1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Obama to cut medical benefits for active, retired military, not union workers

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by JD88, Nov 12, 2012.

Tags:
  1. JD88

    JD88 Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2012
    Messages:
    2,597
    Likes Received:
    606
    Sorry for the bad formatting. On my phone.

    http://www.examiner.com/article/oba...for-active-retired-military-not-union-workers

    In an effort to cut defense spending, the Obama Administration plans to cut health benefits for active duty and retired military personnel and their families while not touching the benefits enjoyed by unionized civilian defense workers.The move, congressional aides suggested, is to force those individuals into*Obamacare, Bill Gertz reported at the*Washington Beacon.Gertz added:The proposed increases in health care payments by service members, which must be approved by Congress, are part of the Pentagon’s $487 billion cut in spending. It seeks to save $1.8 billion from the Tricare medical system in the fiscal 2013 budget, and $12.9 billion by 2017.Not everybody is happy with the plan, however.Military personnel would see their annual Tricare premiums increase anywhere from 30 - 78 percent in the first year, followed by sharply increased premiums "ranging from 94 percent to 345 percent—more than 3 times current levels.""According to congressional assessments, a retired Army colonel with a family currently paying $460 a year for health care will pay $2,048," Gertz wrote.
     
    #1 JD88, Nov 12, 2012
  2. QdoubleA

    QdoubleA Member

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2007
    Messages:
    4,767
    Likes Received:
    256
    Wasn't relevant when it was written back in February but I guess it is now. Also from the author-who is by trade an IT professional
    Ted Nugent: Barack Obama an 'absolute America-hating punk'
    UK paper asks: Is Barack Obama the weakest President in history?
    Did President Obama give a top secret military drone to Iran?
    Report: Obama set to give missile defense secrets to Russia

    Great find JD88
     
    #2 QdoubleA, Nov 12, 2012
  3. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 15, 2002
    Messages:
    16,596
    Likes Received:
    494
    $2048 for medical care for a family is unbelievably low. I have decent insurance and my premiums are over $3600/year.
     
    #3 GladiatoRowdy, Nov 12, 2012
  4. CometsWin

    CometsWin Breaker Breaker One Nine

    Joined:
    May 15, 2000
    Messages:
    28,028
    Likes Received:
    13,046
    I pay $1488 a year just for myself. They were paying $460 a year for an entire family? Damn...
     
    #4 CometsWin, Nov 12, 2012
  5. rage

    rage Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    41
    Dann, that is entitlement at its finest. I thought you guys don't like entitlement?!
     
    #5 rage, Nov 13, 2012
  6. Buck88

    Buck88 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2001
    Messages:
    936
    Likes Received:
    19
    This! Give me that plan any day!
     
    #6 Buck88, Nov 13, 2012
  7. ling ling

    ling ling Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2002
    Messages:
    1,671
    Likes Received:
    93
    It's easy to get the plan. Just suit up. Afghanistan is waiting.
     
    #7 ling ling, Nov 13, 2012
  8. CrazyDave

    CrazyDave Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2002
    Messages:
    6,027
    Likes Received:
    439
    how many 'kids' on insurance would a retired army colonel have? Just curious.
     
    #8 CrazyDave, Nov 13, 2012
  9. Buck88

    Buck88 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2001
    Messages:
    936
    Likes Received:
    19
    No thanks! I am not interested in military service (but respect the hell out of those that do) but if your going to tell me they are entitled to outrageously cheap health care for the rest of their lives then I don't want to hear one word when taxes are raised. I think the Bush cuts should be allowed to expire on the all but the lower tax brackets and tax reform needs to be a much higher pirority then it currently is. Somehow, someway this has to be paid for - and not by the middle class alone. These burdens must be shared by all - even military vets.
     
    #9 Buck88, Nov 13, 2012
  10. ling ling

    ling ling Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2002
    Messages:
    1,671
    Likes Received:
    93
    But why cut benefits for retired military but not union benefits.
     
    #10 ling ling, Nov 13, 2012
  11. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2000
    Messages:
    20,118
    Likes Received:
    11,849
    I'd give my left nut to pay $2,048 annually for health care...except my medical plan would find some way not to cover it.
     
    #11 ROXTXIA, Nov 13, 2012
  12. rage

    rage Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2006
    Messages:
    1,492
    Likes Received:
    41
    Show me what they are paying.
     
    #12 rage, Nov 13, 2012
  13. Buck88

    Buck88 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2001
    Messages:
    936
    Likes Received:
    19
    I would also guess the union workers already pay much higher premiums that are more in line with the private sector, thus there is not much to cut there.
     
    #13 Buck88, Nov 13, 2012
  14. thadeus

    thadeus Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2003
    Messages:
    8,313
    Likes Received:
    726
    This whole "union vs. military" or "union vs. independent billionaire" schtick is played out and unrealistic. There is no such conflict, except in the minds of wannabe-wealthy people. The genuinely wealthy people who start these ideas know that it's just sleight-of-hand.
     
    #14 thadeus, Nov 13, 2012
  15. SamFisher

    SamFisher Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2003
    Messages:
    59,043
    Likes Received:
    36,658
    Wait what?

    you didn't know that Obama determines wages and benefits unilaterally through the National Union Workers Get What the President Declares Act of 2009?

    Try to be informed, Thad. :rolleyes:
     
    #15 SamFisher, Nov 13, 2012
  16. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Contributing Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2002
    Messages:
    49,198
    Likes Received:
    17,799
    Why was the union brought into the thread? The govt. does not decide about medical benefits for unions. Those are up to the employers.

    It's stupid to act like the govt. would be the ones deciding the benefits rates for unions.
     
    #16 FranchiseBlade, Nov 13, 2012
  17. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 1999
    Messages:
    34,280
    Likes Received:
    13,777
    I'm guessing these are union workers who work directly for the Department of Defense or some other government department. Which doesn't keep it from being stupid because (1) the union has a contract which the government can't unilaterally break but must re-negotiate after termination and (2) union workers probably pay out the ass for their health insurance already and raising premiums on them would only make a government department less competitive in hiring a competent workforce.

    But, I'll give the article the benefit of the doubt and assume the government is the employer.
     
    #17 JuanValdez, Nov 13, 2012
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now