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December 29, 2005
Defense officials want annual enrollment
fees for TRICARE Prime, the military's managed care plan, to triple by
October 2008 for working-age retired officers, from $230/$460 a year
(individual/family coverage) up to $750/$1500, and to double, to
$450/$900, for under-65 enlisted retirees. Beyond 2008, all TRICARE fees
and co-payments would be indexed to medical inflation. TRICARE retail
pharmacy co-payments also would be raised, which would be the only
change to impact Medicare-eligible retirees too. The goal would be to
discourage purchase of maintenance medicines through the more expensive
retail network, by increasing the $3 co-payment for generic drugs to $5
while offering free generic drugs by mail. The current $9 co-pay for
brand drugs would jump to $15 retail and $10 by mail order. For more
information, read Tom Philpott's article
"Joint Chiefs to Back Higher TRICARE Fees".
How do you feel about this action?
Let your public officials know how you
feel.
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