Obama wants to charge soldiers for their war injuries! Is the change promised?

[Exterminator]

* habit 

[kimmi]

We have always taken care of our veterans disabilities and wounds.

Really?  Because living near several military bases gives me a little more "headline news" in these areas and it seems to me we do a piss poor job of taking care of veterans. 

[Sandy Eggo]

kimmi's right. The VA is notorious for treating veterans poorly.

[mcgonser]

kimmi's right. The VA is notorious for treating veterans poorly.

Not in this part of the country. Don't know about yours.

[kimmi]

If they were to be treated by the best we have, there would not be VA hospitals because they would be shipped to the best facilities we have as a country.  The only way they can be treated by the doctors in the finest hospitals is by having private insurance take care of them. 

[mcgonser]

What world do you live in?? 
Can they afford this insurance for this fine and the best treatment.
If they can't afford insurance then who will treat them??
Are the insurance cos going to claim these are prior injuries or illnesses and not pay on them, or just a part of what it costs. Don't think for a minute the ins cos won't waffle on this if they can. They will.

[Sandy Eggo]

So, what is your part of the country? I've lived on the east and west coast and I interact with veterans frequently. So maybe they should be advised to move to your city if they want help. How do you explain the high number of homeless veterans who are disabled mentally and/or physically and can't work? They all deserve much better treatment.

[kimmi]

What world do you live in?? 
Can they afford this insurance for this fine and the best treatment.
If they can't afford insurance then who will treat them??
Are the insurance cos going to claim these are prior injuries or illnesses and not pay on them, or just a part of what it costs. Don't think for a minute the ins cos won't waffle on this if they can. They will.

I don't believe it said anywhere that they would be forced to pay for insurance.  I mean the military is a great example of a working welfare system right?  They work for the country and get things like health care for free.  As long as they are in the military or retired from the military, they don't have to worry about being uninsured. 

My beef is the lack of medical care they receive with their military benefits.  Wasn't there just a huge investigation into the country's military hospitals in the past year?  Why are we not sending these injured men to places like Johns Hopkins, Duke, UCLA?  They deserve the best care.  If using private insurance will give them this kind of treatment rather than the meat hacking facilities they are used to, then I'm all for it.

[Henry Hawk]

and THAT is the kind of treatment we ALL will have IF we let the government health care blossom...

incidently....our VA program sucks!...and THEY deserve the best.....like our congressman seem to be able to provide for themselves....

[me]

This paragraph makes a valid point against Obama's proposal. 

Commander Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to both House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. It was stated then that The American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries and disabilities given that the United States government sends members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. The proposed requirement for these companies to reimburse the VA would not only be unfair, says the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion argues that, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone. That would leave the rest of the family without health care benefits. The Legion also points out that many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered. Additionally, the Legion is concerned that private insurance premiums would be elevated to cover service-connected disabled veterans and their families, especially if the veterans are self-employed or employed in small businesses unable to negotiate more favorable across-the-board insurance policy pricing. The American Legion also believes that some employers, especially small businesses, would be reluctant to hire veterans with service-connected disabilities due to the negative impact their employment might have on obtaining and financing company health care benefits.

What I would actually rather see, but I know it's not going to happen, is the government pay for care for Veterans in the private sector.  I have never really had a very high opinion of Military doctors or hospitals because they have always been the pits but Obama's proposal is not right any way you look at it. 

[WVaGAL]

  Or a spreader of fear & falsehoods?

Your title is not really indicative of what that article says; now is it?  So are you illiterate or just a liar?

[me]

Your title is not really indicative of what that article says; now is it?  So are you illiterate or just a liar?

I'd say you should take it up with Yahoo since that is their title.   

The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment

[mcgonser]

Just heard that President Obama has decided not to have personal health insurance pay for Veterns bills.

[kimmi]

That bastard!  Now what are you going to bitch about?   

Oh Gardengirl!!  We need more crap!

[me]

Yep, he did a complete 180 on it thank goodness.

Just heard that President Obama has decided not to have personal health insurance pay for Veterns bills.