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On Promises Kept, Rank Our Government “Unsatisfactory”
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Disclaimer:
Thomas Segel is responsible for this content, which is not edited by the Wilson County News or wilsoncountynews.com. |
June 27, 2008 | 2 comments
Harlingen, Texas, June 26, 2008: I really have a great amount of pity
for those millions of poor souls who have such undying faith in the
promises made by any politician, particularly those who hold national
offices. Those who swallow this “Alice in Wonderland” rhetoric will
suffer the deepest cuts of all when they step back through the looking
glass and view reality for the first time.
Perhaps the best available example of the “Promises Made-Promises
Kept” lie can be found when viewing the health care provided for
career military retirees. Those who enlisted in the armed forces from
World War II through the Korean War and well up until 1958, who
elected to make the military a career were all promised health care
for themselves and their dependents for life. Recruiting literature
and every reenlistment councilor promoted this free health care option
continuously during all of those years. But, the end result was not
as promised. There is limited care. It is not free. And the program
is so stingy that a vast number of doctors and medical organizations
will not even accept those who must use the program our government
provides.
After 1958 the government started to weasel its way out of that “free
care” obligation with changes in various regulations that called for
medical services to be offered on a “space available” basis at
military facilities. They also started to close many of the facilities
that offered such services. There was CHAMPUS, a program that offered
limited services with co-pay to the individual service member or
retiree. Those past age 65 were directed to enroll in Medicare,
effectively removing them from the Department of Defense obligation to
cover their medical treatment.
When the CHAMPUS method of payment became too expensive TRICARE was
created. It quickly morphed into a hodge-podge or different plans,
each worse than the other. Members of Congress have also noted for
the record that “A significant share of the Nation’s health care
providers refuse to accept new TRICARE patients because TRICARE pays
them significantly less than commercial insurance programs and imposes
unique and extensive administrative requirements.”
Furthermore, TRICARE remains under the Department of Defense
umbrella. Everyone in uniform knows that DOD views retirees as an
extra burden hung around its neck. The agency feels retirees drain
dollars away from the beans and bullets it needs for the active duty
mission. Thus, when DOD was charged with constraining the cost of
TRICARE, a major part of the department’s cost reduction effort has
been to shift a larger share of those cost burdens to retired service
members.
In the findings and sense of Congress section of H.R. 579 it remarks,
“The beneficiary cost increases proposed by the Department of Defense
fail to recognize adequately that career service members paid enormous
in-kind premiums through their extended service and sacrifice.” But,
even with such a rebuking review DOD still continues attempts to
circumvent existing law and congressional guidelines. |
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| Your Opinions and Comments |
Tom Huelsman
La Vernia
June 28, 2008 12:43pm
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Paul Agey OSC(SW)USN Retired
Iloilo City Philippines
June 27, 2008 8:42pm
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