Readers of Tom Philpott's Military Update column sound off.

Obama Assurances Don't Quiet Skeptics On Health Reform

Reference your story, "Obama: Health Plan Won't Hurt Vet Care," don't be naive.

Obama is no fool and he's obviously trying to eat the whole healthcare "elephant" one bite at a time. Once he gets a basic plan -- any old plan will do – he will start a "debate" that's waiting just off stage about how all Americans, military and civilian alike, should be entitled to the same level of care, and that the military shouldn't be entitled to healthcare benefits the civilian population doesn't have.

All of the existing sources of health care will be "dumped" into his healthcare stewpot. The argument will be, and his Congress will vote for it, that if the national healthcare scheme is good enough for the American public, it's good enough for the military.

There may be nothing that touches military healthcare benefits in today's bill, but look out for tomorrow's amendments!

J. Y. DAWG
Via e-mail

Who is going to pay for Obama's health care reform? The retired military? The aged? Who else?

Yeah. He's got a plan. I'm afraid you need to consider who this "plan" is going to affect. It will take from those who have worked all their lives to earn what they have -- the "wealthy" and those who served their country (the military), and were told they had earned their benefits (TRICARE Prime) and give to the slackers who will take for doing nothing!

No thanks. Obama can keep his health plan. I'd prefer to keep what I earned!

MAHLON E. TRENZ
Chief Aviation Aerographers Mate, USN-Ret
Via e-mail

The unaddressed issue of TRICARE and VA being lumped into a larger government-run bureaucracy scared the "holy heck" out of me.

I still don't believe the President--but at least the question was asked. And for that I thank you!

Although I still hate the thought of paying anything for my earned military healthcare benefit, I am very satisfied with my TRICARE. I've been retired some 11 years and have always received exceptional care at nearby Keesler Air Force Base or have been referred to a local medical facility or specialist.

I do count my Blessings.

Anyhow, keep up the fine work. Your efforts are appreciated!

RON SLIGA
USAF-Ret.
Biloxi, Miss.

The president's stand [on TRICARE and veterans' care] is good news, so far as it goes. But TRICARE for Life was not addressed.

Also, it is still a problem that the Department of Veterans Affairs will not and, according to VA officials, "cannot" submit claims to Medicare for VA visits. So any time I see a doctor at the VA health care center it costs me $50. This is in addition to the cost for Medicare part B.

DAVID RIDINGS
Master Sergeant, USA-Ret.
Via e-mail

Benefit experts for the Military Officers' Association of America are watching closely how health reform legislation might impact Medicare and , therefore, TRICARE for Life which is a Medicare supplement.

Here's a link to their informed analysis on this issue.

MOAA's "bottom line" on the potential impact on TFL includes these points:

-- Congress is not going to "kill Medicare" or "kill TFL."

-- Seniors are the most powerful voting bloc in America, and legislators aren't going to flagrantly disregard their interests.

-- Many things in the health care reform legislation are positive for Medicare/TRICARE beneficiaries and seek reasonable cost constraints that minimize impact on beneficiaries.

-- There also are some things that cause justifiable concern, such as using some Medicare savings to fund universal health care, but applying cost-constraint "hammers" (e.g., a future commission) only to Medicare.

-- There's no denying that something has to be done to constrain Medicare cost growth, as the alternative (much higher taxes) won't fly, and that will almost certainly necessitate some "lesser of the evils" choices. – Tom Philpott

BAD TRICARE SWITCH

I currently work in medical billing for a large hospital emergency room. Health Net, the current managed care support contractor for TRICARE's North Region, has been one of the easiest insurance companies to work with. I would put UnitedHealth Care, which would replace Humana in running the South Region, as one of the worse with Aetna, which won the North Region contract, a close second.

Keep a close eye on your Explanation of Benefits from these companies as they are quick to deny coverage.

KAY WADE
Via e-mail

After finding out that TRICARE is going with UnitedHealth, I could not believe it. I am retired Air Force. The company I worked for had United and only kept it for one year because it was so bad. Most of all the health providers in the Birmingham (Ala.) area will not use UnitedHealth.

Seems like, when things are going okay, they what to change.

JOE LOVOY
McCalla, Ala.

CUTTING BACK ON TRICARE 'PRIME'

I've seen a lot of letters about the quality of the new TRICARE support contractors, but none about an issue that concerns me more: the elimination of the Prime option for some areas not close to a military treatment facility.

We live in the metro Tulsa area, home to a very large number of military retirees. We're about 120 miles from the nearest MTF and have enjoyed being able to realize the cost savings of Prime though we see civilian providers. Our claims have been handled fairly and promptly. Now we wait anxiously to learn if this option will be denied to us and many others. We wonder what our healthcare costs will be if it happens.

Hopefully, we'll learn soon if we need to figure greatly increased costs into our budget.

DEBORAH LANE
Tulsa, Okla.

PRAISE FOR TFL

My wife and I have had many health problems over the past ten years as we continue to age into our middle seventies. We both want to "salute" TRICARE for Life (TFL) for being the most outstanding secondary insurance to our Medicare. We have never had one problem as TFL has always paid their part of the medical coverage on our behalf.

Thanks, TRICARE!
KENNETH D. DUFF
First Sergeant, USMC-Ret.
Via e-mail

Letters may be edited for clarity or length. Write to Military Forum, P.O. Box 231111, Centreville, VA 20120-1111, send e-mail to militaryforum@aol.com or visit www.militaryupdate.com