Rumsfeld: Hike Military Health Care Premiums

Politico reports:

Donald Rumsfeld warned incoming Defense Secretary Leon Panetta not to acquiesce to the White House or Congress on deep cuts to defense spending – but also called for controversial increases in military health care premiums and the end of congressional earmarks in order to save money ...

Although Rumsfeld himself admits the political liability of raising health care premiums on veterans, he advocates for them all the same.

“The greatest economies can be found in areas that contain the greatest political peril: military health care and personnel… Individual military retirees under 65 currently pay less than $20 in monthly premiums for the Department of Defense’s health plan, called Tricare. The average monthly premium for their private-sector counterparts exceeds $500. Individual contributions will need to increase over time to keep up with spiraling health-care costs,” writes Rumsfeld, who served twice as Defense Secretary and ranks only behind Robert McNamara in terms of time served.