Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. The Obama Administration on Friday threatened to veto a Defense Appropriations Bill in part because it does not include higher health care fees for members of the military. The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation" the White House wrote in an official policy statement expressing opposition to the bill which the House approved in May.
President Obamas most recent budget proposal includes billions of dollars in higher fees for members of TRICARE the military health care system and is part of the administrations plan to cut nearly $500 billion from the Pentagons budget.
Some fear the administrations proposal is an effort to increase enrollment in the state-run insurance exchanges mandated under the presidents controversial health care law.
The administration urged the House to reconsider" to fee increase arguing they are essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs." The House bill has significant bipartisan support and easily passed by a margin of 299 to 120.
The Obama administrations proposed defense budget calls for military families and retirees to pay sharply more for their healthcare while leaving unionized civilian defense workers benefits untouched. The proposal is causing a major rift within the Pentagon according to U.S. officials. Several congressional aides suggested the move is designed to increase the enrollment in Obamacares state-run insurance exchanges.
The disparity in treatment between civilian and uniformed personnel is causing a backlash within the military that could undermine recruitment and retention.
The proposed increases in health care payments by service members which must be approved by Congress are part of the Pentagons $487 billion cut in spending. It seeks to save $1.8 billion from the Tricare medical system in the fiscal 2013 budget and $12.9 billion by 2017.
Many in Congress are opposing the proposed changes which would require the passage of new legislation before being put in place.
We shouldnt ask our military to pay our bills when we arent willing to impose a similar hardship on the rest of the population" Rep. Howard Buck" McKeon chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a Republican from California said in a statement to the Washington Free Beacon. We cant keep asking those who have given so much to give that much more."
Administration officials told Congress that one goal of the increased fees is to force military retirees to reduce their involvement in Tricare and eventually opt out of the program in favor of alternatives established by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare.
When they talked to us they did mention the option of healthcare exchanges under Obamacare. So its in their mind" said a congressional aide involved in the issue.
Military personnel from several of the armed services voiced their opposition to a means-tested tier system for Tricare prompting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey to issue a statement Feb. 21.
This entry was posted in Obama Administration and tagged Military budget cuts Obama Sequestration Tricare.
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. The Obama Administration on Friday threatened to veto a Defense Appropriations Bill in part because it does not include higher health care fees for members of the military. The Administration is disappointed that the Congress did not incorporate the requested TRICARE fee initiatives into either the appropriation or authorization legislation" the White House wrote in an official policy statement expressing opposition to the bill which the House approved in May.
President Obamas most recent budget proposal includes billions of dollars in higher fees for members of TRICARE the military health care system and is part of the administrations plan to cut nearly $500 billion from the Pentagons budget.
Some fear the administrations proposal is an effort to increase enrollment in the state-run insurance exchanges mandated under the presidents controversial health care law.
The administration urged the House to reconsider" to fee increase arguing they are essential for DOD to successfully address rising personnel costs." The House bill has significant bipartisan support and easily passed by a margin of 299 to 120.
The Obama administrations proposed defense budget calls for military families and retirees to pay sharply more for their healthcare while leaving unionized civilian defense workers benefits untouched. The proposal is causing a major rift within the Pentagon according to U.S. officials. Several congressional aides suggested the move is designed to increase the enrollment in Obamacares state-run insurance exchanges.
The disparity in treatment between civilian and uniformed personnel is causing a backlash within the military that could undermine recruitment and retention.
The proposed increases in health care payments by service members which must be approved by Congress are part of the Pentagons $487 billion cut in spending. It seeks to save $1.8 billion from the Tricare medical system in the fiscal 2013 budget and $12.9 billion by 2017.
Many in Congress are opposing the proposed changes which would require the passage of new legislation before being put in place.
We shouldnt ask our military to pay our bills when we arent willing to impose a similar hardship on the rest of the population" Rep. Howard Buck" McKeon chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and a Republican from California said in a statement to the Washington Free Beacon. We cant keep asking those who have given so much to give that much more."
Administration officials told Congress that one goal of the increased fees is to force military retirees to reduce their involvement in Tricare and eventually opt out of the program in favor of alternatives established by the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare.
When they talked to us they did mention the option of healthcare exchanges under Obamacare. So its in their mind" said a congressional aide involved in the issue.
Military personnel from several of the armed services voiced their opposition to a means-tested tier system for Tricare prompting Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey to issue a statement Feb. 21.
This entry was posted in Obama Administration and tagged Military budget cuts Obama Sequestration Tricare.
