New Healthcare Plan: Making the "Military Pay"

If you've watched the news at all recently, you've most likely heard some "mumblings" about the plans to increase healthcare costs for the troops. If you're in the military, you've listened especially close to this information and most likely been a little perturbed by what you heard. 


So unfortunately, this is not going to be one of those "feel good" posts, but I think the following points are important and you should be aware of any future changes that may take place. 


Here are some of the proposed changes that, if approved, will be starting next year :


1) The defense budget calls for military families and retirees to pay more for their healthcare, while leaving unionized civilian defense workers' benefits untouched. 
2) The government seeks to save $1.8 billion from the Tricare medical system in the fiscal 2013 budget, and $12.9 billion by 2017.
3) The plan calls for increases between 30 percent to 78 percent in Tricare annual premiums for the first year and then five-year increases ranging from 94 percent to 345 percent—more than 3 times current levels.
4) According to congressional assessments, a retired Army colonel with a family currently paying $460 a year for health care would now pay $2,048.
5) The new plan hits active duty personnel by increasing co-payments for pharmaceuticals and eliminating incentives for using generic drugs.

(source: Fox.com)

This budget has yet to be approved and these items may change in the next few months, but it's always good to be prepared in case things to take a turn for the worst. 

Wishing this post was a happier one,

Whit