Pentagon officials say anyone who is considering the new Medicare prescription drug plan should “weight the facts.” They do not believe it is “the most prudent” plan for everyone. Medicare-eligible people can sign up now for the new program, which starts Jan. 1. However, Pentagon officials do not think most Tricare for Life participants will benefit from the Medicare Part D plan, since Tricare provides “robust” pharmacy coverage with minimal co-payments received outside a military medical facility. The Pentagon offers help in making decisions about the new plan here. There’s also a fact sheet. And, here is the Medicare site.
U.S. Southern Command recently announced its first lethal strike on a suspected narco-trafficking vessel in two months, and the first under a newly formed permanent counter-cartel task force. The U.S. is also reportedly planning to transfer MQ-9 drones to Colombia to bolster its counter-cartel efforts.