To Increase or Not To Increase? That Is the Question!

There is a current conflict over whether the fees to benefit from Tricare, health care provided by the military to military retirees and their families, should go up. The driving force behind this movement to increase the fees for Tricare is the Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates. He is considering whether to ask for Tricare fee increases in next year’s budget. The reason behind his desire to increase fees is that because of nearly 4.5 million military retirees and their families, about three-quarters are estimated to have access to health insurance through a civilian employer or group. But more than two million of them stay on Tricare. Mr. Gates presents a very understandable fear that rising health care costs will make less money available for new weapons, repairs to a worn-out arsenal and quality-of-life programs like schools on military bases. However those opposed to Gates’ movement believe that we should not take away from those who have served our country which is an equally valid point.

I agree more with Robert M. Gates because if the majority of these people are being supported by other health care benefits then there is really no need for them to be benefited by Tricare either. And by increasing the costs that will get rid of the people who don’t need Tricare as much however it will allow those who really need it and are willing to pay for it to continue to have it. I also agree with his view that the Tricare benefits should and will only be cut from the veterans and their families, not the ones on duty. The increase in Tricare costs will not affect those 65 and older who use a free program. Gates movement to increase Tricare costs is with the best intentions and if he succeeds I hope it will do as it is intended.