March 16th, 2009
Posted on 03/16/2009 6:27:26 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul
Regular readers will remember the exchange I wrote about last week in which Eric Shinseki the new VA director proposed a system to force veterans to buy insurance to treat their service-connected injuries from a Stars and Stripes article;
The administration is considering charging veterans’ health insurance plans earned through civilian employment for VA’s costs in treating service-connected injuries or ailments.
The VA already taps “third party” insurance plans for treatment of non-service-related conditions. Collections in fiscal 2008 totaled $2.4 billion. The VA expects to collect $2.5 billion this year. The total could jump to $3 billion next year if care of service-connected conditions are included.
Shinseki emphasized that this is only a consideration and not yet part of Obama’s budget request. But members of the veterans’ committees wanted Shinseki to know they won’t support the proposal.
I made mention to some people that it was a done deal in the collective mind of the Obama Administration. I was told it wasn’t - that I was over-reacting. Well, look at this from the American Legion today;
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!”
Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The group’s early afternoon conversation at The White House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander Rehbein and the heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part, ” There is simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran’s personal insurance for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed a great deal for this country is unconscionable.”
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.
“I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted,” said Commander Rehbein, “is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe, would more easily meet the President’s financial goal. We will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.
“I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is imagining,” concluded the Commander.
SOURCE The American Legion
The emphasis is mine.
Here’s a screen shot in case it comes down later;
Notice that this is part of the Obama budget plan - he thinks he’s going to get a $half-billion from this proposal to fund some of the other stuff he wants to buy. I don’t know where they get that number from.
This will jack up everyone’s insurance premiums if insurance companies are forced to accept pre-existing conditions of veterans…most of all the premiums of veterans. But it’s what I’ve been warning about since before the election - I wish I didn’t have to say “I told you so” but Democrats are famous for making veterans and the military pay for their buying electoral patronage.
To their credit, the American Legion commander isn’t pussy-footing around on this. I’m wondering where my own VFW is with their press release. I guess, I’d better buy my lifetime membership in the American Legion.
And, oh, who thinks Shinseki will resign in protest over this? Yeah, me neither.
Michelle Obama - you are one big LIAR.
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She is the master mind behind little barry. She is a white people hater and her one goal in life is to take what we have. Evil, evil woman. So much hate in her heart.
So is the current White House resident opting for a $200+ a week raise for veterans?
Never heard of anything so outrageous. Figures, though, that guy is barely American.
When will push come to shove?
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The buzz on the streets, stores, restaurants is getting louder day by day.
criminal media...
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AMEN and their free pass is up. The tea parties need to be held outside CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, expose them.
“The administration is considering charging veterans’ health insurance plans earned through civilian employment for VA’s costs in treating service-connected injuries or ailments.”
This is an absolute disgrace and needs to be pounded on day and night.
IOW, what can this administration do to A) get career volunteers to take the next opportunity to not re-enlist and B) reinstitute the draft under the pretext that the US armed forces are understrength?
Nickel & diming the most deserving.
Has this Admin no bottom?
My heart grieves for this nation, ruled by this FRAUD P.O.S!!
GOD BLESS the US MILITARY!
Obama’s crying about $540 million? pfft, that’s chump change these days.
And, - Who wants to put in for a billboard that reads:
“Why Does Obama Hate Wounded Combat Veterans?”
Bush has been a wonderful Commander-In-Chief.
The buzz on the streets, stores, restaurants is getting louder day by day.
Really? I wish I could hear it. All I hear are the sounds of silence and all I see are Obama bumper stickers on cars driven by brain-dead, moronic ,liberal, America-hating fools. I would rejoice if I heard even a murmur of dissatisfaction amongst the populace.
At this point, I don’t think it’s possible to say that anything is “beyond the pale” for this administration.
Shinseki has always been a total douche, although I suspect this policy belongs to his master.
Sorry I can't agree. He had for six years the congress he needed to rebuild our military strength. Instead he was too busy playing Global Corptrader and LBJ-2 on domestic. We are in a world of hurt military wise thanks to the two Bush's and Clinton as well as the thumb sucking congress since 1989 that as well did nothing but defense reductions. Bush blew the opportunities of all opportunities to turn things around after 9/11. No End Troop Strength increases in active duty asked for despite the fact good able bodied men were literally beating the doors down to join up. That was a real major blunder. He had all he needed to push it through.
I also fault him for continuing Poppy's misguided now on a regular basis reserves for deployment call ups. I could see it maybe six months till active forces were trained but this is now an ongoing issue of nearly 20 years with no slow down in sight. Actually Navy wise things happened under his watch that didn't even get that bad under Carter and things did get bad then but at least the yard work got done.
Which brings another point. Since End Troop Strength numbers were not raised, some are doing fourth 12 month tours. I expected more out of a GOP POTUS and six year GOP two house majority. There was no excuse for it. None!
BHO sure isn't going to do anything and now military wise even what we had will be gone. Not having much left defense wise to start with makes BHO's agenda all that much easier to do.
Oh BTW we now have a ship without engines because even that has been outsourced.
So will this apply to Congress, if they have a spouse with insurance, the insurance company pays? Yeah right.
Chances are better than usual with him.
The Am. Legion? The VFW? I can’t believe that they would do this! They supported GWB both times. If they did, I don’t even know these org.s anymore! This makes me so freaking mad!
Whew, thank goodness! I didn’t think either one would, let alone one of them! It may be that a few posts did, but that isn’t the whole bunch all over! They also endorsed GWB in 2000 and 04.
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