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jwhop
Knowflake

Posts: 4782
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted March 18, 2009 03:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jwhop     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Veterans rip Obama plan to charge wounded heroes
'He says he is looking to generate $540 million by this method'

Posted: March 17, 2009
9:50 pm Eastern

The president is being "unreasonable" in his expectations that wounded soldiers will have to have treatments for service-related injuries covered by their own private health insurance, according to leaders of the American Legion.

"It became apparent during our discussion today that the president intends to move forward with this unreasonable plan," said David K. Rehbein, Legion commander.

"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," he said.

The American Legion is the nation's largest veterans organization, and raised its concerns after Obama talked about plans 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 in such cases.

Rehbein was angered by a meeting with Obama.

"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," he said.

American Legion spokesman Craig Roberts also discussed the issue on RadioAmerica.org and the audio has been posted here:

"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!" Rehbein said.

Others from veterans organizations meeting with the president included 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.

Veterans organization leaders earlier had written to Obama to raise their concerns.

"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," the letter said.

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, said the Legion, but would have an adverse impact on service-connected disabled veterans and their families.

For example, depending on the severity of the medical conditions involved, maximum insurance coverage limits could be reached through treatment of the veteran's condition alone, leaving the rest of the family without benefits.

The Legion also said many health insurance companies require deductibles to be paid before any benefits are covered and further, private insurance premiums could 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.

Some employers, especially small businesses, also would be reluctant to hire veterans with such disabilities, the organizations said.

"I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted," said 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," Rehbein said.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92111

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jwhop
Knowflake

Posts: 4782
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted March 18, 2009 04:02 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for jwhop     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
March 18, 2009
Indefensible and Dishonorable
Joseph Smith

Veterans groups who met with Obama, Emanuel and VA head Eric Shinseki on Monday were told that Obama wants to have veterans pay for their service-related medical issues through their own private insurance companies. White House press secretary Gibbs dispensed the usual platitudes and empty rhetoric, saying no decision has been made, and that "veterans can be assured the president understands their concerns," but the administration is still thinking about the idea as a way of generating $540 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010.

There are many practical reasons why this is a bad proposal, as it could result in veterans maxing out their private coverage and jeopardizing their family's coverage; their premiums could be greatly increased; and some expenses would no doubt fall through the cracks and not be covered at all. Insurance companies would be forced to raise their rates - maybe not just for veterans, but for everyone.

And then recruiters would have to include in their pitch "Oh, and if you are wounded, you are responsible for your medical expenses."

Obama's position in Monday's meeting was all the more surprising because strong opposition to the plan was already on the record:

The opposition is not a surprise to the White House. The groups had sent a letter opposing the idea when it was just a rumor. Last week, Congress weighed in when members of both the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees told Shinseki at separate meetings that they objected to the plan. Shinseki was told by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, that it would be "dead on arrival." Rep. Mike Michaud, D- Maine, said that if it were presented, he would oppose the entire budget. It is unconscionable, and it is an insult to our veterans who have been hurt overseas," Michaud said. "It is just unbelievable that anyone would ever think of doing that in this budget."

Monday's meeting concluded with Obama following his usual pattern of dodging responsibility and throwing the ball back in the other guy's court, putting the onus on the veterans groups to come up with a better idea to fund our military personnel's medical recoveries: "I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not being enacted is for an alternative plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540 million in revenue," Cmdr. David Rehbein of the American Legion said in a written statement.

Since when is it up to our veterans to find a way to pay for their service-related medical issues? This president is totally lacking any idea of fundamental American values. It is apparently a foreign concept to him that our country must take care of those who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom and prosperity. Then again, freedom and prosperity are apparently not too high on his value list. While this issue is such an outrage that no Congress person in his or her right mind would ever support it, the fact remains that Obama and his inner cabal think it is a good idea, good enough to use more political capital on.
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/03/indefensible_and_dishonorable.html

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writesomething
Newflake

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From:
Registered: Mar 2011

posted March 18, 2009 05:33 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for writesomething     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Yes I was disgusted with this plan. Many groups are arguing their case against this. I hope Obama reconsiders this. VA isnt perfect, but it works..Im not happy with this idea.

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Eleanore
Moderator

Posts: 112
From: Okinawa, Japan
Registered: Apr 2009

posted March 19, 2009 05:30 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Eleanore     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Not that anyone in the military community I've spoken to is surprised about this but it is appalling. Calls for cutting the defense budget yet deploys how many more thousands of troops? Now this. But, among all the earmarks and bs, guess who did get a raise? And anyone seriously wants these people in charge of all our healthcare when they can't even take care of the people they send out to war?

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jwhop
Knowflake

Posts: 4782
From: Madeira Beach, FL USA
Registered: Apr 2009

posted March 19, 2009 10:26 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for jwhop     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Of course the vast majority of Americans would be disgusted with the idea American military personnel should be charged for their medical treatment of battlefield wounds and other injuries while on active duty.

But, there's an issue beyond that.

What kind of a mind set does it take to entertain such an idea, let along form an intent to implement such a policy?

I don't know anyone who would not have instantly dismissed such a plan as contemptible...and also dismissed/fired, with immediate effect, the person who thought it up in the first place.

There's more.

There is a General involved named, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki, a four star General, (retired} and former Chief of Staff of the Army.

I can't imagine a former General Staff Officer in the Army of the United States who would not have immediately resigned his position in O'Bomber's administration upon hearing what O'Bomber is planning or even considering.

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Randall
Webmaster

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From: Saturn next to Charmainec
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posted August 16, 2011 04:26 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

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"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." Aristotle

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Randall
Webmaster

Posts: 15349
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
Registered: Apr 2009

posted August 17, 2011 10:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I missed this the first time. But it's relevant now with the photo op.

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"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." Aristotle

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Randall
Webmaster

Posts: 15349
From: Saturn next to Charmainec
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posted February 06, 2012 03:55 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Randall     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

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"Never mentally imagine for another that which you would not want to experience for yourself, since the mental image you send out inevitably comes back to you." Rebecca Clark

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