Another Threat to Military Retirees

[neillarson]

We were informed a couple of months ago, that our healthcare HMO option is being taken away as of October 1st. This increases out of pocket by about $5000 a Year. So we have to live with that.

Now I read this article in the Associated Press about cuts the PENTAGON wants to make that is being opposed by Congress.

"Perhaps the most significant cost savings historically opposed by Congress are Pentagon efforts to scale back military retirement benefits, including proposals to increase premiums or co-pays for retirees.
"I think there's a misunderstanding in Congress about what it is that would change," Harrison said. "They tend to associate changes in retirement benefits with changes to veterans benefits."
But changes to retiree health care would only affect the approximately 17 percent of the service members who stay in the military long enough to qualify for retirement, and those are usually more senior officers who already have a higher income. Veterans' benefits more often help those with lower incomes, and they are included in the Veterans Affairs Department budget, not the Pentagon's".

This is an absurd statement as the majority of the Military Retirees are enlisted in the E6 and E7 pay grades. most of those are not well off and need this Insurance. Please drop a note to your Senators and Congressman to oppose this.


Senate Armed Services Committee

Carl Levin, Michigan, Chairman
Jack Reed, Rhode Island
Bill Nelson, Florida
Claire McCaskill, Missouri
Mark Udall, Colorado
Kay Hagan, North Carolina
Joe Manchin, West Virginia
Jeanne Shaheen, New Hampshire
Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut
Joe Donnelly, Indiana
Mazie Hirono, Hawaii
Tim Kaine, Virginia
Angus King, Maine[2]
James Inhofe, Oklahoma, Ranking Member
John McCain, Arizona
Jeff Sessions, Alabama
Saxby Chambliss, Georgia
Roger Wicker, Mississippi
Kelly Ayotte, New Hampshire
Deb Fischer, Nebraska
Lindsey Graham, South Carolina
David Vitter, Louisiana
Roy Blunt, Missouri
Mike Lee, Utah
Ted Cruz, Texas


House Armed Service Committee

Howard "Buck" McKeon, California, Chairman
Mac Thornberry, Texas, Vice Chair (112th)
Walter B. Jones, North Carolina
Randy Forbes, Virginia
Jeff Miller, Florida
Joe Wilson, South Carolina
Frank LoBiondo, New Jersey
Rob Bishop of Utah
Mike Turner, Ohio
John Kline, Minnesota
Mike Rogers, Alabama
Trent Franks, Arizona
Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania
Mike Conaway, Texas
Doug Lamborn, Colorado
Rob Wittman, Virginia
Duncan D. Hunter, California
John C. Fleming, Louisiana
Mike Coffman, Colorado
Scott Rigell, Virginia
Chris Gibson, New York
Vicky Hartzler, Missouri
Joe Heck, Nevada
Jon Runyan, New Jersey
Austin Scott, Georgia
Steven Palazzo, Mississippi
Martha Roby, Alabama
Mo Brooks, Alabama
Rich Nugent, Florida
Kristi Noem, South Dakota
Paul Cook, California
Jim Bridenstine, Oklahoma
Brad Wenstrup, Ohio
Jackie Walorski, Indiana
Adam Smith, Washington. Ranking Member
Loretta Sanchez, California
Mike McIntyre, North Carolina
Bob Brady, Pennsylvania
Rob Andrews, New Jersey
Susan A. Davis, California
James R. Langevin, Rhode Island
Rick Larsen, Washington
Jim Cooper, Tennessee
Madeleine Bordallo, Guam
Joe Courtney, Connecticut
David Loebsack, Iowa
Niki Tsongas, Massachusetts
John Garamendi, California
Hank Johnson, Georgia
Colleen Hanabusa, Hawaii
Jackie Speier, California
Ron Barber, Arizona
André Carson, Indiana
Carol Shea-Porter, New Hampshire
Dan Maffei, New York
Derek Kilmer, Washington
Joaquín Castro, Texas
Tammy Duckworth, Illinois
Scott Peters, California
William Enyart, Illinois
Pete Gallego, Texas
Marc Veasey, Texas

 

[NoobCrawler]

It is really sad the way veterans are treatedby government. You hear stories of amputees who aren't getting treatment and/or help from anyone. I get it costs money, but they're owed that for the service and sacrifice.

 

[neillarson]

Fairly constant erosion of benefits is a way of life for the military. During wartime, the benefits ramp up but as soon as the war starts winding down or becomes unpopular, the cuts begin.

 

[72Blazer]

My wife works at a VA hospital here. Her boss just came back from a conference in Denver.There she met an Army Colonel that was just brought out of retirement so that she could negotiate a contract with a hearing aid company so that she would be able to fit hearing aids to the detainees at Guantanamo. Our tax dollars are paying for this. This pisses me off to no end because I'm a disabled vet that can't get all the benefits I'm entitled to because of these jack asses in congress. They just can't seem to find the funding for veterans benefits but have no problem finding money for this crap!

 

[Natedog]

It is really sad the way veterans are treatedby government. You hear stories of amputees who aren't getting treatment and/or help from anyone. I get it costs money, but they're owed that for the service and sacrifice.

X100000, I served I know how they treat veterans and it's not good. Total BS, we owe our military retirees and veterans for their service, especially those who become disabled as a result of their service. They (especially enlisted) are underpaid while in and practically forgotten by our government upon retirement and/or disabling injury. :evil::evil::evil: Our government wastes lots of money on many stupid things but won't take care of vets.

 

[The Violator]

The military treats vets pretty shitty. IMO, the combat vets deserve the best care. No offense to the guys who trudged out your 20, but the guys who deal with missing limbs, PTSD, etc need the best care available. But like everywhere else, I can see them changing the benefits to the newest guys coming in, but the people who did their time deserve what they were promised in the beginning.

But really there should be no need to worry because Obama is going to provide the best medical care the 1% can pay for. You just might have to be in line behind a familia of illegals that just floated in last week.