Do you believe you were promised free health care when you joined or separated from the military?

2020-12-17T15:06:56-05:00

We’d like to hear your feedback on the health care you’ve received from the VA. Please take this 1-minute survey and let us know what you think.

Response by SSG William Thaxton made Dec 17 at 2020 3:12 PM

2020-12-17T15:12:16-05:00

Survey is locked.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 18 at 2020 11:22 AM

2020-12-18T11:22:39-05:00

No one has ever been promised free healthcare for life in their contracts when they joined the military. Health care benefits for military members, retirees, and their families are, and have always been, as provided by law, and the law has never promised free health care for life. Ever.

https://www.military.com/militaryadvantage/2012/05/is-there-a-promise-of-free-health-care-for-life

https://www.stripes.com/blogs-archive/the-rumor-doctor/the-rumor-doctor-1.104348/do-veterans-have-a-right-to-free-health-care-for-life-1.161485

Was Free Health Care for Life Promised?

A reader of Tom Philpott's"Military Update" recently wrote him commenting on Senator Lindsay Graham's remarks about the promise of free health care for life for military retirees.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Dec 18 at 2020 3:53 PM

2020-12-18T15:53:58-05:00

Sad part about this situation - This was originally brought to a head with the 1981 McCarty v. McCarty case on military (and federal) benefits. There were a number of cases brought in light of this ruling in regards to medical benefits and the related changes to the CHAMPUS program and then the migration to TRICARE.
It is noteworthy that in the 2012 article that another individual posted shows a cut off date of 1956, but then goes on and completely skips everything between 1956 and the introduction of TRICARE.
Well guess what, that missing period and information has a lot to do with what was promised and what was written into the various laws. Interesting that the 1956 laws appear to be ignored and then the 1966 change, then the lawsuits driven by the McCarty v. McCarty case up until the TRICARE changes, and then the lawsuit in 1996 (the year that I retired). TRICARE was introduced and slowly spread between 1989 and 1993 when it was expanded nationally and worldwide.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 18 at 2020 4:02 PM

2020-12-18T16:02:41-05:00

In 1953, when I enlisted, I believed that if I served for twenty years, I would receive free lifetime medical and dental care.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Dec 23 at 2020 1:44 PM

2020-12-23T13:44:11-05:00

Didn't find a survey.

I don't think I was promised medical care for life for me or my dependents. It was obvious for most of my career (1969-1991) that large numbers of retired service members and their dependents used military medical facilities. This caused me to believe that I would be allowed the same. Actually, the post-Vietnam drawdown and start of all-volunteer force changed the staffing of military medical facilities. Doctors were no longer drafted. The military recruited some doctors, but the number of docs declined overall so general medical and specialty clinics had fewer doctors. This caused the services to recruit and employ more Physicians Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. It also caused some clinics to close and some hospitals to downgrade to clinics.

Post-retirement I haven't used the VA system. We live in an area with excellent civilian medical facilities. Between military retirement and age 65 I worked for a company and later the Army. The corporate insurance offerings included a TRICRE supplement, which I used until the Government asked them not to offer it. Then I used a MOAA supplement. As a DAC, I stayed with the MOAA supplement--this was a better deal than any of the civil service medical insurance programs. I did sign on to civil service vision and dental insurance. Once I hit Medicare age, I went on Medicare plus TRICARE for Life. This is a very good deal for retirees. I kept the civil service vision and dental insurance. I occasionally use the military medical facility pharmacy.

Response by MSG Terry Lingle made Jan 3 at 2021 6:40 PM

2021-01-03T18:40:45-05:00

My understanding of the agreement I signed was free medical care for injuries and illnesses incurred “in the line of duty” while on active duty. Injuries and/or illnesses that were service connected that continued into civilian life were to be covered as well, but after separation, no coverage for problems you can’t prove to be service connected. There are, though, always exceptions. Not free medical care for life, though.

Response by Col Tri Trinh made Jan 5 at 2021 2:17 PM

2021-01-05T14:17:46-05:00

Our healthcare benefits are eroding with regards to retiree healthcare plans for family members.