Injured veterans lose healthcare benefits

[Jesda]

Quote »WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The leader of the nation's largest veterans organization says he is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with President Obama today to discuss a proposal to force private insurance companies to pay for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries. The Obama administration recently revealed a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in such cases.

The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said, "This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ' to care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was created to treat the unique need of America's veterans!"[/quote]http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/2...tment

Summary: Obama wants to require private insurance to cover combat injuries.

The president vowed to go "line by line", looking for excesses in the federal budget in an attempt at saving money and respecting the contributions of the taxpayers.

Billions of public dollars are spent each year saving endangered critters, building bridges to nowhere, and massaging the backs of campaign contributors. So, when it comes time to save money, the healthcare of military veterans should NEVER EVER be up for discussion.

It isn't often that I become enraged over government policy. I like to think that I'm a person of reason and that I can think something through without losing my cool, but at the moment, I can't see straight.

President Obama can eat a d!ck.

[wawazat8402]

I agree. If there is one thing I will never gripe about using plenty of tax money on, it would definitely be taking care of our veterans. They are part of a very small portion of our citizens actually willing to put something on the line for our rights and freedoms. They should be first priority when it comes to healthcare and government support.

[DroptopDrifting]

Yeah they covered this on Fox News a few hours ago when I was having coffee. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Why would they not cover the bill for a soldiers' healthcare? That's the most rediculous thing I have ever heard of. It's only supposed to save somewhere in the 60 million dollar range. Why don't they just put a freeze on their own wages for this term, I'm sure that would save just as much. This guy seems to be taking full control of our government right before our eyes, but he's such a good speaker so many dumb Americans are buying into his sh*t. Everything he's doing goes against what the majority of people want, and then when people start to get angry, he comes out with a speech to convince them that what he's doing really is the better way to go. I just don't get it. Wake up America!

[themadscientist]

Why does it suprize you that Obama would do this? Seriously, I seem to be the only one who isn't shocked. Pissed off, definitely but surprised, not at all.

This is what America, well, some of America voted for. It's a shame that once again, those that serve, sacrifice and produce are given the shaft.

[marlin29311]

Id certianly like to see the poet laurete fired before we start taking away money from the men and women that helped to fight for our rights and the ability to live like we do today...

We owe them....this is certianly not repaying their services...

[themadscientist]

Maybe Barry stops flying all over the country to unnecessary gatherings, teleconference a lil bit instead of showboating.

[480sx]

Jesda - Huh, so you are in fact human?!

I cant see this passing. He might want to, but there is no way that BO's 'wants' in this situation are going to amount to any substantial shift in policy. What he seems to want is absolute insanity when looking at it on multiple different levels. Someone will see that and he will back pedal off of this in a quickness.

He is however marred for the rest of his presidency. This is the first thing iv seen out of him that has truly disturbed me. Horrible.

[dusred]

Where are all the libs? Where is Jacko? Why is nobody defending The One?

GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE AND DEFEND YOUR PRESIDENT!



When I heard about this I was totally pissed off. Maybe he's just doing it to piss off McCain since he's a Vet? But seriously I predict his approval rating is going to drop 10% within the next week.

[OriginalWheelman]

[HashiriyaS14]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see this as calamitous.

The article seems to imply that the VA would pay for treatment, as always, and then be reimbursed by the private insurers.

From what I understand, this is just requiring the private insurers to eat costs, not anything about them passing it back to the veterans.

Now, that said, the government requiring private insurers to eat costs seems unjust in and of itself, but from what I understand, the veterans themselves would still receive the same care through the VA. The VA would just send a bill to the insurers.

Maybe I'm wrong. If I'm wrong, that's pretty rotten and poorly thought out. If I'm not wrong....er...it's just a nasty hit on private enterprise.

[telcoman]

Where are all the libs? Where is Jacko? Why is nobody defending The One?

GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE AND DEFEND YOUR PRESIDENT!



When I heard about this I was totally pissed off. Maybe he's just doing it to piss off McCain since he's a Vet? But seriously I predict his approval rating is going to drop 10% within the next week.

He is looking at all possible ways to balance the budget but I don't agree with him on this one.

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Testifying before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee last week, Shinseki acknowledged that the White House was considering charging veterans through their private insurance for service-related treatments, for the first time exposing wounded soldiers to co-pays and deductibles for care of their war wounds. The idea is intended to raise revenue as part of the Administration's $3.6 trillion budget. Currently, veterans only pay for treatment of injuries and ailments not a result of their military service. The admission has been met with bipartisan derision on Capitol Hill, and has raised the ire of veterans organizations. Rehbein said that the American Legion was committed to fighting the plan.

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INMHO any injuries incurred while in any military service should be fully covered by the VA at no charge to the Vets.Better to raise the tax rate on those earning over $500k

Where are all the libs? Where is Jacko?

Yes, where is he? Could he have gotten stuck in that secret place he goes to?

Why is nobody defending The One?

GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE AND DEFEND YOUR PRESIDENT!

I predict his approval rating is going to drop 10% within the next week.

I don't think so.

Market was up another 178 points today.As lending resumes and the bank stocks as well as the stock market recovers his approval numbers will remain high.

Telcoman

[480sx]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see this as calamitous.

The article seems to imply that the VA would pay for treatment, as always, and then be reimbursed by the private insurers.

Calamitous, no. Horribly unethical and s***ty, yes.

'Hey, we need you to go fight our war. But when you come home fvked up from our war, were not gona fix you, were in such bad shape that were going to force that financial burden on the private sectors'.

Thats how im taking this.

The funny thing, is that in VA, the Vets might be better off! I know a Vet whos life was personally destroyed by bungling idiots at Walter Reed medical center(one of many). I dont want to get into the full story because its enraging. He is now a boarder line paraplegic, serious permanent brain damage. He can barely speak. When he was in another hospital he was stable, COMPLETELY FINE, and would have been fine with a very small disability if he haddnt of transferred to Walter Reed. If Walter Reed could have done something as simple as keep him on the right dosage of medication(which had already been established by the prior hospital) and monitored his blood regularly to check to make sure a toxic level of copper was not being created he would be walking, talking today. Really not a very difficult thing to do, people live with Wilson's disease a free and healthy life, he would have too.

EDIT - To those of you questioning Jacko's disappearance.. He got the ban hammer. Hopefully permanent.
Modified by 480sx at 2:36 PM 3/17/2009

[themadscientist]

I don't know about VA but when I was in military doctors did not leave a positive impression. I don't trust doctors to begin with but these guys were rather bad and clueless.

[dusred]

EDIT - To those of you questioning Jacko's disappearance.. He got the ban hammer. Hopefully permanent.

Just kidding. When he was around at least the politics section was a little more alive.

He is looking at all possible ways to balance the budget but I don't agree with him on this one.

HOLY s***! I never thought I would see the day Telco not agree with something Obama does.

There is hope for you Telco. . . yes. . . there is hope.

[Jesda]

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see this as calamitous.

The article seems to imply that the VA would pay for treatment, as always, and then be reimbursed by the private insurers.

From what I understand, this is just requiring the private insurers to eat costs, not anything about them passing it back to the veterans.

Now, that said, the government requiring private insurers to eat costs seems unjust in and of itself, but from what I understand, the veterans themselves would still receive the same care through the VA. The VA would just send a bill to the insurers.

Maybe I'm wrong. If I'm wrong, that's pretty rotten and poorly thought out. If I'm not wrong....er...it's just a nasty hit on private enterprise.

Think about this for a moment. If you're signed up as a reservist, imagine how that would affect your insurance premiums? The government is offering to provide the same traditionally mediocre care from the VA... now for a FEE!

[DJ Raijin]

EDIT - To those of you questioning Jacko's disappearance.. He got the ban hammer. Hopefully permanent.Modified by 480sx at 2:36 PM 3/17/2009

seriously? wow that's incredible

This bill will not pass. There is no way it will pass. Politicians are corrupt, soulless individuals but I don't believe they can stoop this low.

[Armelius]

I think it's the right thing to do considering the government was stupid enough to bail out AIG.

You can't get that money back and the only way to offset government spending is to make AIG pay for veterans benefits.

Cost won't go up for veterans.

[Urabus GodofTraction]

From what I understand, this is just requiring the private insurers to eat costs, not anything about them passing it back to the veterans.

You've got to be joking, right?

[HashiriyaS14]

Think about this for a moment. If you're signed up as a reservist, imagine how that would affect your insurance premiums? The government is offering to provide the same traditionally mediocre care from the VA... now for a FEE!

That's just it, I'm not certain I read anything about *any* costs actually being passed on to the reservists.

It COULD just be a situation where the government is approaching the insurers and saying "You're just going to have to eat $X in costs and pass none of it to the consumer in any way".

That would suck as a kick in the balls to private enterprise, but it wouldn't impact the reservists.

The other scenario, of course, is what you detailed, which would be infinitely worse.

[Jesda]

That's just it, I'm not certain I read anything about *any* costs actually being passed on to the reservists.

It COULD just be a situation where the government is approaching the insurers and saying "You're just going to have to eat $X in costs and pass none of it to the consumer in any way".

That would suck as a kick in the balls to private enterprise, but it wouldn't impact the reservists.

The other scenario, of course, is what you detailed, which would be infinitely worse.

You and I know the costs don't just magically pass over. What would happen if you enrolled in the military but your health insurance provider was responsible for your combat injuries? Your premiums would go up. If there was a provision to make it illegal to increase premiums for being in the military, then coverage could be denied entirely.

The burden always ends up on the reservist. This is an awful way of cutting costs.

I guess endangered animals and unnecessary construction projects take priority over the military.

[HashiriyaS14]

Well, as we've seen with the nationalization of banks, the government can very well require the insurers to do anything they want them to do. They can require insurance executives to wear purple kangaroo suits to the office, and thus they could also likely make it illegal for coverage to be denied or for premiums to go up as a result. The tax on AIG bonuses is wholly unconstitutional, but it passed anyway. If they want to get something done in a time of crisis, it'll get done, right or wrong.

That said, I've heard the administration has retracted this idea.

Unfortunately, I do believe the situation was probably as you said it was, i.e. that costs would be passed to reservists. I was just trying to interpret the wording to show that there was, perhaps, an alternative explanation. I think it was an awful idea and I'm glad it went away.

The administration appears to have had it's fair share of awful ideas of late, I will readily admit that.

I actually side with their original decision to pay the AIG bonuses, however, just because government abrogation of private contracts willy-nilly sends the wrong message to the financial system and sending the right message is well worth $165 million (IMO). I thought they made the right decision the first time in allowing the loophole and I was sad to see them, Obama included, go back on it publicly just because it was the popular thing to do.

[Repo Man]

I thought they made the right decision the first time in allowing the loophole and I was sad to see them, Obama included, go back on it publicly just because it was the popular thing to do.

And this is all we will get from them for the next almost four years. No actual leadership whatsoever, just floating with the current regardless of circumstance. Pathetic.