Continued Mistreatment of US Veterans

roni · 10-31-2007

As a Vietnam era Vet, this pisses the hell out of me.

Contact your elected representatives and try to get something done about this.

Ron

1.8 Million U.S. Veterans Lack Health Insurance, Study Finds
ASHLEY GOSIK

Cox News Service

WASHINGTON -- Nearly 1.8 million U.S. veterans are without health insurance, and more than half of them said they have no place to go when they are sick, Harvard Medical School researchers reported Tuesday.

Analyzing data from two federal surveys, the researchers found that more than one-fourth of the uninsured veterans said they had did not get needed medical care or delayed it because of its cost.

Nearly half said they had not had an office visit or contact with a health professional in more than a year, and two-thirds said they received no preventive care.

The study also found that more than 25 percent of uninsured veterans said they could not afford prescriptions, while more than 20 percent said they could not afford eyeglasses.

The researchers said the uninsured veterans are primarily low- to middle-income workers, aged 44 to 64, who are too poor to afford private insurance coverage but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or VA health care.

The researchers said the main cause for the large number of uninsured veterans was the narrowing of eligibility for health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2003, the Bush administration limited VA health care eligibility to veterans with combat-related health problems or those making less than $30,000 a year.

"I was not surprised to hear that (1.8 million veterans are uninsured), ... given the large number of uninsured in this country," said John Rowan, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America. There are nearly 24 million U.S. veterans, according to the VA.

Rowan said his group has been pushing members of Congress to re-extend eligibility to all U.S. veterans, regardless of income.

"The VA's budget should increase to cover everyone," he said, "especially since some may have service-connected issues that they might not know about."

The study will be published in the December 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Ashley Gosik's e-mail address is agosikcoxnews.com

horizon200 · 10-31-2007

Quote:

The researchers said the main cause for the large number of uninsured veterans was the narrowing of eligibility for health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2003, the Bush administration limited VA health care eligibility to veterans with combat-related health problems or those making less than $30,000 a year.

Actually, the erosion of veteran's benefits cannot be claimed soley by President Bush. When I signed up, I was told I would have health care for life for me and my family after serving until retirement. By, the mid 80's I was paying for health insurance for my family. Today, I am paying for health insurance for myself and my family.
Military retirement and health care benefits have always had a huge target on them as a mean for politicians to show they "saved" money or to find a way to pay for another program.
I see everyday the erosion of hwo we take care of our military members. Housing has now been privatized in all the services. Which means our members rent their home from a contractor. If all of the homes at a base are not filled, the remaining homes are allowed to be filled by low income families from downtown. Mind you that if the homes and surrounding areas are not kept up to standard, the military member gets in trouble...the low income family...not so much.

Again, it's been going on for a while now and doesn't look to get any better in the future! Not saying that's OK...just reality!

10-31-2007	#1 (permalink)
roni Happy Curmudgeon Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Oregon Posts: 29,012	Continued Mistreatment of US Veterans As a Vietnam era Vet, this pisses the hell out of me. Contact your elected representatives and try to get something done about this. Ron 1.8 Million U.S. Veterans Lack Health Insurance, Study Finds ASHLEY GOSIK Cox News Service WASHINGTON -- Nearly 1.8 million U.S. veterans are without health insurance, and more than half of them said they have no place to go when they are sick, Harvard Medical School researchers reported Tuesday. Analyzing data from two federal surveys, the researchers found that more than one-fourth of the uninsured veterans said they had did not get needed medical care or delayed it because of its cost. Nearly half said they had not had an office visit or contact with a health professional in more than a year, and two-thirds said they received no preventive care. The study also found that more than 25 percent of uninsured veterans said they could not afford prescriptions, while more than 20 percent said they could not afford eyeglasses. The researchers said the uninsured veterans are primarily low- to middle-income workers, aged 44 to 64, who are too poor to afford private insurance coverage but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or VA health care. The researchers said the main cause for the large number of uninsured veterans was the narrowing of eligibility for health care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In 2003, the Bush administration limited VA health care eligibility to veterans with combat-related health problems or those making less than $30,000 a year. "I was not surprised to hear that (1.8 million veterans are uninsured), ... given the large number of uninsured in this country," said John Rowan, president of the Vietnam Veterans of America. There are nearly 24 million U.S. veterans, according to the VA. Rowan said his group has been pushing members of Congress to re-extend eligibility to all U.S. veterans, regardless of income. "The VA's budget should increase to cover everyone," he said, "especially since some may have service-connected issues that they might not know about." The study will be published in the December 2007 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. Ashley Gosik's e-mail address is agosikcoxnews.com

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