Obama’s Troubled Start With Veterans

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VETS ANGRY AT OBAMA FOR TRYING TO CHARGE THEM FOR SERVICE-RELATED INJURIES

Obama Administration Angered Veterans Groups By Suggesting Treatment For Service-Related Injuries Be Charged To Veterans' Private Insurance Plans. “Veterans groups are angry after President Obama told them Monday that he is still considering a proposal to have treatment for service-connected injuries charged to veterans’ private insurance plans. ... Some of the veterans groups were caught off guard when the president said the administration is still thinking about the idea as a way of generating $540 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010. The groups and some members of Congress have been very vocal in opposing the idea.” (Adam Levine, “Veterans Groups Irate At Obama's Private Insurance Proposal,” CNN, 3/17/09)


Obama Causes “Firestorm In The Veterans Community.” "The controversial plan has ignited a firestorm in the veterans community, and a meeting Monday with President Barack Obama failed to tamp it down." (David Goldstein, "Veterans, Lawmakers Blast White House For Benefits Proposal," McClatchy, 3/17/09)


Executive Director Of Iraq And Afghanistan Veterans Of America: “Veterans of all generations agree that this proposal is bad for the country and bad for veterans. If the president and the OMB want to cut costs, they can start at AIG, not the VA.” (Adam Levine, “Veterans Groups Irate At Obama's Private Insurance Proposal,” CNN, 3/17/09)

Executive Director Of Disabled American Veterans: “We are going to go back in and fight this thing tooth and nail.” (Adam Levine, “Veterans Groups Irate At Obama's Private Insurance Proposal,” CNN, 3/17/09)


CBO SUGGESTED CUTTING HEALTH CARE BENEFITS TO MILITARY PERSONNEL

CBO Suggests Cutting Military Health Care Benefits. “The Congressional Budget Office … has a series of suggestions for lawmakers if they want to get serious about cutting money … These include raising enrollment fees, co-payments and deductibles for military retirees … requiring some veterans to pay co-payments when they are treated for medical issues not related to military service ...” (Rick Maze, “Cost-Cutting Feds Eye Military Health Care Among Possibilities,” Army Times, 1/19/09)


Cuts Would Increase Costs Of TRICARE. “[S]everal focus on raising TRICARE out-of-pocket costs for retirees and one for families. Others would tighten access to VA hospitals and clinics, or raise VA health fees, for veterans with no service-connected conditions.” (Tom Philpott, “Report Shows Proposed TRICARE Cost Increases,” The Montgomery Advertiser, 1/4/09)

NO WONDER VETERANS LINING UP TO OPPOSE OBAMA’S HEALTH CARE EXPERIMENT


Veterans Groups Say Health Care Legislation Will Limit Choices And Increase Costs For Veterans. “[W]e would oppose this legislation because it could limit the health care choices for veterans, increase the cost of health care for veterans, deny coverage to dependents family members of veterans, and threaten the quality of health care offered to veterans through the VA health care system.” (Raymon C. Kelley, National Legislative Director AMVETS, Et Al., Letter To The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, 7/30/09)

Letter Signed By AMVETS (American Veterans), Blinded Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Inc., Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. (Raymon C. Kelley, National Legislative Director AMVETS, Et Al., Letter To The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, 7/30/09)


Bill Could Endanger Care For Millions Of Vets. “Six U.S. veterans groups have expressed objections to the House healthcare reform bill, warning it could jeopardizing the care of millions of veterans.” ("Vet Groups Oppose House Healthcare Bill," UPI, 7/31/09

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