grazie | (no subject)

Another aspect to the healthcare debate, since it doesn't seem many people know about this:

The United States Government provides health insurance to members of the military. It is government funded, and all members of the military get it when they join. This coverage is also applied to their dependents, or immediate family. And, once again to the military retirees and their dependents, or immediate family. This all used to be under TriCare, but TriCare has been split and focuses on the retirees.

This is a big deal. This is why Dad won't let me get an active duty ID, even though I am eligible for one: because if I do not have my dependent ID, I am effectively without health insurance of any kind.

TriCare is unique in the fact that it is very affordable, won't bankrupt you if you do have an emergency healthcare issue, and does not look at pre-existing conditions.

But the keywords are it is government funded and provided. If you didn't think we had socialized health care before, which I don't get at all considering Medicare and Medicaid, TriCare is definitely another socialized aspect of our medical system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRICARE I am not making any of this up.

This may not affect any opinions on my f-list as is, but it's also a good point to keep in mind if you feel like debating healthcare randomly.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yup, my dad's a disabled vet, so my health insurance has always been through TriCare. They've always paid for my doctor visits, and they paid for my dad's leg surgery and any problems he has with his back. I've never had to worry too much about my health.

Except next summer, when I'll no longer be my parents' dependent, and I'll have to find some other way to pay for my health insurance. Joy.

Yeah. Next time this topic comes up, I'm actually going to ask mom and dad if they're willing to give up their healthcare to help free the United States of socialism. Of course, their premiums would skyrocket thanks to mom's diabetes and dad's high blood pressure, but they would be walking the walk instead of just talking about it.

Me? I have absolutely no problem what-so-ever with socialism, so.

IF YOU'RE OKAY WITH SOCIALISM, THEN THE TERRORISTS HAVE WON.

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT

NO DARN IT.

THIS IS WHY I AM IN THE MILITARY.

AND OKAY WITH SOCIALISM. :|b

People who use the "Socialism is not American!" argument piss me off. Do they live under a fucking rock? Jeezus.

THANK-YOU; I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TELL PEOPLE THIS. I've had free/reduced healthcare since I was born because of my dad being in the military. Thanks, G.I. Bill!

I was only allowed to get it up until I was 21, though. After that, I had to be in school and get a paper from my college saying I was in school. Then it's only up until you're...23? 25? somewhere around there. I can get it now, but I don't get sick enough to use it. It makes my mom upset, but eh.

PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY AREN'T REAL AMERICA -- wait

I wish supporters of the public option/etc. would just come out with this stuff, heavily. It frustrates me how fear appears to be winning.

Oh, I wish they would too. Let the Republicans and 'limited government' idiots attempt to swallow it.

Honestly, if I had to guess, the Republicans are hoping and praying the liberals won't mention it, and the liberals are terrified that they'd be implying members of the military don't deserve health insurance.

When my mom was in the army, I could go to the dentist. It was covered! Ear infections? Broken bone? The flu? All was good. Now that I'm out in the world as an adult, I can't afford health care at all. I do not approve.

Threadjacking to say l- lol this. I've only been 21 for a few months now, but I actually want to go to the doctor for a few things now but... can't, 'cause no health insurance. Yaaay life.

lmfao life should come with a manual. Best tag ever.

But I'm glad you posted this.

IT SHOULD

Hey, the more people who know about it, the better.

This is a good thing to know. My co-worker was bragging about it, in some sense, when she switched from the hotel's insurance policy to TriCare and was telling me that she barely had to pay for any of her doctors visits.

How much is normal? I've only ever had TriCare, but our copay for appointments is 12 dollars.

For me? My copay is 15 dollars for an HMO office visit, 25 for an HMO specialist. At least that is what my insurance card says. It could be more other places and with different insurance companies. Our insurance is pretty good, so it's not entirely in the norm.

........... shiny. Thank you for this! I didn't know. It amazes me how people can be so scared of something that already exists.

... um. I was on TriCare for a long time. But I'm too old for it now, probably. Like, it applies for children dependents up until you're a certain age and are outside of school? I don't remember.

But, thing is that even with military insurance, my family never really got stellar treatment at the doctor. There was always that, "... oh, they're on military insurance =_=;" from the doctors, but I dunno. That might've been because it was Louisiana. Who knows?

That was probably because it was Louisiana. I have never gotten bad treatment because I was on TriCare.

And it applies to dependents, at max, until you're out of college and can no longer be counted as a dependent on tax forms.