Health Care and the U.S. Military

[Gregory Matthews]

An examination of the proposed budget of President Trump shows that he   intends to cut the number people who provide health care to U.S. military members by 17,991 positions or by 22%.  This will probably not reduce the overall clinical are provided to U.S. military who are on active duty.  So, why should anyone object.  Is this not a reasonable reduction in unnecessary expenses?

Well, those clinical providers also provide clinical care to the  family members of the active duty military, on an as available basis.  IOW, the MTF (military treatment facility) is not always be able to provide the family member with clinical care.  But, the family  members of active military are generally covered by one of the several versions of an insurance program known as TRICARE.  So, those family members will not be without clinical coverage.  Due to co-pays and other charges clinical care under TRICARE will cost them more than it would if they received it from a  MTF.  But, isn't this reasonable as most people on insurance programs pay part of the costs of their clinical care?

Well, there is another issue:  clinical care provided in a MTF is generally of less cost to the government that is costs the government to provide under  Tricare.  So, in actual fact, if the proposed reductions of President Trump take place, the cost to the government to  provide clinical care  to the family members of active  military members will increase.

Way to go:  Decrease in one place so that an increase takes place in another place, which is higher than the money saved.

 

NOTE:  In the interest of transparency and disclosure, my wife has probably not received clinical care from a MTF in the past 20 years.  Currently we either pay out of pocket for her care or she get is under one of the versions of TRICARE.  We do pay some out of pocket as TRICARE, as is typical for an insurance product, does not pay for all care.

NOTE:  The above information has been taken from a news release of the Military Officers Association of America,. Dated March 28, 2019.