CBO says military health-care costs could soar

[alp227]

Source: The Washington Post

Active and retired service personnel and their families are increasing their use of the military health care system at a faster rate than civilians enrolled in comparable private health programs, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office.

As a result, the annual cost to the Defense Department’s health care program could grow from $51 billion in fiscal 2013 to $65 billion by 2017 and $90 billion by 2030, according to CBO estimates in the report, “Long-Term Implications of the 2013 Future Years Defense Program,” which was released Wednesday.

That means, according to the CBO projections, the Defense Department, which will pay out 9 percent of its base budget for health care in fiscal 2013, would be paying out 14 percent in 2030, roughly equivalent to what it spends today on all military research and development programs.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/cbo-says-military-health-care-costs-could-soar/2012/07/16/gJQAFLVQpW_singlePage.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Next will be headlines demonizing the "entitlements" of military families and vets..wait, just wait.

[cstanleytech]

4. Oh I am sure the republicans or the tea party people (still really republican just using new name)

have that on their checklist of what programs they feel need to be defunded if they gain control over more of the government.
Funny thing is though if it happens the military personal both retired and active who voted republican and who it happens to will end up getting exactly what they deserve then.

[Politicalboi]

2. These figures should be

Added to war costs prior to invasions. The cost of EVERY soldiers health covered 100% for deployments to war.

[southernyankeebelle]

3. There was a time when I was a child we got free care at the military hospitals and even dental

care. Now that my husband is retired from the military we are paying for our TRICARE coverage. My husband and every soldier and their families who spent their life traveling and working all over the play deserve that pension.

[msongs]

5. medicare for all/single payer would render military health care obsolete nt

[AnnieBW]

6. Aging Vets Who Lose Health Care Will Turn To the VA

My father, who just passed away, was a Korean War vet. He went to school on the GI Bill, but never asked for ANYTHING from the VA. When he got sick and Mom had to look into long-term care, she was going to try the VA home, since the one in Pittsburgh has a good reputation. And this was with Medicare. As the Korean vets get older and Medicare is cut, they will start relying on the VA for more geriatric services. Add to that the Vietnam Vets, the oldest of whom are getting close to needing geriatric care themselves. (Not to mention a lot of wounded, PSTD, substance abuse, etc.) And this is just the tip of the iceberg, folks. Gulf War and Afghanistan/Iraq vets who are in the private sector and lose their health care may fall back on VA services, too.

Expect the Repubs to "honor the troops" by going after veterans' services next.

[fasttense]

7. So, what did they expect when they increased the price of Tricare and Prime?

Retired military have 2 basic option for health care. They can use military facilities for free or pay for a manged health care system like Tricare and Tricare Prime. Last year, DoD sent out a letter telling everyone on these managed health care programs that the annual costs were going up both for the medical services and for prescription drugs.

So, what did they expect these retirees to do? COLA hasn't been kept at realistic numbers so every year the value of a military retirement decreases. Most retirees can't afford the increase in Tricare costs so they are using military facilities more frequently.

And now DoD is surprised?