ObamaCare’s Provision To Cover Children On Their Parent’s Health Care Plan Until Age 26 Has Put Military Families At A Disadvantage As They Must Pay Up To An Additional $200 Per Child. “A provision in the national health-care law that lets young adults stay on their parents’ insurance plan is popular with many families—but not ones in the military. Families covered by Tricare, the health program for active and retired members of the military, must pay as much as $200 a month to let an adult child stay on their plan until age 26. Most families in private plans now pay no fee to extend such coverage. Military families are starting to complain about the disparity, saying they can’t afford those premiums and have let their children go uninsured.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Military Families Balk At Health Fee,” The Wall Street Journal , 10/9/12)
- Currently, Tricare Covered Families Pay As Much As $201 A Month For Each Dependent. “That fee is either $176 or $201 a month for each young-adult dependent who wants to be covered through a parent’s insurance, depending on the type of plan. Tricare says the premiums are based on data for medical costs incurred by similar dependents and administrative expenses. Next year, premiums will fall to $152 or $176 a month.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Military Families Balk At Health Fee,” The Wall Street Journal , 10/9/12)
- The Additional Burden On Military Families “Has Deterred Most Families” From Taking Advantage Of The Plan Leaving Nearly 210,000 Dependents Without Health Coverage. “The monthly premium has deterred most families, as have other restrictions that young-adult dependents be single and have no access to other insurance through a job. Those requirements aren’t in place for most civilian employer plans. Of 230,000 young-adult dependents of service members who might have signed up, only 20,740 had signed up for the Tricare extension by August, according to the Department of Defense.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Military Families Balk At Health Fee,” The Wall Street Journal , 10/9/12)
Democrats Drafted The ObamaCare Provision That Charges Military Families The Full Cost Of Additional Tricare Coverage. “The final legislation directed the Department of Defense to charge families for the full cost of the additional coverage. Sen. Mark Udall (D., Colo.), an author of the legislation, said the fee was included because legislators wouldn’t support providing the coverage free of charge. Looming defense cuts have put pressure on Tricare and overall military spending.” (Louise Radnofsky, “Military Families Balk At Health Fee,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/9/12)
Read more: http://www.gop.com/news/research/obamacare-has-put-military-families-at-a-disadvantage/