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

[Madtown HD Junkie]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20090316/pl_usnw/the_american_legion_strongly_opposed_to_president_ s_plan_to_charge_wounded_heroes_for_treatment

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.


"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it." ............


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!" ..............


what a dumb idea....:stupid:

[vurbano]

It will drive up all of the civilian insurance rates. Stupid idea. Of course thats typical of this guy.

[msmith198025]

Yeah, he did not think this one through at all

[fallout2600]

The gov't sends you to war, the gov't pays for your wounds until you die, plain and simple.

[Derwin0]

It will drive up all of the civilian insurance rates. Stupid idea. Of course thats typical of this guy.Worse, it will make the Veteran's family harder to insure, due to the Veteran's pre-existing injuries. Not to mention, possibly run the family up to the insurance coverage caps.

[Skyhi]

It will drive up all of the civilian insurance rates. Stupid idea. Of course thats typical of this guy.

So you're in favor of socialized medicine as long as you can pick and chose who receives it?

[vurbano]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20090316/pl_usnw/the_american_legion_strongly_opposed_to_president_ s_plan_to_charge_wounded_heroes_for_treatment

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.


"It became apparent during our discussion today that the President intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said Commander David K. Rehbein of The American Legion. "He says he is looking to generate $540-million by this method, but refused to hear arguments about the moral and government-avowed obligations that would be compromised by it." ............


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!" ..............


what a dumb idea....:stupid:
despicable

[vurbano]

So you're in favor of socialized medicine as long as you can pick and chose who receives it?
no junior.

[msmith198025]

So you're in favor of socialized medicine as long as you can pick and chose who receives it?

So you do not think our Gov. should care for wounded soldiers in our armed services?

[Skyhi]

So you do not think our Gov. should care for wounded soldiers in our armed services?

I didn't say that.

[msmith198025]

I didn't say that.

Neither did vurb...:thumbup: Your question was a spin, or so it seemed. As was mine.

I am curious your thoughts on this however. Do you think it is a good idea? Or not.

[Skyhi]

no junior.

Explain then.

"Don't call me junior." - - Indiana Jones.

[Skyhi]

Neither did vurb...:thumbup: Your question was a spin, or so it seemed. As was mine.

I am curious your thoughts on this however. Do you think it is a good idea? Or not.

I disagree. Vurb is advocating for government sponsered/paid healthcare for a segment of the population.

I think the American Legion should be consistent. If they advocate for reimbursement from medicare, then why do they oppose reimbursement from private insurance companies.

[msmith198025]

So you are for or against this proposal?

[Skyhi]

I'm an analytical person. This yahoo article does not give enough information for me (or anyone, imho) to make an informed decision.

The title of the article "........charge wounded heroes for treatment." is extremely misleading.

[vurbano]

Explain then.

"Don't call me junior." - - Indiana Jones.
Your title says "junior". You are junior.

[vurbano]

Explain then.


I am in favor of the current benefit package the government uses to entice enlistment. Do you also think Congress's health care benefits are socialism?

[msmith198025]

How is it misleading? IF it goes through private insurance companies, there is generally a deductable, someone has to pay that. Being private insurance, one would assume that person is the soldier. Also, what happens when the insured limit is reached? What happens if one soldier has subpar coverage and the insurance company will not pay? Too many variables in this to make it a viable alternative for our service men and women. It is a poor idea. I fail to see any possible advantage for the soldiers.

[msmith198025]

http://www.buffalonews.com/180/story/610029.html

Some more info

[Skyhi]

Why are you so hostile?

I think socialized medicine is an accurate description of a scenario where the government sponsors or pays for health benefits to individuals who are not currently employed by the government.

[Madtown HD Junkie]

Some one who serves this country and is injured in that service should have any and all costs related to that covered by Uncle Sam.
How Obama could even be thinking of not doing so is beyond rational thought imo.

[msmith198025]

Some one who serves this country and is injured in that service should have any and all costs related to that covered by Uncle Sam.
How Obama could even be thinking of not doing so is beyond rational thought imo.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thum bup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[vurbano]

its a great way to destroy morale

[froggigger]

Obama intends to incrementally cripple our military. This is just one step in the process.

[vurbano]

This strikes me as odd. If he weakens the military then I guess he doesnt plan on using it to enslave us, or maybe he will leave just enough to do that. On the other hand he might be preparing it for defeat by a favorite country, like he is doing with our economy and we will be enslaved under their system. But that would work against him as a leader. The idiot isnt even a good communist, IMO.

[Bear Paws]

So you're in favor of socialized medicine as long as you can pick and chose who receives it? Socialized medicine?? I and many others payed more dearly for that than you ever can understand. There are brothers I will never see again and those I still visit in VA hospitals after 45 years just so you can have the freedom and right to say something so incredibly stupid and ignorant.

Ask IceTurky if she thinks your a ignoramus for that statement.
She can't even use a mouse to drag and paste while she sits in a wheelchair...You want her to fight with insurance companies too after her she already paid her dues. .

After they patched me up for the third time in three years, once at Walter Reed, I luckily never needed the government care for the next 13 years to do it again. But I was willingly paying a heavy price everyday during those 16 years just as all my brothers and sisters have for centuries. Socialized? Indeed. Dang ..I'm so angry I'm sputtering.

[Skyhi]

Socialized medicine?? I and many others payed more dearly for that than you ever can understand. There are brothers I will never see again and those I still visit in VA hospitals after 45 years just so you can have the freedom and right to say something so incredibly stupid and ignorant.

Ask IceTurky if she thinks your a ignoramus for that statement.
She can't even use a mouse to drag and paste while she sits in a wheelchair...You want her to fight with insurance companies too after her she already paid her dues. .

After they patched me up for the third time in three years, once at Walter Reed, I luckily never needed the government care for the next 13 years to do it again. But I was willingly paying a heavy price everyday during those 16 years just as all my brothers and sisters have for centuries. Socialized? Indeed. Dang ..I'm so angry I'm sputtering.

You don't need to lecture me on the sacrifice taken on by our soldiers. I'm far more familiar with it than you have assumed. I also think our soldiers should be taken care of for life.

Having said that, the system in place to do so easily fits the definition of socialized medicine - - - a system that both of us support. You just don't like the name.

[HDRoberts]

Under current policy, veterans are responsible for health care costs that are unrelated to their military service.

Can someone clarify that statement? If a soldier in Iraq has a burst appendix, does private insurance currently reimburse the government for that? That seems reasonable, combat-related does not. However, I just think that "combat-related" needs a strict interpretation.

[Bear Paws]

You don't need to lecture me on the sacrifice taken on by our soldiers. I'm far more familiar with it than you have assumed. I also think our soldiers should be taken care of for life.

Having said that, the system in place to do so easily fits the definition of socialized medicine - - - a system that both of us support. You just don't like the name. My apologies for the knee jerk if I misjudged you. I would assume if you had direct knowledge of the Military Health Care System you would not be asking such a question with those inferences.

Health care in the United States for the military is a preferred provider organization (or "PPO", sometimes referred to as a participating provider organization or preferred provider option) is a managed care organization of medical doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers who have covenanted with the provider, the United States DOD, to facilitate health care for our military and their families. Its paid for from a actual set aside from the DOD operating budget as an real and accountable tangible dollar amount budget allowance or fund rather than a "Collective" Ponsi insurance scheme funded by tomorrow's premium payed by or on the behalf of the servicemen for today's illness with deficit spending.. It is not a collective (socialized) insurance fund from the general fund as Medicaid or Medicare but rather a actual pre-funded care entity run by the military or DOD with only one qualification for its access.. Being in the military.
Think of it as being funded from a budget in real dollars..
How the budget comes about is a entirely different story best addressed by the congress.

[Bear Paws]

Can someone clarify that statement? If a soldier in Iraq has a burst appendix, does private insurance currently reimburse the government for that? That seems reasonable, combat-related does not. However, I just think that "combat-related" needs a strict interpretation. The last I heard the soldier was military property and it was the military's responsibility for his/her maintenance. Regardless of the illness. That may have changed now.

[Derwin0]

Can someone clarify that statement? If a soldier in Iraq has a burst appendix, does private insurance currently reimburse the government for that? That seems reasonable, combat-related does not. However, I just think that "combat-related" needs a strict interpretation.

Any and all medical attention required while on active duty is handled at military medical facilities, at no cost to the active duty personnel. As Bear stated, it is part of the operating budget of the military.

There is no private insurance company to reimburse the government, as active duty military have their medical coverage through the DOD. Their family is also covered through the military under the Tri-Care plan, in which there are co-payments, deductibles, etc...

As for Veterans, they are covered through the VA. A completely seperate system than that under the DOD.

Prior to separation from active duty, service personnel receive what is called a Final Physical. Basically the military checks to see how badly broken you were while under active duty. That physical will then assign a service related disability level to you. That level will determine how much care you rate by the VA, and at what cost. Service related disabilities are typically covered at 100%.

No President, by my recollection, in history has ever proposed anyone other than the gov't cover the costs to treat those disabilities. It's the reason the VA was created in the first place.
Personally I think any place like this has no chance in the House, much less the Senate, as many Democrats are Veterans and would never consider voting for such a plan. It does show how out of touch President Obama is with the military and the peoples' support of it.

[Bear Paws]

Any and all medical attention required while on active duty is handled at military medical facilities, at no cost to the active duty personnel. As Bear stated, it is part of the operating budget of the military.

There is no private insurance company to reimburse the government, as active duty military have their medical coverage through the DOD. Their family is also covered through the military under the Tri-Care plan, in which there are co-payments, deductibles, etc...

As for Veterans, they are covered through the VA. A completely seperate system than that under the DOD.

Prior to separation from active duty, service personnel receive what is called a Final Physical. Basically the military checks to see how badly broken you were while under active duty. That physical will then assign a service related disability level to you. That level will determine how much care you rate by the VA, and at what cost. Service related disabilities are typically covered at 100%.

No President, by my recollection, in history has ever proposed anyone other than the gov't cover the costs to treat those disabilities. It's the reason the VA was created in the first place.
Personally I think any place like this has no chance in the House, much less the Senate, as many Democrats are Veterans and would never consider voting for such a plan. It does show how out of touch President Obama is with the military and the peoples' support of it. Yes. Thank you..Wino... I was still sputtering with incredible anger over this outrages idea and I'm having a difficult time explaining myself without useing a lot of expletives. You know me after all these years. I'm chewing iron nails and spitting pieces. Don't mess with my vets or suffer my wrath. I'm going to a Amvets special meeting tonight about this. The Post Commander is making the phone calls himself.

The US military has NEVER let down this country or themselves. Only the politicians have... Here is another example of politicians letting our country and us down.....Again..

[Derwin0]

Looks like common sense prevailed...
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/18/obama-drops-controversial-health-care-plan-wounded-veterans/

President Obama, after an uproar by veterans groups, has scrapped a plan to require private insurance carriers to reimburse the Department of Veterans Affairs for the treatment of troops injured in service.

"In considering the third-party billing issue, the administration was seeking to maximize the resources available for veterans," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Wednesday in a written statement. "However, the president listened to concerns raised by the [veteran service organizations] that this might, under certain circumstances, affect veterans' and their families' ability to access health care.

"Therefore, the president has instructed that its consideration be dropped," Gibbs said....or more likely because the moderate Democrats (several of which are Veterans) in Congress told him there was no way in hell they'd support it.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/18/vets.insurance/index.html

But the proposal would be "dead on arrival" if it's sent to Congress, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said.
...
The head of the Senate Veterans Affairs committee, Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, said Tuesday his committee would "not advance any such legislation."

His counterpart in the House, Bob Filner, D-California, said his committee wouldn't take up the proposal either. In a statement released by his office, Filner said the idea is "DOA" and said the budget "cannot be balanced on the backs (or legs, or kidneys, or hearts) of our nation's combat-wounded heroes."

[Madtown HD Junkie]

I still can not believe it even made the light of day. Rahm-bo dropped the ball on this and Obama was an idiot to not dismiss it instantly.

[Bear Paws]

I still can not believe it even made the light of day. Rahm-bo dropped the ball on this and Obama was an idiot to not dismiss it instantly. I don't believe this is over..No.... This was not some casual idea he thought up of over a joint. There is underlying ideology behind this idea. Don't be surprised if this resurfaces in another form. Maybe in some hidden executive order or as a slipped in late night legislation in "ear mark" form. He thinks his vision is omnipotent and believes in Czars and private Signings to circumvent the "will" if its his will. He would sacrifice anyone for his agenda. Its the Communist way.
He was willing to single out and sacrifice the AIG employees to the wrath of mob violence to distract us from his 3.5 trillion budget proposal he is pushing.

[vurbano]

I still can not believe it even made the light of day. Rahm-bo dropped the ball on this and Obama was an idiot to not dismiss it instantly.
That's what makes Obama such a danger to this country