Posted on 03/26/2009 10:08:23 PM PDT by Nachum
Erik Roberts, an Army sergeant who was wounded in Iraq, underwent his 13th surgery recently to save his right leg from amputation. Imagine his shock when he got a bill for $3,000 for his treatment.
Army Sgt. Erik Roberts was badly wounded in Iraq with two comrades in April 2006.
1 of 3 "I just thought it was bull---- that I'm getting billed for being wounded in Iraq doing my job. I always put the mission first, and now that I was wounded in Iraq, they're sending me bills," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
The List, ping
Use of that foxhole was undeclared income.
I bet he didn’t register his gun either.
That is a damned good idea!
While we're at it, why not bill queen Pelosi for her use of our Air Force as her personal airline.
I thought they retracted that proposal?
Bozo said he pulled this idea, and when did they vote on it? I bet it was already in the bail out fraudulent porkulus package they passed without reading!
“I thought they retracted that proposal?”
It was.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/18/AR2009031803394.html
In a nutshell, from what I gather from the article, his initial treatment was handled by the VA, but after two years he developed complications and there was talk of amputation. His mother sought the advice of the surgeon who had originally saved his life and he gave her the name of a surgeon at Vanderbilt.
The VA did not approve the surgery that needed to be done on his leg outside the VA system. He had the surgery anyway, of course, and the bill came to $90,000. Most of that cost was picked up by his private insurance, the $3,000 billed to him was for the six weeks of daily antibiotic treatment that was needed to keep the infection from returning.
From the CNN link :
“The Department of Veterans Affairs has now decided to pay his bill, but only after prodding from a U.S. senator who got involved after CNN brought it to his attention.”
Great news! However, it’s too bad it took a news story to shake some cash loose for this soldier. Makes you wonder how many more soldiers are like him and have similar stories of which we will never hear.
Based on the information from your post the billing is correct. I say this as a Service-Connected Disabled Vet who’s been through the VA system. I also face an outside operation since the VA won’t cover what is needed to repair my injuries. It is good to know someone else was able to get 95% coverage. Maybe I’ll try this too.
This is such a teachable moment for other Americans. My husband has a service connected disability, he does get "free" medical care, through VA approved vendors. We pay for his meds but at a discount. Approved is the operative word.
If these deebs in DC, push through Universal Health Care it will be an unmitigated disaster. Regular folks by in large will not have the discipline that our servicemen and women do.
For example, you can not be rushed to our VA facility by ambulance. I have to drive my husband to the nearest hospital in case of emergency, then start the process to get him switched to VA.
I can't get him an appointment where ever or when ever I want. Everything has to go through channels.
Now I will say that all of the people I have come in contact with here in MN at the VA facilities are very professional and compassionate.
But my fear is always that if I can not get him into the VA at Minneapolis, then he is not a priority at hospitals where they merely have the VA contract. That can be huge!
Sorry for rambling.
I wonder if Wayne Drash is related to Dwight Shrute?
I did too.
I wish the one in kansas city was nice. (last I heard it wasn’t)
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