Double whammy for military families

by Dale Bohren
Tuesday, October 23, 2007 3:31 PM MDT

I felt a range of emotion when I first learned about the miserable health care coverage we give the families of combat soldiers on the ground in Iraq; outrage, sadness and shame.

It would not be honorable to deny the basic needs of these families who already feel the brunt of military deployment and sacrifice.

And then a professional skepticism about the reality of the care offered to local soldier’s families kicked in.

The Journal newsroom checked the facts on every aspect of our page one story today about Tricare, the Department of Defense's health care program. It turned out the story is true.

We put a soldier in harm’s way in Iraq and pay them a fraction of what we reportedly offer the mercenary. Then we make their families suffer with health insurance that is so substandard they cannot always receive the health care service they need and deserve.

One local family told us how they received excellent care after an auto accident in another state until it became known that they were covered by Tricare. At that point, the interns took over. The family received good care, but it was obvious that the members of this military family were second class citizens.

In another instance, a young military wife was told by an honestly helpful medical office that if she could get on the program, welfare would provide much better coverage of prenatal and delivery expenses than Tricare.

Welfare benefits are better than military benefits? That’s disgraceful! But today in Casper, Wyo., it is true.

And substandard health care for military families packs a double whammy. It victimizes entire families and adds to the stress when their spouse or parent is already absent. What valid reason can there be?

Every week since 2003, the Casper Journal has published the names of every fallen U.S. soldier. I always wonder about the lives of the children and families left behind by the sacrifice.

Tricare benefits need to be addressed, and only our elected representatives in Washington can address them. We should encourage them to do so.

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