Lawmakers open to changes in military benefits (lifetime health care on the chopping block?)

Seattle Times ^ | 10/22/11 | DONNA CASSATA

[Libloather]

Lawmakers open to changes in military benefits
By DONNA CASSATA
Associated Press
Originally published Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 4:43 AM

WASHINGTON — The government's promise of lifetime health care for the military's men and women is suddenly a little less sacrosanct as Congress looks to slash trillion-dollar-plus deficits.

Republicans and Democrats alike are signaling a willingness - unheard of at the height of two post-Sept. 11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - to make military retirees pay more for coverage. It's a reflection of Washington's newfound embrace of fiscal austerity and the Pentagon's push to cut health care costs that have skyrocketed from $19 billion in 2001 to $53 billion.

The numbers are daunting for a military focused on building and arming an all-volunteer force for war. The Pentagon is providing health care coverage for 3.3 million active duty personnel and their dependents and 5.5 million retirees, eligible dependents and surviving spouses. Retirees outnumber the active duty, 2.3 million to 1.4 million.

[Libloather]

How about cutting teacher pensions by 95%?

[Howie66]

These “lawmakers” had better be updating their resume’s. They will be out of work, soon.

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

Yep, I want to see any "Republitards" sign on to this.

They had better not have given up their "Day Jobs" cuz they will be returning to them in 2013...no matter WHO they are!!!

[SumProVita]

“Republicans and Democrats alike are signaling a willingness - unheard of at the height of two post-Sept. 11 wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - to make military retirees pay more for coverage.”

Just wondering if these wonderful *leaders* will lead by example: accept the same health care plan as the military.

[John D]

This sounds like something cut and run Paul would come up with. Is this another on of his bright ideas?

[rbg81]

....arguing that Americans who were willing to die for their country should be treated differently than the average worker

---

The implementation of Medicare Part D (prescription drugs) was unstainable, but they did it anyway. The continuing increase in SSI and unemployment benefits goes unquestioned. And G-d knows how many billions of $$ go to illegals. The point is that there are plenty of places to cut in the budget that would more than pay for this.

But, hey, its okay to take benefits away from Vets. Congress probably feels that they are the safest group to screw because they actually love their country.

[Savage Beast]

What about eliminating the benefits of the Congressthugs!

You think those thugs in Congress are willing to eliminate THIER lifetime health coverage?

Those THUGS in Congress should be thrown out of office and handed mops.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

How about a ten percent reduction in the number of government employees ?
Why not close down the Departments of Energy and Education ?

A round of guberment layoffs would be just what the doctor ordered.

[SandRat]

Yet the Kong-ress Kritters forget that the military & vets/retirees meant it when they took their oaths to Support and Defend the Constitution against ALL ENEMIES - Foreign and DOMESTIC; the Kong-ress Kritters may rue messing with the military & vets/retirees.

[SwatTeam]

‘But, hey, its okay to take benefits away from Vets. Congress probably feels that they are the safest group to screw because they actually love their country.’

Yes, they do. And the brain dead dipshits in Congress need to be reminded that they can be replaced. All the veterans I know
also keep saying that not only do they love their country but they have the guns to defend her from all enemies, foreign and domestic.

[Dusty Road]

I’ve got mixed emotions on this one. First let me say those that have retired and those that are active should see no cut in benefits. But I do think there are a few things need to change and the first thing would be the treatment of alcoholic’s and those that are prescription drug addicted. My sister and brother in-law are both retired directors from the local VA here and claim that at least 40 percent of their patients fall under that category. They have no service related problems other than they’re addictions and are a considerable drain on resources. Another would be to look closely at staffing and see where it can be cut, we have far too many people at this VA who’s jobs have little to do with patient care, many in my opinion are unnecessary. On the fifth floor of the local VA they have a capacity for up to 60 patients yet they’ve never had more than 25 on the floor at one time, yet they keep a staff of RN’s, LVN’s and aids to handle a full load. It’s my opinion that the VA is being abused by both patients and employee’s at a huge cost to taxpayers.

[verity]

"The government's promise of lifetime health care for the military's men and women"

Not true.

[T-Bird45]

Apples and oranges — teacher pensions do not appear in the federal budget. If you are going to make an argument, it’s generally considered good form to at least connect it to reality.

[Gritty]

Any proposals out there to cut the out-of-control Food Stamp Programs? That’s eating up billions, and a lot of it is going to illegal aliens...

[Mr Rogers]

I also have some mixed emotions. The VA Hospitals, from my limited viewpoint, are like pushers. They build their portfolio by convincing veterans that they have ‘needs’, or by treating folks for stuff the folks caused themselves - like drug abuse.

OTOH, the Tricare set-up for retirees is cheap...and cheap. It isn’t high end insurance, and it was part of selling folks on staying in. I wouldn’t mind seeing co-payments go up, since I think that would save money without adding too much burden on the honest users.

I also think it needs to be a package deal - reduce the Tricare benefit at the same time you reduce Medicaid and Medicare - both of which have huge amounts of fraud and abuse. But don’t try to balance the budget on the backs of military retirees. Heck, I’d take a 10% cut in my retired pay (which has, after taxes, gone down 8% over the last 3 years anyways) IF EVERYONE getting a check cut by the government got a 10% cut.

But oddly enough, I only see these reductions discussed for military folks. Never for civilians...

[cranked]

These same lawmakers should be open to changes in reducing their own pay and benefits BEFORE considering changes in military benefits, you think!? =.=

[Gator113]

I see their point, after all, by making these cuts it should make it easier to continue the free medical care provided to the illegal aliens.

We also need those funds to send to other country’s and to support Obama’s special projects, such as “non-war wars”.

Besides, these veterans have never bothered to form or join a union, so screw ‘em.

We should all relax.... this is just all part of the wealth redistribution program and fundamentally changing America.

[teenyelliott]

They should cut their own pay and lifetime benefits (which they shouldn’t have in the first place), as well as EVERYTHING else, before they touch the military.

[TheOldLady]

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[Uncle Miltie]

I have a proposal:

New recruits get as many years of free healthcare as they served in active duty.

Current obligations don’t change. Future benefits match service time rendered. (Any injury incurred in the line of duty is permanently covered.)

That seems fair.

(Donning flame retardant suit.)