Another slap to retirees

[Razor]

I'll be willing to pay more for my family's Tricare Prime coverage as soon as our congressional "leadership" sets the example and votes to triple the cost of their health and dental coverage, while also signing a law that freezes their salaries and benefits for the next five years. "Follow Me!"

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

So I was thinking just now, but since the government created Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and now is creating some children's healthcare fund, would it have been (or be) possible to just, say, expand Medicaid to retirees and/or, in particular, permanently injured vets?

From my understanding, Medicaid isn't government-provided healthcare, it's private-sector healthcare paid for by tax dollars (the Medicaid program), given to welfare folk and the like, but from what I understand it is very good because it covers so much.

So then why not expand it, or create a new program, to give vets, retirees, and/or permanently injured vets in particular good healthcare coverage??

I mean the combat arms are one part of the military, but if any group should get very good healthcare coverage when leaving the military, at least if wounded badly, it is them I'd think.

I am not for big government programs at all, but I think soldiers are an exception, and it would also incentivize more people to join the military, they'd know if they are badly injured for life, that they get top-quality coverage at least. And we aren't talking millions of additional people added on to the system I don't think, so I don't think the cost would be too high.

Thoughts?

The Veterans' Administration fills that role.

It is socialized medicine, and in my experience, is pretty scary.

TR

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

The Veterans' Administration fills that role.

It is socialized medicine, and in my experience, is pretty scary.

TR

TR,

Your right that the VA supposedly covers that role but recently appointments that use to be every 3 months are now 6 month intervals and if for any reason you have to reschedule an appointment it's automatically another 6 months. It simply means you could wait at least 1 year later................

GB TFS

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by Broadsword2004

Well that's what I mean. Rather than give vets socialized medicine, why not give them access to private healthcare that is paid for by the taxpayers?

I believe Medicaid is private healthcare, just paid for taxpayers. It isn't actual government-run medicine.

Pure universal healthcare wouldn't be "socialized medicine" per se, but it would cost tons of money and load a lot more people onto a limited number of doctors and nurses. Like giving everyone access to a train without increasing the number of cars/seats on the train, you just clog the turnstiles more.

Adding vets, or wounded vets, however I don't think would be a large enough number of people to cause this problem. But I think it would up the quality of the healthcare that they have access to.

Retirees have access to Tricare (Retired), an insurance program similar to what you referred to. It is a pay for care system though, and the past two administrations have recommended that rates paid by vets be as much as tripled.

There are a lot more vets, and wounded vets than you would imagine. A lot of the WW II and Korean War vets are still around, and a lot of people served in Vietnam over the years.

Since the current administration just recommended forcing vets to use private insurance to cover treatment for service connected disabilities, I would not count on a lot of charity from them. They realize that most members of the volunteer military are conservatives or Republicans, as are many vets, and do not see any advantage in giving more than lip service to caring for them. If you doubt that, ask the Sec DHS, Janet Napolitano about the value of America's veterans.

TR

[Electron]

[Razor writes "I'll be willing to pay more for my family's Tricare Prime coverage as soon as our congressional "leadership" sets the example and votes to triple the cost of their health and dental coverage, while also signing a law that freezes their salaries and benefits for the next five years. "Follow Me!" ]


if they did that, they would have to vote themselves another 100% pay raise to compensate for the added expense. Then they'd cut more active duty and retiree benefits to pay for their raise. I'd be careful when asking congress to pay for something themselves...the country might go bankrupt