Military Medical - Final Part

Per the March 6, 2012 Military.com Legislative Center website the proposed Department of Defense budget will ask retirees and their family members to cough up $13 billion over the next 5 years. The proposed TRICARE changes include the following starting October 1, 2012 (The enrollment fees and deductible changes would affect military retirees only and the changes to Pharmacy co-pays would affect all TRICARE beneficiaries):

Proposed TRICARE Prime Annual Family Enrollment Fees (Individual Fees are 50%) for Working-Age Retirees

Retired Pay Tiers        FY 2012       FY2013     FY2014      FY2015      FY2016*     FY2017

$0 - $22,589                $460/$520      $600         $680          $760           $850           $893

$22,590 - $45,178       $460/$520      $720         $920         $1,185        $1,450        $1,523

Over $45,178               $460/$520      $820        $1,120       $1,535        $1,950        $2,048

*Indexed to medical inflation (National Health Expenditures) after FY 2016.

Proposed TRICARE Standard/Extra Fees/Deductibles for Working-Age Retirees

Annual Enrollment Fees FY 2012     FY2013     FY2014     FY2015      FY2016      FY2017*

Individual                         $0               $70            $85          $100            $115          $130

Family                             $0              $140          $170         $200            $230          $250

Annual Deductibles

Individual                          $150           $160         $200          $230           $260         $290

Family                              $300           $320         $400         $460           $520          $580

*Indexed to medical inflation (National Health Expenditures) after FY 2017.

Proposed TRICARE-for-Life (TFL) Annual Enrollment Fees – Per Individual

Retired Pay Tiers        FY 2012       FY2013     FY2014      FY2015      FY2016*     FY2017

$0 - $22,589                    $0               $35           $75             $115          $150           $158

$22,590 - $45,178          $0               $75           $150           $225          $300           $317

Over $45,178                   $0               $115         $225           $335          $450           $475

*Indexed to medical inflation (National Health Expenditures) after FY 2016.

Proposed Pharmacy Co-Pays for All TRICARE Beneficiaries

RX Source                 FY 2012       FY2013     FY2014      FY2015      FY2016       FY2017

Retail – 1 month fill

Generic                           $5               $5               $6             $7               $8              $9

Brand Name                   $12             $26            $28           $30             $32            $34

Non-Formulary*              $25             N/A             N/A           N/A             N/A            N/A

RX Source                 FY 2012       FY2013     FY2014      FY2015       FY2016      FY2017

Retail – 3 month fill

Generic                           $0               $0               $0             $0               $0               $9

Brand Name                   $9               $26             $28           $30             $32            $34

Non-Formulary*              $25             $51             $54           $58             $62            $66

* Non-Formulary pharmaceuticals will have limited availability in retail pharmacies

Military Treatment Facilities – No Change, Remains $0 Co-Pay

With this information I find no indication that the military or retirees are forced to obtain health care under the existing Obama health care bill. I also did not find any significant changes in cost that are not offset by the cost of living raises that are being proposed.