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This must be the CHANGE we’re all supposed to believe in. Let it never be said that President Obama isn’t open to cuts in the federal budget as long as the cuts begin forcing our fighting men and women to pay for their own private health insurance. In a sickening, disgraceful move, it appears the Obama administration is putting together a plan which would force soldiers to buy their own private health insurance to cover their injuries and ongoing care. This is opposed to the current care which is rightly provided to them by the government, their employer.
This is something you have to read to believe. The leader of the American Legion met with Obama to specifically discuss the details of this plan and here is the story
WASHINGTON, March 16 — 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.”
At the very least, when the government sends Americans into harms way, it is our duty to provide their care. It is a worthwhile and moral venture which Obama is about to destroy.
I’m hoping that enough opposition will mount that this does not come to pass. If it does, shame on Obama for he has betrayed the very men and women who protect him everyday.
“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.
How sick is this? Obama won’t cut worthless pork-barrel spending but he’ll take health care away from the only people who truly deserve government care, the soldiers who defend this nation.
Say what you will of President Bush but he always supported our soldiers and always ensured that they were better cared for and better compensated than previous administrations.
President Obama, you are a disgrace to the men and women who put their lives on the line for the freedom of you and your family.
I’m sure our soldiers will appreciate this “CHANGE.”
Update
In June 2008, Obama appeared at a Sioux Falls pancake breakfast to lambaste the Bush administration and John McCain for opposing Jim Webb’s GI Bill. During that speech, given from a rostrum with the slogan “A Sacred Trust — Support Our Veterans”, Obama had this to say about caring for our wounded once back at home:
Transcript of the important remarks:
We all know that the sacred trust does not end when the uniform comes off. That’s why it’s time to build a 21st-century VA. No more red tape. It’s time to give every service member electronic copies of their medical records and service records upon discharge so that they can immediately get the services that they’ve earned. No more shortfalls. We’ll fully fund VA health care. No more delays. We’ll pass on-time budgets. No more means testing. It’s time to allow every veteran into the VA system.
Need I even comment? Obama is beyond disgraceful, he’s deceitful.
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Money o saves from military and social security health will help pay for illegals health care. o has his priorites. Support OBAMAITE voters. See how well he cared for ACORN
This is insane, and if Congress allows obama to get away with it, then we need to kick every one of them out of office and start over with nothing more for a government than state governments. I’m so reminded of the words of Albert Einstein, “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones”. obama is systematically destroying everything that our country was founded on, and will return it to the “sticks and stones” we started from to have to rebuild it when he’s finished.
I have to say that I am against this and I can’t see how this would go through expecially with Obama’s stance on offering a national health care option for Americans to buy into.
However, I do find it interesting how much certain people who don’t believe in socialized medicine believe that our soldiers should be on socialized health care. I guess, socialized medicine works for the troops but it is a bad idea for civilians.
No JD I had the pleasure of government health care under the guise of our military for 4 years and wasn’t impressed.In fact Babs will confirm I made this point in one of our discusstions with her and added that when we can run our VA hospitals properly then START talking to me about national health care.
Secondly no one is making our troops have military health care. If they wish to have an outside specialist or baby doctor no one is stopping them but it will come out of there pocket.BUT this is being provided free to them and their families while OUR NATIONAL HEALTH CARE would be paid for strictly by us…….in more ways than one.
WOW, you just showed your true colors, JD. That was the sleaziest thing you have ever said on this site. You are suggesting that our Soldiers who come back from war with limbs missing while protecting your ass, they should pay for there injuries. Admit it JD, your President SUCKS and you have just crossed the line to try and defend him. So that in turn means YOU SUCK. I have never been so angry with you as I am at this second. If you were here I would slap you in your face. Do you see that your playing politics here by defending your low life President who has no regard for the military that protects him? I wish that our military didn’t have a duty to protect people like you and Obama, you don’t deserve the very freedom they die for, but that’s the difference between boys and men.
I will say this again, YOU SUCK!
“However, I do find it interesting how much certain people who don’t believe in socialized medicine believe that our soldiers should be on socialized health care. I guess, socialized medicine works for the troops but it is a bad idea for civilians. ”
JD, please.
Even someone of your limited intellect can surely see the difference between taxpayer responsibility for soldiers versus socialized Obama health care for everyone. I wondered if you would be so limited in thought to try and give this pathetic argument and you didn’t disappoint.
It’s our job as taxpayers, via the government, to care for our soldiers. We employ our military men and women to defend us so we have a duty to care for them.
It is not our job as taxpayers to pay for your health insurance or mine. I didn’t ask you to protect me and you didn’t ask me to protect you. Therefore, you don’t owe me health insurance just like I don’t owe it to you.
We both owe it to the soldiers who protect us, kindergartners could grasp this concept better than you have.
Plus, I don’t want crappy “socialized health care” for the troops, I want their health care paid for by us the taxpayers in the best facilities we can possibly provide them. There is a difference.
CG, I started out my post with the fact that I am against making our service members pay for their healthcare. So I am showing my true colors.
You should have read my response more carefully. I said I do not support this move but I also said that I don’t think this is something that is going to come to fruition. There is no way Obama would be able to pass this. I get the feeling that he is feeling out options. I also, mentioned that it would be counter productive for his agenda to push a national healthcare provider. So again, i don’t see this going anywhere.
However, let me be clear, I am against it if it were to come up to congress.
No CG, it means you should read what I have to say more carefully. I accept your apology. lol. I agree with you and this is the response I get.
Bite me, CG. get off your high horse and read what I wrote. I said I am not for it but I thought it was curious that people like you…who absolutely do not believe in socailized medicine believe that socialized medicine is acceptable for our troops.
That they are “worth” having free healthcare but civilian children are not. I just find that Ironic.
DD, got what I was saying and he responded accordingly.
No profanity on site, please. Babs
jd
Your comments are almost too easy to tear apart. I am embarrassed tearing them apart. It is tooo easy
I might get in trouble for child abuse.
They could cut my head off and I could condemn that last comment of your
Nate, you can be such a Douche. I continously get the feeling that you only like to hear yourself talk. The notion that anyone thinks differently than you means they are limited on intellect like you are the brightest human on this f*ing earth.
I congratulate you and CG for being so arrogant.
I read your post through, and then went back and read it again. It’s your second paragraph that burns me. I will not apologize! I will never apologize for supporting my military, someone has too!
jd
Calm down. You already used profanity. Your losing it. Nah, keep doing it. You did it on old site, why not here
Bill……Wait a minute JD’s last comment was praise for me!
I am with you on this. I think they should have paid healthcare so I do support my troops. I also believe civilian children should have their healthcare paid for.
We all get our moment to shine
jd
Please. Please. Can I be arrogant TOO…Please. I want to play toooo PLEASE..PREATY PLEASE
JD,
It’s because you tried to compare apples to chickens, not even in the same food group. Therefore, I can only question whether or not you’re comprehending what we’re discussing.
So yes, I standby what I said because you’re trying to compare military health care to socialized Obama health care, they are entirely different things, can’t you see that? I realize your pride might not let you admit it but that’s another story.
“The notion that anyone thinks differently than you means they are limited on intellect like you are the brightest human on this f*ing earth.”
JD, you weren’t offering an opposing point of view, you were trying to compare two things which have nothing to do with each other so you can advance the socialized health care agenda, it was laughable. Perhaps if you had given a constructive argument instead of spitting out a very predictable response comparing two different things, we wouldn’t have jumped on you.
I’m with Bill on this one, I was almost embarrassed at reading what you wrote, it was very comical.
Lets see if I can predict what Nate has to say… “Hi my name is Nate and I disagree”
Seriously, I actually agree with you guys and I get flamed for it. That is what is laughable. Let me get this straight. I believe in paid health care for civilian children in the Untied States.
Do I believe everyone should have healthcare? Sure. Do i think it needs to be paid for by the government? I don’t know. What I do know is that the current health care system is an even bigger joke than listening to you regurgitate Rush.
I am in the air on what is the best way to fix healthcare. I do believe the fundamental problem with private healthcare has is that it puts a price on life…which is priceless!
Nate
Thanks. You caught my drift
jd
Dear boy..We have always had price on life. As does most if not all Nations
regurgitate , is that o quoting Marx
I can’t believe you gave this juvenile statement:
“I do believe the fundamental problem with private healthcare has is that it puts a price on life…which is priceless!”
Life is priceless but you’re acting like socialized health care doesn’t put a price on it. That’s a joke.
You must be so fooled into believe that Obama-care is “free” and we all need to take advantage of it. You pay taxes, don’t you? That’s how you’ll be paying for your priceless health care, come on, open your eyes.
Are you so naive to ignore the needed tax increased to pay for your priceless health care?
JD, this is going nowhere because you’re views on this topic aren’t remotely near reality.
You’re one of those “everything should be free” unicorn riders, aren’t you?
o has promised to raise carbon tax so high wind power will be cheap by comparison. This tax will apply to all things we buy. Even jd, who makes much less than $250,000.
Again Nate, you only hear what you want to hear which seems to be the sound of your voice.
I said and I quote, “I don’t know. What I do know is that the current health care system is an even bigger joke.”
The simple fact is that Private healthcare does put a price on life and that is the ethical crossroads. Just like the ethical crossroads with Nationalized healthcare is that limits the resources for research and funding.
Like I said… I don’t know which one is better which to be honest leaves me to believe there must be an option that marries both of them.
I do believe that children under the age of 17 should have free healthcare. After 17 you can enter the work force and pay for it on your own.
JD………Why should children under 17 have free health care?
DDMao
Should we tell jd we agree with Nate ?
“The simple fact is that Private healthcare does put a price on life and that is the ethical crossroads.”
So does socialized health care, are you missing that glaring fact? You’re acting like socialized health care is some kind of absolute moral authority, which it most certainly is not. The government decides the price on life instead of the private sector, duh? Open your eyes and stop drinking the Obama-care kool-aid, it’s getting ridiculous.
I know which is better and it’s not socialized health care. Talk to doctors who have worked in Canada and read about the shortage of nurses and doctors there. Talk to people who are diagnosed with cancer in Canada and die before they get basic tests. It’s a very simply decision. Our health care system isn’t perfect but I’d take it over government-run garbage health care any day of the week.
Tell me JD, why do the world’s wealthy come to America for surgeries? Perhaps because we offer the best care in the world, despite the system’s imperfections.
Sheesh, this is like discussing with a brick wall sometimes.
When O.J. was found guilty of murder, Goldman’s was awarded “PRICELESS”. Are you sure jd.
DD, this is where you all my disagree with me but I think we owe it to children no matter their status.
I use to work with under privileged children in Houston and my parents use to take in foster children when I was growing up.
The truth is that under 17 you are not able to work and pay for it on your own so children are forced to rely on their parents or, as I have seen, lack of parents to provide it to them.
I believe we have a responsibility to help children…even if they are not my children. A parent should be able to take their child to the doctors no matter the pay grade they live in.
No, Nate you are acting like the private market is the absolute moral authority. And it is not. I already said I think there needs to be a marriage of the two.
“The truth is that under 17 you are not able to work and pay for it on your own so children are forced to rely on their parents or, as I have seen, lack of parents to provide it to them. ”
Guess what. There are programs for children. And my smoking pays for it.
Er’s must take all people as well
There’s medicare and medicad, etc
jd
Since you work with those children, you should have a common knowledge as to where to take a child in case of emergency. Would you not be taught that as a responsible care giver.
Where would you take or call.911
Thanks, Bill. you have enlightened me…I have never heard of 911.
To be clear, Yes, a hospital has to take anyone who shows up but we all know who that cost falls on. I think there should be a nationally structured program for children. This would help curb the costs of just taking your child to the hospital for the common cold.
More importantly you wouldn’t have to wait until your child gets sick enough to have 911 called to get them to a doctor.
JD, there’s no such thing as free healthcare, for children or anyone else. Someone has to pay for it – whether it’s the child’s parents or the taxpayers. Healthcare programs for underprivilaged children already exists – in the form or medicaid, Peach Care, etc. The taxpayers pay for it. Where you get into trouble is when someone like obama bellies up to the bar and yells “Free health care for everybody”. That’s when the line is crossed into entitlement and corruption/abuse in the system. And I think you know that.
We’ve just given away billions of dollars to AIG, and are now standing by helplessly as the corruption in that decision plays out. The same thing is going to happen with obama’s healthcare plan. It will be abused and manipulated by a sector who feels an entitlement by birth and the country will be bankrupt very soon.
JD …… First off there was a bill passed by Congress called The Emergency Medical Training and Labor act which states no one should be denied health care because they don’t have money and is paid through transfer programs.Then there is SCHIPS State Childrens Health Insurance Program providing low income children with government medical benifits.You are right about one thing……we don’t agree one bit and doing it for the children (that old liberal sob story to get programs passed)don’t hunt any more.Tugging at the heart strings usually is followed by tugging on the purse strings I find.
I apologize bab’s I shouldn’t have used the word free. Tax payer sponsored health care for children is what I meant by free. I will be careful not to use free again.
Look, I don’t claim to have the best answers. I believe in a free market but I also realize there are times to come together as a society. Like I said, i think there should be a marriage of the two.
I had gotten into a conversation with one of my friends about what we think about this issue and we debated the idea of healthcare.
He ended up using the auto industry as an Idea. For example, warranty. He suggested that basic medicine should be covered under a national health care system. Much like basic repairs are covered under warranties. However, anything more than that we would have to have our own coverage.
This idea had its own problems and proves once again there is no one good answer but I liked the idea of it.
DD, it sounds like you are ok with these state\national sponsored programs for children?… I never said there were none out there, I just said along with our troops we need to make sure our nation’s children get healthcare.
jd
you are welcome. Every idiot knows America just throws their children in a gutter to die if they get sick. That’s the American way. You know that, you worked with children.
We don’t care about children. Not like Iran does. Let’s change our way to Iran’s way. Scrab explosives to their body and blow them up.
Only liberals care for children
JD, there should be a way, I’ll agree. But nationalizing health care is not the answer. And there are no children in this country going without healthcare – there’s medicaid, welfare, Peachcare, Wellcare, and a whole host of other programs, and most of THOSE are broken as it is. There are adult programs as well – sliding scales for uninsured patients, medicaid, etc. We get angry at the medicare/medicaid programs because of the abuse that leads to deficits for these programs, yet obama wants to create even more of these programs in nationalizing healthcare. That will only amplify the abuses because he’s not talking about FIXING the system, only expanding it.
If obama was really interested in making healthcare affordable for americans, he would address the illegal alien problem. Every illegal giving birth in this country is bleeding the system dry. Every illegal with a head cold runs to the ER or rural clinics and gets free healthcare under 501C3 grants to clinics. Not ONE of those illegals pay income tax into the system to reimbuse taxpayers for our charity to them. Not ONE. And how many illegals do we estimate we have in our country today? Think about that and get out your calculator, JD.
April 1 Cigs tax goes up big for child health program. Boy, if people smoke grass instead of cigs, o will be in hot water. Cigs is near all tax. I can go in woods and get grass. I see it all the time.
I guess people making less than $250,000 don’t have to pay cig tax increase. Or carbon tax
Im ashamed of him – and he should be ashamed of himself too
There were a few of us that backed away from the VA in claiming “injuries” so that the ones who were really suffering could get care. We pay into the Tricare System for military retirees on an annual basis (some choose to have their payments taken directly from their retirement pay)and must keep our cards with us at all times. When I joined the military, I was promised (in writing) that I would get free health care for myself and my dependents. It has since been diluted to nothing more than a medicare supplement.
My question is this: since I didn’t jump on the bandwagon and claim service related injuries when I left honorably after 20 years…will my piddly military insurance that I pay for go away too so that I may have the privilege of paying a lot more for the socialist insurance or pay a fine if I don’t accept it? I foresee the rise of the draft again.
c’mon you guys. have you nothing better to do? president obama didn’t say those things and, in your hearts, you damn well know it. let’s ALL quit this partisan NONSENSE and work together to keep this the wonderful country it is.
jed,
Amen Brother
Ok, since there a couple people here that seem to be all knowing on what socialized health care is or is not – here are a couple questions;
#1 How is Obama’s plan different from the military health care?
Do you realize that the soldiers do pay an annual fee? Its very small, but they do pay it. Don’t believe me? Check an LES, enroll in DEERS, Or better yet – Enlist & experience it – with family members.
#2 If Obama Care is so evil and wrong, then why waste so much energy on being a town crier? Instead why not create a better health care plan? I’ve yet to hear a better plan.
Just to give a little background; I served my country for 5 years. I took health care for granted. I was sick – I showed up – I was taken care of. I didn’t always agree with the quality of care I was given. But hey it was better than some vets were getting at the VA hospital. When I got out, I was a single parent – with no health care. After some costly trips to the emergency room (which is not one bill from the hospital – but several bills – docs bill you separately for their services), I realized two things. 1. The trip to the emergency room and the high cost could have been avoided had my son been treated earlier when the symptoms began. 2. My son was now covered thru medicare – at taxpayers expense. This meant If he got sick he could get treatment – but if I caught it from him, I could not get treatment, and a never ending cycle ensued.
Thank God my life is better than it was. But I will never forget what I went thru and what countless others go through because of greed and ignorance.
As we use to say in the Corps – “If you are not part of the solutions – You are part of the problem.”
CC,
First off, thank you for serving your country, you should be commended for that sacrifice and I appreciate it wholeheartedly.
Apples to oranges. Military personnel are essentially employees of the American people. We, as is customary for many employers, take care of our servicemen and servicewomen as we damn well should. It is the least we can do and the VA health care isn’t the best either, it has major issues.
However, to translate that into some kind of forced mandate on private civilians is another story. Where is it constitutional to force someone to participate in commerce? Think of VA care and issues but translated exponentially to the general population, not good.
What right does the government have to interfere in my health care?
I’m sorry to hear about your financial issues relating to health care costs, I truly am. However, your circumstances do not mean we need to nationalize the health care industry and create a government run health care plan for each and every citizen.
Socialized health care systems are failing in Europe, Canada and elsewhere. There is a shortage of doctors, nurses and facilities. The quality of care is lower and the wait times for typical procedures are extremely high compared to the United States.
The best plan is to get the government out of insurance entirely, create a singular standard for private health insurance across 50 states and let the free market do the work.
Nobody complains about the endless choices for car insurance, homeowners insurance, renters insurance and dozens of other private insurance institutions.
Why can’t we emulate auto insurance for health insurance? Why must we immediately turn to a government-run program?
America is about individuals making choices in the free market. ObamaCare is about stripping your right to make choices and stripping your options in health care.
Think about it before you want to turn over your health insurance to the federal government who cannot run even the smallest social programs with fraud, corruption and ridiculous deficits in spending.
Again, thank you for your service to this country.
CC
There has been a Republican plan on the internet for a very long time.
we can’t let this happen, it screws all soldiers over. Without the health care they will all be broke, enlisted members aren’t paid that much, it’s the health care that makes it a good career. And a lot of people join FOR the health care. Our military’s strength will greatly decrease if this goes through. Another one of Obama’s “great ideas”. How about he decreases the amount of money he puts towards welfare? I know so many people that use food stamps for candy and crap like that when they can easily get a freakin job. Our president is backwards.