you are the best at these things, if you find anything that blows this ridiculous talking points up...please share! I would love to respond to this hit job on my Facebook.

[SHRED]

6. Fee hikes:

"The current Tricare Prime annual enrollment fees of $230 for an individual retiree and $460 for a family have not changed since Tricare was created in 1996. Gates’ proposal would increase next year’s fees to $260 per year for an individual and $520 a year for a family."

Damn...wish I could get that deal.


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[Demonaut]

13. thanks, I'm printing this for my father who's retired...some of his RW vet buddies are in a uproar

of course I'll have to remind him that Gates was appointed by Bush

[ProSense]

2. Wait

"Obama Health-Care Hikes Hit Military, Spare Unions; Vets Vow to Fight ....True?"

...what the hell does the VA health care have to do with unions?

The post you linked to is RW drivel.

[pinboy3niner]

8. It's not VA, it's military, but it's an issue wingnuts are spinning...

...to make it appear that Obama is imposing increased fees on DoD (Tricare), when the recommendations for Tricare fee hikes actually CAME from DoD.

Same ol' BS.

[ProSense]

10. Ah, I saw

It's not VA, it's military, but it's an issue wingnuts are spinning...

...to make it appear that Obama is imposing increased fees on DoD (Tricare), when the recommendations for Tricare fee hikes actually CAME from DoD.

...retirees and immediately thought VA. Thanks for the clarification.

Still, Tricare has nothing to do with unions, which is a huge clue that this is a RW piece.

[JSnuffy]

12. Distinction without a difference in my opinion

[Demonaut]

11. that's why I have a question mark next to it, I've searched for an effective response but I hoped

someone here had found some info I had not

I understand it's drivel

[tallahasseedem]

3. I was wondering about it as well...

one of my freep relatives posted it this morning too.