[Racehorse]

Who should get first priority at federal health care dollars . . .

. . . the comparisons now being made between military benefits and medical costs paid by civilians "gloss over the sacrifices those retirees made and the promises made to them."

That's the real issue and it extends beyond raising premiums and co-payments.  Not mentioned is the fate of the working age retirees who turn age sixty-five.

Unless something has changed over the last few months, Wilford Hall Medical Center (Lackland AFB) requires retirees reaching age 65 to use civilian services for routine primary care.  Access to specialty clinics and hospitalization is still provided . . . for now.

[voiceinthewind]

Racehorse, are you saying that even with Tricare Prime? Right now I have the whole family enrolled at BAMC.

[Don Carlos]

When a retiree reaches 65 years TRICARE Prime ends, and Medicare and TRICARE For Life kicks in. Use of military facilities is always based on space available.

For retirees 65 and over, the combination of Medicare and TRICARE For Life is pretty much comprehensive. In other words, hard to beat! Medicare is automatically deducted from retirees Soc Security payment - around $80.00 I think - and TRICARE For Life is free.