WASHINGTON
A Senate committee has rejected Pentagon proposals to boost the health insurance premiums paid by more than 3 million military retirees, stripping the plan out of legislation setting a wide range of Defense Department policies.
The decision announced today by the Senate Armed Services Committee marks the fourth year in a row that lawmakers have rebuffed attempts by uniformed leaders and the Bush administration to shift a larger share of the military’s mushrooming health costs to retirees.
Military retiree health premiums have been frozen for more than a decade. Retirees under age 65 currently pay an average of of $460 per year for health coverage through the Tricare insurance program.
More than 137,000 military retirees live in Virginia, according to Defense Department figures compiled in 2005; some 53,000 of those are in Hampton Roads, a group of Old Dominion University researchers estimated in 2003.
The health fee increases were offered as part of the administration’s $606 billion defense budget plan for 2009. The Senate committee endorsed most other parts of that proposal, including the Navy’s request for about $4 billion to continue construction of the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, now being assembled at Northrop Grumman’s Newport News Shipyard.
The committee also agreed to call on Navy leaders to provide a formal report on the condition of ships already in service. The action follows recent inspections of the Norfolk-based destroyer Stout and a Pacific fleet cruiser, the Chosin, which turned up widespread corrosion and other major deficiencies.
The committee action is a milestone in Congress’ annual debate over defense funding. A House committee is scheduled to complete work later this month on its version of the budget plan, with a final, compromise bill not expected to be complete until the fall.
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RE: Being
"I worked hard to get where I am and I feel no obligation to help anyone who won't help themselves."
Many people work hard to get where they are, but unfortunately life can happen and they need assistance. I know because there was a time when it happened to me. I'm not in favor of free hand-outs, and that's what so many people think the Democrats are all about. I would much rather help my fellow American's than bomb the heck out of a country spending billions of our tax dollars doing so and then spend billions more rebuilding that same country. There is something totally wrong with that picture.
Being....
Being a republican, I can say that I agree with the congressional committee on this one. It has always been an expressed benefit that is used to get people to sign up or reup. Everyone can at least get something right but I will not use this one example as a reason to endorse the democratic tax and give to the lame and lazy process that is sure to be enacted if a democrat gets into the white house. I worked hard to get where I am and I feel no obligation to help anyone who won't help themselves.
RE: Maybe
"Yep, Dems ALWAYS keep their promises."
You act like Republicans alwasy DO keep their promises. Right?
Maybe...
Maybe Pelosi et al will eliminate medical indurance premiums for military retirees. Right after they keep their promise to reduce gas prices, right?
Yep, Dems ALWAYS keep their promises.
jmo
No Respect
What do you expect from a president and vice president who both avoided going to vietnam.
This administration is a disgrace to the men and women who have given a lot of sacrafice for very little pay. Now all they seem to want to do is break promises made to our Protecters of Freedom!
A Promise Not Kept - Lesson To Be Learned
I entered in 1968 and did 20 years. Yes, I was promised that it would be free following retirement which is one of the many reasons I stayed in time and time again. I remember when the fee was imposed and the outrage from retirees. Congress said: "Do they have that in writing?" No, sadly we didn't. We took recruiters, career advisors, and our government at their word. If you are in now and planning on reenlisting or planning on enlisting for the first time make sure any "promise" is in writing! Oh yeah, if you didn't see the cost scale that they tried to pass to charge retirees you'd be even more upset. Those making the least (retired enlisted) would - percentage wise - pay the most. I can see why it had the full support of all those four stars who supported it including the Joint Chiefs!
RE: I'm ticked
"The decision announced today by the Senate Armed Services Committee marks the fourth year in a row that lawmakers have rebuffed attempts by uniformed leaders and the Bush administration to shift a larger share of the military’s mushrooming health costs to retirees."
Perhaps you didn't read the article to be concerned about Clinton or Hussain becoming president when it's YOUR own president George Bush who wants to shift a large share of the military's health cost to retirees.
Healthcare
My husband did 22 years active duty. When he retired it was supposed to be free health care for him and for me. I understand that, but with the way things are going, I am just glad they didn't raise it. Now if they could just get dental affordable.
On the plus side of getting care, we are seen at Portsmouth and at Boone Clinic. I have had a few operations and I have no complaints. I was treated with respect and great care. Only thing I have used that I would change at Portsmouth is they need more qualified people in their Physical Therapy department. I for one, am glad I have medical benefits. Maybe congress should allot a little more of what we pay for a little more professional help when needed.
i'm ticked....
....at retirees having to pay at all! Free health care for life for 20 + years of service was what we were told when I entered in the late seventies. $460 and we still use military health facilities on base same as before on active duty? No problem, they're some of the best around. At least we're not getting in the way of civilians out in town I guess.
I'm just glad Hillary or Hussein won't get in there...talk about a train wreck in health care...
They were promised FREE health care for life...
Older military retirees were promised free health care for life. They are already paying more for health care premiums that they thought they would be. The retirees over 65 are mostly lower middle class on fixed incomes. Our veterans should not have to chose between medical care and prescriptions or food on the table. Shame on us.
Congratulations--it's the right thing to do!
Congress finally did something right in refusing to raise the cost of health insurance for military retirees!
Mission Accomplished!
I don't understand why the Bush administration continues to get a free pass from the military (active and retired) in this area. There seems to be no outrage when the current administration wants to minimize pay raises and inflate our health care cost. In both cases the democratic congress has had to step in and reject the proposals and give the military what they deserve.
Oh yeah. Today is the 5 year anniversary of Bush's famous "mission accomplished" speech.
Finally something good
Many of these retirees were promised free health care for the rest of their lives if they did their 20 years and now we want to sock it to them more. I have a brilliant idea. Stop wasting money on useless and illegal wars, bring our troops home, quit trying to re-build every country in this world and then just maybe there wouldn't be a need to try and place the cost of veterans health care on the shoulders of retirees.
These brave men and women did their time defending this country, the least we can do is see to it that they have the necessary health care that was promised when they signed up to begin with. Its not like their pension often goes all that far anyway.