TRICARE
Benefits Extremely Rich - What??
Since 01-15-06
From:
Waspscpo@aol.com [mailto:Waspscpo@aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 14, 2006 11:53 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: "TRICARE Benefits Extremely Rich"
Words from
Assistant Secretary of Defense Dr. William Winkenwerder:
After describing the TRICARE benefit as “extremely rich,” Dr. Winkenwerder began
defending the yet-to-be officially proposed changes as a necessity to sustain
the benefit.
HEALTH CARE NEWS
DoD Officials Address Military Associations on proposed TRICARE Increases
On Jan 11, Dr. William Winkenwerder, assistant secretary of defense for health
affairs, presented a briefing to members of The Military Coalition on the
justifications for increasing the cost share of the TRICARE healthcare program
for the under-65 military retiree. NAUS legislative director Rick Jones and
health care advisor Kimberly Standish participated in the TMC-sponsored
discussion.
After describing the TRICARE benefit as “extremely rich,” Dr. Winkenwerder began
defending the yet-to-be officially proposed changes as a necessity to sustain
the benefit.
“We don’t want to find ourselves where some have found themselves in the private
sector, and that is at the breaking point, a crisis where we have to cut
something out,” Dr. Winkenwerder said when discussing the department’s rising
healthcare costs and overall budgetary constraints.
Regarding the specific plan, Dr. Winkenwerder told the group, “I wouldn’t want
you to think that what you have seen reported is what’s going to happen.” When
asked for detail on the proposal, he avoided the question saying, “We’ll share
more information in the near future,” indicating the department’s clear
intention to alter the program.
Though no detail on the exact DoD plan was given, Dr. Winkenwerder strongly
suggested the possibility of a TRICARE means test. He said there should be
consideration on “the relative ability to pay.” “Clearly,” he said, “people
have different abilities to pay for these things, and we should be mindful of
that.”
In a previous Weekly Update, NAUS reported that the department planed to raise
TRICARE cost-shares, deductibles, and enrollment fees over the next three
years. According to NAUS sources, TRICARE Prime enrollment for enlisted service
members would increase to $450 (individual coverage) / $900 (family coverage);
and officers would see an increase to $750 / $1,500 by fiscal year 2009.
There would also be an increase in TRICARE Standard deductibles; enlisted
service members $200 / $400 and officers $300 / $600. Also, a TRICARE Standard
enrollment fee would be established. And, co-payments for the TRICARE Retail
pharmacy program would increase to $5 (Tier I), $15 (Tier II) and $22 (Tier III)
from $3 (Tier 1), $9 (Tier II) and $22 (Tier III).
NAUS health care advisor, Kimberly Stanish, noted during the meeting that even
though Dr Winkenwerder glossed over some of the DoD’s attempts at cost savings
and efficiencies, such as the new TRICARE contracts and BRAC consolidations,
there still seemed to be a clear decision to put the cost savings on the retiree
and not Department.
An example, the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) program costs the government
much less money (due to Federal Pricing of drugs) than the TRICARE Retail
Program. However, instead of marketing/communicating the TMOP program, which
also saves the beneficiary money, DoD will instead increase the cost-share for
using the Retail program.
While DoD believes that they have the legal authority to raise these fees, they
realize that they can be stopped. All it takes is Congress. This is where we
need your help. Please contact your Senators and Representatives and urge them
to stop DoD from eroding your benefits.
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)