The Defense Department has moved ahead with a reduction in healthcare coverage for veterans in select areas of the country.
Starting Oct. 1, 2013, the Pentagon will reduce the number of Prime Service Areas (PSAs) where it offers the TRICARE Prime managed care option to retirees and their family members. This change will affect approximately 171,000 military retired beneficiaries in 41 states currently enrolled in TRICARE Prime, but not active duty service members and their families.
“The Department of Defense (DoD) has planned to make PSA reductions since 2007, when proposals were requested for the next generation of TRICARE contracts (known as T-3). Bidders for the three U.S. regional contracts were only required to establish PSAs around military hospitals or clinics and in areas that lost military hospitals or clinics due to BRAC decisions,” TRICARE said in an announcement of the change.
TRICARE Prime services will be offered only to those living within 40 miles of a Military Treatment Facility as a result of the incoming contractor, United Healthcare, not planning on covering the services.
Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.) said he’s requested a briefing next week with Defense officials in an effort to push the department to evaluate and mitigate the impact on military retirees and their families.
“It concerns me that the administration would implement a policy without fully understanding the impact on more than 170,000 veterans and their families nationwide, including more than 1,000 Nevadans,” said Amodei. “My responsibility is to help ensure that these veterans continue to receive the high-quality health care they earned and are accustomed to.”
“That is why I will reintroduce, along with Congressman Greg Walden (OR-2), the TRICARE Protection Act and will take additional steps to keep those affected appraised with the latest information.”
The lawmakers originally introduced on Dec. 5 the bill that would have given the secretary of Defense 90 days to submit a report to the Armed Services committees in the House and Senate on the future availability of TRICARE Prime under the TRICARE program for eligible beneficiaries in all TRICARE regions throughout the United States.
The upcoming reintroduction would establish a navigator service to assist affected eligible beneficiaries in locating primary care providers and enroll eligible beneficiaries in TRICARE Prime Remote if it is determined that the beneficiaries would not otherwise have access to primary care providers who meet TRICARE access standards.
The rumors of the changes were confirmed by the Pentagon only after passage of Sen. Dean Heller’s (R-Nev.) amendment to the defense reauthorization bill last month, which required a full report on the termination of coverage.
“I look forward to a full report from the Department of Defense detailing changes to TRICARE Prime and their plan to make sure no veteran suffers from these changes in benefits. I’m concerned that veterans in Northern Nevada will be forced to undertake longer drives to receive care and that access to medical providers will be limited,” Heller said today. “I hope this is not the case, and am hopeful that the Department of Defense will provide answers in a timely manner.”
The lawmakers most vocal about the issue represent areas with wide rural areas most targeted by the changes.
Members of Congress from right and left have been sounding off to Dr. Jonathan Woodson, assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, about the plans to nick healthcare in select TRICARE markets.
Walden joined in an October letter to Woodson penned by the greater Oregon delegation, including Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.).
“While this might not have a significant impact in a smaller state, or one with more active-duty military installations, this will have a major impact on Oregon TRICARE users,” the delegation wrote. “The only 2 MTFs in Oregon are both located on the coast, leaving tens of thousands of retirees and others with the more expensive TRICARE Standard as their only choice.”
The delegation asked for a meeting with Woodson to discuss proposed changes and explore possible alternatives.
“We understand that there is concern about the costs associated with medical care for military members and retirees, but this proposal unfairly penalizes residents of select states and areas,” they wrote. “In addition, imposing these changes without significant prior notice is simply wrong.”
TRICARE Prime users already saw a 17 percent increase in the cost for most retirees on the plan as of Oct. 1, only the second hike since the program’s inception in 1995.
The Obama administration had pressed for even greater fees, but bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate Armed Services Committees struck down that attempt.
Clear to see that all there is left is for the Conservatives to CYA on this one.
It’s already mandated by the Democrat/Obama Regime, and the Republicans have their autographs on it.
Part of the “Cliff Avoidance Scheme” adopted by OUR CONGRESS.
WAS this a great country, or what?
When I look at you America, what I see
Is a country that once belonged to me
And even though that melody plays on, you’re gone
When I look at you, America is standing there
I can almost breathe you in like summer in the air
When I look at you, America is touching me
I would reach for you, but who can hold a memory?
Our human condition, and the United States, is built on memories, pal.
REMEMBRANCE of what has condemned earlier communities.
But, some are relishing in the destruction.
Your bliss will become anguish after it’s too late.
Enjoy,
Good poem, Blakeney. I have written it down and will hold on to it.
Oh America, you were once that something
I followed like a star
Then suddenly you changed
And now I don’t know what you are
There is little doubt that vets are being targeted by the most radical regime in U.S. history. But the Repubs have much to answer for too, as their booze addled leader isn’t up to the task – http://adinakutnicki.com/2012/09/03/the-hunt-against-vets-excluding-muslim-servicemen-is-the-first-path-to-disarming-patriotic-americans-the-game-plan-to-label-right-wing-citizens-as-domestic-terrorists-dave-gaubatz-spills/
The left’s disdain for U.S. hyper power (emblematic of a strong military) is visceral and palpable. But there is more to it than their regular vitriol. In a nutshell, in order to disarm the public, eviscerating the Second Amendment, it is mandatory to place a “bulls-eye” on the backs of those most associated with weaponry.
The rest is smoke and mirrors….and a way to get from here to there.
“It concerns me that the administration would implement a policy without fully understanding the impact on more than 170,000 veterans and their families nationwide, including more than 1,000 Nevadans,” said Amodei.
Well, the Obama administration is implementing ObamaCare without understanding the impact on more than 300,000,000 Americans nationwide, including more than 2,500,000 Nevadans. Of course, it’s even worse if they do understand the impact.
Great – billions for the governments of Afghanistan and Egypt, nothing for those who sacrificed to protect this country.
All detailed in ObamaCare.
I forgot to include; “ENDORSED BY OUR SUPREME COURT”.
So completely disheartening.
But we still dole out Obama phones and all the other “perks” associated with being part of the undeserving. I am a 67 year old vet. This does not affect me but I do use the VA for my healthcare. It is so close to incompetent that it is reminiscent of the Post Office.
It damned Skippy is.
(I expect my pittance of a Service-Connected to be cut next, on the theory that I don’t require it as much as Lateesha pumping out illegitimate children)
^This
Despite having all my military medical records, my line of duty investigations of all incidences where, why, and how I was hurt in Afghanistan, and the awards…I am still waiting (one year) just to get a frigging determination on my claim from the VA.
If I was an illegal immigrant, or single mother with 5 kids from 4 dads…I am sure I would have multiple agencies beating my door down to help.
Now, I am not looking for money or a hand out…just for them to fix my damned teeth that were broken in IED strikes, and to address the herniated discs in my lower back!
But at least now that Obamacare is now the law of the land…all us vets will be in good company as these civilians will very soon be hearing “I am sorry, but the next available appointment is in 5 months”.
That’s what I’ve been telling my (non-Veteran) friends and acquaintances – “wait until Obamacare hits full-force, then you’ll understand what I’m talking about.”
I hate to say it, but a year on isn’t all that bad with the VA. It took me over six years to go from 20% to 40%, where I have now been stuck for another six years. Expect them to pull such nonsense on you as they did with me, such as:
Denying me an increase due to their having sent a request for documentation to an address I did not live at (and could prove it). Error theirs; penalty mine, they still denied me.
Denying me an increase due to “failure to appear at a scheduled C&P exam” of which I had appropriately re-scheduled (and could prove it). Again, error theirs, penalty mine. Denied again anyways.
Seen at the nearby VA medical center for a knee so bad I couldn’t walk or stand on it for over a week. They agreed it was horribly compromised, but when I asked for a letter for my employers to document this, they gave me a letter that said I was seen for “knee pain.”
Had a packet of completed claims forms disappear while traveling between two departments of the VARO – a total of one floor apart. Oh, too bad, you’ll have to re-file.
Had my requests for copies of my medical records disappear three times in a row – particularly frustrating as I had filed the requests directly at the records department in person.
Civilians don’t know the half of it, but I expect they’ll figure it out shortly. “Death Panels?” Hell, they won’t need them, they’ll simply delay them to death. Not for nothing is the unofficial motto of the VA, “Delay and Deny until you Die.”
Remember, don’t give up, no matter what. That’s precisely what they want you to do.
Luck on your claims.
Sorry, I’d meant to add (for the non-Veteran’s edification), all of these occurred despite the fact that I am in the next to highest priority category at the VA healthcare system.
Sorry buddy ,it took me a year get my rating (60%)and I refuse to go to the VA. My wife and I are planning a move to Panama. Going for a month in feb to shore up everything. They have better health care at less than 100$ month full coverage. How can a “3rd” world country do it and we can’t? I think we know the answer. No givaways, no obama phone, food stamps or any other vote buying scam. Incidentally, you can live on the beach for about 1300$ bucks a month for everything. Warmer too!
I think it LOOKS like this is about $$ and I’m not saying it isn’t, but if you are familiar with the UN’s Agenda 21 you would find it interesting that only rural areas have been targeted for these cuts. I point this out because one of the stated goals of the globalist members of the UN is to relocate people out of rural areas to large population centers where there eventually will be no private property allowed. So these retired veterans in the targeted rural areas are being subtly encouraged to relocate to the urban areas still scheduled to receive TRICARE Prime benefits. If you think this is a far reach you should research Agenda 21 and google “government attacks on veterans”.
Reward your friends. Punish your enemies.
Hey all you veterans, you only have a few year left you know, and there are tens of millions of soon to be legal immigrant waiting to be rewarded for their votes in 2012.
This is how the game is played in progressive America.
just curious, but what is the effect on fed employees healthcare – congresscritters still exempt from Ocare?
Just another nail. Last good one was opening the VA to all vets, instead of just service connected or impoverished vets. Four years from now retirees will be on medicare, period. VA billing medicare or Tricare, can’t do that. The VA has to alleviate medicare, medicaid and tricare costs. Might make them last a few more years. More money for the VA, to cover already having doubled and more than doubled the patient population? Well, a little, not enough to do much good, but enough to brag about- “Look at how much I have done for the vets!”
Retiree and veteran’s healthcare is taking the first hits, but govt’ civilian employees won’t be far behind. Actually, many civilian corporate employees were ahead of us. In the end, why should the government concern itself with expensive medical health care for old folks, when there are so many poor young folks that need it- whether they have ever contributed to anything or not. They’re young and they need it.
This is only the beginning- the beginning of what, I don’t know, but with 70 million baby boomers retiring and population growth coming only from across the border or from their predecessors, I’m afraid it isn’t going to be good. It is inevitable. Too many promises that weren’t possible when they were made. Too many aborted babies, for convenience’s sake. Too much greed and too few adults. Too few patriots and too many “intelligensia”.
The country will probably survive, but for those of us who already have trouble recognizing it, it will be a foreign land. We’re old though, but I’m afraid even Gen X and Y won’t recognize it before we’re even gone.
Japan spends about 1/2 of their GDP as we do in the US
Japan has 1/2 the mortality from non-communicable diseases than we do in the US
We spend 18% of our US GDP on health care and most of it is wasted on defensive medicine and useless procedures.
The causes are -
1/ Greed by trial attornies
2/ Greed by MDs, hospitals and insurance companies
3/ Lack of training in science and probability by juries, judges, politicians and the electorate
Again-we spend twice as much per capita than Japan on health care and we 50% worse health outcomes for twice the money.
This is crazy
We spend a lot of money on social pathologies non-existent in Japan such as major gang violence in minority neighborhoods, illegal immigrants, and overly generous Medicaid. It’s not an apples to apples comparison.
“TRICARE Prime users already saw a 17 percent increase in the cost for most retirees on the plan as of Oct. 1, only the second hike since the program’s inception in 1995.
The Obama administration had pressed for even greater fees, but bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate Armed Services Committees struck down that attempt.”
Yet again, The Liberals and Democrats stick it to the Veterans, and pad their own benefits, Obama just gave Himself Secrete Service for Life, at the cost of how many billions? And how many billions has Obama and the Mooch spent taking Air Force One on vacation trips and golf outings, How about the rest of Congress with their fact finding vacations to the hot spas around the world?
Yet they begrudge sick and disabled veterans the care that is deserved for serving their country in war and in peace.
And I’m interested in knowing how many hookers are on the Federal payroll and the extent of their healthcare package?
Count up the number of representatives in the house and the number of senators, plus the white house occupants and staff, and you have your number of whores you’re looking for.
With well north of a trillion bucks in total budget, they stab the Veterans in the back.
Heh. I kinda like that idea, actually. (SGT USMC 1976-1983, here.)
With everything else that’s going on, we freedom-lovin’ fools need all the pissed off Vets we can get.
A fight’s coming and the government chose that fight. …and it’s a fight that there’s no way in hell it can win.
You’re watching history in the making, people. Remember what you see.
“Pentagon Moves Forward on Cutting Prime Health Coverage for Vets”
Gee, didn’t see that coming. Better send Michelle out on another “I care” photo op. Because she really does care, ya know? I’m not sure if any member of her “first time I ever felt good about America” family ever served in uniform, and I am all but certain that no one in Barry’s “white” side ever did, but this is definitely the time to register the proper image.
Surely we would have heard about this during the election right?
I think the person that wrote this article made some mistakes. Is this change across the board or just the 4 states originally identified several months ago? If it is 41 states, then the number of people being kicked out of Tricare Prime will be a few million retired people and not 171,000.
I called Tricare South yesterday and they have no idea what changes are going to happen and are just waiting “for the word”. Ha!..just like old times…”waiting for the word to come down”..
I do think Senator McCain was a real traitor on this issue. He wrote a letter a few months ago complaining how “retired military were unaffordable” and their access to TRICARE PRIME needed to be eliminated and they need to pay much more for medical insurance.
“UNAFFORDABLE”…
My wife’s grandfather served in the Army during the Korean War while safely stationed in England. He only served four years yet has always been eligible for and received full medical benefits from the VA.
I don’t know if this was policy that was changed but when McCain says the elderly veterans are unaffordable he may be referring to the old policy of providing full benefits regardless of time in service.
When my dad retired in 1978 he received full benefits but it required 20 years service. I served 8 years and receive none. Which is as it should be if I don’t have a service related injury.
I received VA care during the 90′s because I went through more than a year of unemployment. At that time, you could qualify for benefits based on your income, and it was up to about $20,000 before you had no benefits. Thank God I didn’t have any serious health issues I had to depend on them to remedy.
I’ve even had to file a complaint with the Vet Center since the VA passed me over for employment. I lost, of course.
My experience, and experiences of friends & co-workers at VA facilities, has been more incompetence and mistakes, than any type of quality care. Unless you have a 100% disability, you don’t get close to a decent physician or any type of quality treatment.
One of my co-workers was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was being scheduled for treatments. After a few months, they notified him that they had made a mistake and mixed him up with another Vet.
My retired service buddy had to wait years before he got benefits for Agent Orange. He retired after 22 years; I gave them one hitch after my first few years of abuse.
First off, the quality of care is marginal; Secondly, it’s just another government agency that is overstaffed with low qualified, overpaid employees, with retirement packages equivalent to some CEO packages; Like the Post Office of yesteryear.
But with implementation of ObabaCare, VA facilities may become the major educational centers for American Healthcare workers.
And I wish someone would medicate John McCain for his mental incompetence and spasmodic brainstorms.
You touch upon a means whereby the gov has kept Veterans divided among themselves. To the twenty year Vet, the four year Vet isn’t as deserving of gov largess. To the thirty year Vet, the twenty year Vet isn’t as deserving of gov largess. To the combat Vet, no one else is as deserving of gov largess as he is.
A few years ago, twenty and thirty year Vets, mostly partially disabled, lobbied for disability payments on top of their retirement checks…and got it. A part of their argument was that they were more deserving than other Vets. Many of them now get sixty thou a year or more…plus, full medical and other ‘on military base’ privileges. iow, most of them are now making much more than if they were on active duty, today.
…and almost all of these Vets complain bitterly about the gov giving money to welfare moms…while they are, essentially, on the dole, themselves.
I dunno what to do to change all of that…but it’s keeping Veterans divided and politically and socially ineffective and unable to focus on keeping our Oaths…to protect and defend The Constitution, against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Another rarely discussed item is that of the “non-service connected disability,” which is literally a form of SSI for Veterans who in actuality have no service-related issues.
I get 40% for actual, physical injuries earned during my service. I also know someone who gets a non-service connected, basically because he’s been a chronic screwup during his adult life, and he’s a heavy drinker (neither of which have anything whatsoever to do with his military service).
He gets around twice what I get.
VA system is already messed up. I have a relative who uses the system.
1) They make the vets go to a Veterans’ clinic or hospital. Only ER visits can be at other facilities and then they MUST be transferred within 24 hours or the VA won’t cover it. In the case of rural Vets, clinics and hospitals are several hours and sometimes days away and the won’t let you go to the hospital that is minutes or just a couple hours away. There may be extenuating circumstances for using other places but they aren’t easy to do.
2)They are extremely wasteful. Just because you can get new diabetic shoes every year doesn’t mean you should. But the VA system still approves and sends them out. Or just trying to get some medication to be filled when you are out of your local area. It shouldn’t take all day long when you have a system that is supposedly already nationally integrated.
3) The doctors seem to not make good decisions. A fungal/bacterial infection in sweaty feet caused by the aforesaid diabetic shoes was treated with antibiotics/antifungals but had to have the dressing changed only once a week or every two weeks at the clinic or hospital. It took at least three months of multi-day trips to fix something that should have taken much less time by an in-patient stay or local hospital visits where progress could have been monitored and the dressing changed daily.
4) Due to cost cutbacks already, this same relative can only monitor his diabetes every 2-3 days. They won’t pay for more test strips. And if he tries to get treatment outside the VA system (see #1 above), he loses all VA benefits.
This is an absolute disgrace. However, the money has to come from somewhere to pay for
the free health care for illegals! The misallocation of health care funds is epic. Free birth
control for all women when most have no problem paying the $10 a month, but cutting
military health care demonstrates clearly the decline in values and morality. How dare they???
let me get this straight,
all of washington politico’s exempt themselves from obamascare.
and their staffs, and their friends.
they constantly vote themselves more perks.
el presidente costs us $1.4 billion a year to maintain.
he gives away tax $$ to all his friends by the billion$.
billion$ to our enemies.
goes on $20 million vacations.
illegals getting info. from mexico on how to get free stuff when they get here.
free phones w/ 250 min’s / mo. for votes.
food stamps all around. no real criteria anybody is going to check on.
free disability for life to anybody w/ half an excuse.
welfare cases at all time high.
unemployment benefits for years, no need to apply for work anyway.
millions have quit looking for work.
destroy our energy industry.
hog-tie industry w/ thousands of stupid regulations.
trash the constitution at every turn.
make underhanded deals w/ our enemies.
sell thousads of assault weapons to mexican drug cartels (fast & furious).
leave our people to fight off terrorists w/o sending any readily available aid (benghazi).
cut and run in iraq w/o even leaving a token force.
cut & run in afgan (ditto).
cut the crap out of anything relating to the military, including their earned benefits.
furnishes obvious forgeries and refuses to again offer proper documentation/credentials prior to taking oath of office.
yep, move along. nothing out of character here. operation destroy America right on schedule.