My Life As A Military Spouse

Does the Health Care Bill Mean Changes for TRICARE?

National health care reform, which could be signed into law this week, has a key new benefit for families that will not apply to military families enrolled in the Tricare health insurance program.

A key expansion of benefits in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, HR 3590, is a requirement for health insurers to cover unmarried children up to the age of 26 who are carried on the policy of a parent.

This change, like the rest of the bill, does not apply to Tricare, according to Defense Department and congressional sources.

But congressional aides, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said several lawmakers have begun investigating how to alter Tricare so that it also covers older children who do not have their own coverage. A change is being considered for inclusion in the 2011 defense authorization bill, which the House and Senate armed services committees will begin writing later this year.

Currently, Tricare covers unmarried children up to age 23 if they are attending college or up to 21 if they are not.

Tricare spokesman Austin Comacho said he could not give a definitive statement about whether Tricare’s age limit for children would be changed.

“The only thing we can be sure of is that there will be no adverse impact to our beneficiaries,” he said.

Even before the health care vote yesterday military and veterans groups were scrambling to head off panic about the possible impact of the new rules on servicemembers' care and veterans programs. The bottom line: None of these changes should have an impact on Tricare or VA health benefits.

Late last night Kevin posted this comment from Defense Secretary Robert Gates, promising that any national health care changes "will not negatively impact" the Tricare system. Earlier in the day, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki released a similar statement noting that the new bill "will provide the protections afforded our nation’s veterans and the health care they have earned through their service."

Also on Sunday, the chairmen of five House committees (including Veterans Affairs chairman Rep. Bob Filner, D-Calif., and Armed Services chairman Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Mo.) released a letter affirming that Tricare or VA coverage satisfies new rules requiring all citizens obtain health care coverage (or face a fine).

"The intent of the bills was never to undermine or change the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs operation of their health care programs or interfere with the care that our service members receive under Tricare," the letter stated. "We commit to these dedicated service members and their families as well as our veterans that we will protect the quality health care they receive."

In a statement AMVETS officials said the House actions and memos removed any lingering concerns about the health care overhaul hurting veterans care.

But that doesn't mean everyone is assured: VFW officials disputed those promises, saying they still believe that certain Tricare programs and VA beneficiaries could be forced to purchase additional health insurance. The folks over at VetVoice have accused the VFW of playing politics and ignoring the facts on health care reform.

UPDATE: Another view, this time from American Legion National Commander Clarence Hill: “As late as 9 p.m. last evening, I was on the telephone with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and we spoke candidly about The American Legion’s concerns. Based on that conversation, the transcripts of hearings, assurances from the President and Secretary themselves, I am 100-percent confident that Congress will act responsibly as regards the nation’s veterans and their families."

Coburn holds up TRICARE/Medicare payment fix

The House has passed legislation (H.R. 4851) to delay until May 1 the 21% cut in Medicare and TRICARE payments to doctors now scheduled for next Thursday, April 1. The intent is to allow more time for Congress (which is supposed to start a two-week recess today) to work out a longer-term fix.

But a Senate effort to approve the bill quickly by a “unanimous consent” procedure hit a snag when Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) refused to consent. Under Senate rules, any senator can object to bringing a bill to the floor for action.

Coburn objected on the grounds that the cost of the bill is not offset by other spending reductions.

Unless Senate leaders can work out an agreement today, they may have to stay in session into next week to ensure the fix is passed before April 1. If they break for recess without a fix, the 21% cut will have taken effect by the time they return.

Ironically, the Senate already passed a six month fix two weeks ago (H.R. 4213), but the House didn’t agree with the funding for the bill and in turn passed only a one-month fix.

Congress has to find a way to end these monthly crises under which tens of millions of Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries are held hostage to the prospect of devastating payment cuts that will cause their doctors to stop seeing them.

posted by LoveMyTanker @ 7:04 AM