http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/front/la-sci-genes1 8aug18,1,277480,full.story
Let's talk 'slippery slope'.
Remove extra spaces if the link does not work.
Pip
I'm confused. The article makes it appear that Eric Miller is left out in the cold. But then in the last paragraph it states that he does have medical care through the military, even seeing a dr that specializes in his disease. So the problem is that he has to travel a long way for free treatment?? Did I miss something?The 3 people profiled had to sue the government for benefits. 2 were successful.
The pregnant woman was ...disturbing.
Pip
I have a question about tri care. Is that insurance so that military can seek civilian heathcare? Is that what they are being denied, but still able to see military docs?tri-care is the insurance you get when you retire, or in some cases are honorably discharged. What the problem seems to be here, is that medical discharges are being kicked out as if they willingly left. Which isn't fair. People who willingly leave the military without retiring, or course do not retain benifits. But if someone MAKES you leave for something that's beyond your control, it's almost not fair to just cut you off like that.
I know another huge issue is that spouses of retired military cannot collect retirement after their retired spouse dies. If they die in active duty, the spouse recieves everything, for life. But not once you retire. In other words, if my dad goes before my mom, she's SCREWED. And it's not fair.
So then without tricare, veterans cannot even go to a military hospital?
veteran care is seperate. tricare is seperate. You can have both, but you don't have to. you DO pay a small amount for tricare, but it is REALLY REALLY small, compared to how GREAT the benifits are.Hi all,Katie, yes, spouses can collect their deceased spouse's retirement but it's only a percentage. To do this you pay a monthly amount (sort of like a premium) to be eligible for a percentage of your spouse's retirement. It's not given freely any longer to the spouse, one pays for it. In the long run it's better to pay the monthly premium and have a percentage of the retirement. Woman statistically outlive their spouses. It's very much like taking out a life insurance policy on your spouse. Lindy
Ooooo well that's new since my dad retired, and my momma didn't tell me. LOL It was such a big deal when he retired.
Since my hubby has just retired I can shed some more light on the matter. Yes, you can pay a premium every month to receive a "death benefit" I did opt to have that, so I can receive 80% of hubby's pay for the rest of my life. Tricare is a benefit...not insurance...it works much like medicare(in fact some of the doctors statements say Tricare/medicare). Most Military bases are no longer serving the families for anything other than basic care(I am still lucky, my GP is still on base but it is for basic care only). Everything else...dental, eyes, and any specialist care is all done OFF base for retired(even for prior active duty in most cases). Once you retire, you are no longer a huge priority for the Military base. They cater to Active Duty first and formost, Dependant Wives of active duty, next are Dependant Children of Active duty, and then comes your retired member, then the family IF there is space available.
I do still get most of my meds on base: HOWEVER most of the NEW stuff they do not carry at a small base. I had to Order my Humira a week or so in advance for them to have it for me. Remicade the doctors office takes care of.
You have to remember, if you sign up for the Military they will do an initial physical, and you will be gone over with a fine tooth comb. If you are too tall(especially for certain careers) you will either be denied enlistment or assigned differently or you have to go through the lengthy appeals process. If you wear glasses or contacts you have no hope of flying a plane, and if you have fallen arches you have to get an exemption or you will not be allowed to enlist. They do Physicals every year after that, and they do EVERYTHING! if you are found to not be treating or helping high cholesterol, you can be administratively discharged, because you are not taking care of you...therefore how can you take care of a Nation. If you are overweight and do not pass the overweight program(fat boy program) you WILL be administratively discharged. The WHOLE idea of the Military is that you are healthy enough to put anywhere on God's green earth to FIGHT. If you are a fat a** you are going to slow down the whole unit, and maybe sabotage the whole mission(their mind set, and every soldier that is with the fat a**e* mind set). The Military doesn't have time to baby sit anyone and they won't. Also, if you do not retire with the Military you will not retain any of the Military benefits, such as health care...etc. If you get out early or are administratively discharged you do not have Military benefits. Also, remember the different Military units have differing criteria for their people because of the demands of a job they do. It's just like if I tried to work in a distribution center...I cannot do that because of this disease, so they would be right to fire me.
These are just some facts that I know from being a Military wife for 21 years. The Units always try to help all of the members succeed, but some you can lead to water, but can't make them drink. As far as genetics...I don't know, and I don't know their discharge orders, but most do win cases like that. Not everyone, but most.
Hope this helps.
edited to correct discharges...dishonarable discharge only happens when you committ a crime, and if you are dishonarably discharged you can not vote, get a federal job or federal loan, and you lose a lot of your rights as an American, but you have also committed a felony crime.