Tricare fee for Active Duty Service Members
As of a FY 2010 report to congress, Tricare had 9.5 million beneficiaries. If a fee was assessed of merely $20/year per beneficiary, then this would significantly help offset the cost of the program, as well as covering specialty services for Soldiers who may have family members enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program that will require a higher level of care and sometimes expenses. While the amount of dependents does vary from each Service Member, it would be a good faith and a small token from the Service Member to pay for the year for quality healthcare. for Active Duty Members. I realize the fees for Retired Service Members are still quite low and that could also be raised by a small percentage to further offset the costs.
2 comments
Mike Hopper • over 13 years ago
The key question is whether healthcare for active duty military is a "benefit" (which is part of their compensation, as it is now) or a product, which they would pay a portion of--still a benefit but not as complete as it is now...?
Karli Daigle • over 13 years ago
I would call it a paid benefit, an automatic yearly deduction. It should not be a product, something that could be declined or picked piece by piece. While some Service Members definitely require a higher level of care, the military has always been about supporting the entire family and being proactive as opposed to reactive. Making it a product instead of a benefit would disable the ability for healthcare to be anticipatory and thus not be helpful to families while Service Members may be deployed causing possible undue stress.