Here is an article back from late 2008 that Obama was considering cutting some things and raising costs to troops.
http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,182097,00.html
The basic summary:
TRICARE for Working-Age Retirees – Fees, co-payments and deductibles
would be raised for retirees under 62 to restore the relative costs
paid when TRICARE began in 1995. TRICARE Prime enrollment would be
raised to $550 a year for individuals from $230. Retiree families
would pay $1100 versus $460 today. Co-pays for doctor visits would
climb to $28 from $12 and users of TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra
would pay an annual deductible of $350 for an individual and $700 for
families. Congress has declined to support such increases for the past
three years.
Fees for Active Duty Families – Dependents of active duty members
enrolled in TRICARE Prime, the managed care network, would pay new
fees equal to 10 percent of the cost of health services obtained
either in military treatment facilities or through civilian network
providers. Total out of pocket costs would be capped, however.
To help offset these costs, dependents would receive a $500 non-
taxable allowance annually. Those who elect to use alternative health
insurance, rather than TRICARE, could apply the $500 toward their
health insurance premiums, co-payments or deductibles.
CBO estimates these fees would save $7 billion over 10 years and
encourage Prime enrollees to “use medical services prudently.” It also
would entice more spouses to enroll in employer-provided health plans
instead of TRICARE. The downside, CBO said, would be financial
difficulties for some Prime enrollees despite the cap on out-of-pocket
costs. Also, CBO said, spouses induced to rely on employer health
plans could see health coverage interrupted during military assignment
relocations.
TRICARE-For-Life Fees – The military’s health insurance supplement to
Medicare could see higher user costs. Under this option, beneficiaries
would pay the first $525 of yearly medical costs plus one half of the
next $4725 of costs charged to Medicare. So the extra out-of-pocket
cost for TFL users would be up to $2887.50 a year. This amount would
be indexed to rise with Medicare costs. The change would save $40
billion over 10 years. But CBO said it also could discourage some
patients from seeking preventive care or proper management of chronic
conditions. So it could negatively affect some patients’ health.
Tighten VA Enrollment – The VA healthcare system would be directed to
disenroll 2.3 million Priority Groups 7 and 8 — individuals who are
not poor and have no service-related medical needs. Estimated savings
would be $53 billion over 10 years but Medicare spending would rise by
$26 billion in the same period as elderly among these vets shifted to
Medicare.
CBO said 90 percent of these vets have other health care coverage. But
this change could leave up to 10 percent unable to find affordable
care.
I do not know if any of this has occurred yet, but he has considered cutting troop benefits now on two occasions....
But based off these reports, 100 billion would be saved over the course of 10 years. I can save you that much in 1 year...no extra funding to acorn and similar groups would be a good starter, also, the congressional delegation should pay a 5% deductable on each bill for their health insurance....but cutting congressional benefits would be wrong.
