Pick a decade anytime after the war in Vietnam. No matter what political party or personality is in the White House, Uncle Sam struggles to get veterans health care to work properly. Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and young people have access to this info.
Recruiting crisis for Uncle Sam? Elected officials and top Pentagon Generals earned it.
Not here to say that military benefits are inadequate. Just stick with whatever was offered when people signed up to stay on for multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and we’re good.
You have earned health care benefits with your career/job. You have made subscription/dues payments during the year to keep your health care turned on.
High level politicians from both major parties have been talking for decades about fixing/supporting veterans health care benefits.
In The News
Military Times Jan 7, 2025
Military’s Tricare transition to TriWest a ‘fiasco,’ some say
By Karen Jowers
“A number of beneficiaries in the Tricare West Region are off to a rocky start with the new contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, citing problems with its website and customer service lines as they try to verify health care coverage and provide payment information.”
Trying to speak to a human:
“Retired Marine Paul King called the transition a “fiasco,” citing problems with TriWest’s website and the inability to get through to a customer service representative.”
“We are left being unsure if we have coverage after the end of January,” King said.
Be sure to care for your emotional and mental health:
“However, an unknown number of beneficiaries have reported problems with setting up payments. Frustrated with the website, they’ve tried calling the customer service lines, with some telling Military Times they’ve spent hours on the phone trying to get through.”
Military Times does not allow comments on their site.
Military.com Jan 7, 2025
Tricare West Region Woes: Reserve Members Mistakenly Told They Owe Up to $1,200 More Each Month
By Patricia Kime
“Beneficiaries who contacted Military.com said they had tried to update their payment information with TriWest before receiving the letters but couldn’t access the portal to fix their issues.”
Welcome Home Troops
“For those on Tricare Reserve Select, TriWest enrolled us in Tricare Retired Reserve, upping the monthly payment by over $1,200. … Over the past few days, my wife, who is the beneficiary, has been on hold with their phone trees for over 4 hours now and so far [is] unable to talk to anyone,” retired Air Force Lt. Col. Jeff Schneider said in an email.
“The error follows a series of challenges facing roughly 4.5 million patients in the 26-state Tricare West Region following a changeover in regional contract managers on Jan. 1.”
“Then, as the deadline approached for beneficiaries to update their payment information to TriWest, many encountered website outages and long hold times on the phone.”
Ask a recruiter:
“TriWest has made the new contract extremely challenging for clinicians, making it hard for military members to continue seeing their provider,”Ashley Comegys, a licensed clinical social worker, said in a Facebook reel.
Military.com does not allow comments on their site.
Related:
New Orleans – Armed Forces Recruiting Crisis
Image at top of page:
Symbol of elected officials and high level DOD civilians who turned Armistice Day into ass kissing & propaganda day.
Just be honest. Instead of stroking the troops, let them know that their health care benefits are not a top priority. A tortuous process will await those who want to use a government contractor web page or dial the phone and try to speak to a human.
This whole thing should be no more tricky to use than an Amazon account.
A giant flag ritual at the next ball game will make it all good.