The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for

[suds54]

The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment

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Mon Mar 16, 5:49 pm ET
Featured Topics:

• Barack Obama
• Presidential Transition

To: POLITICAL EDITORS

Contact: Craig Roberts of The American Legion, +1-202-263-2982 Office, +1-202-406-0887 Cell

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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

[darrels joy]

March 16th, 2009

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;

(see post above)

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.

UPDATE at 11PM Eastern: Our local CHANNEL 9 News (WUSA) reports that Shinseki claims he’ll oppose the measure when the whole bill is presented next month. Why is he waiting? Look, Eric, we all know you - just fold like a K-Mart lawn chair now and get it over with.

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=8779

[darrels joy]

VFW Against VA Collection Increase Proposal

Washington, March 4, 2009 - The national commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. wants the Obama administration to kill a controversial budget proposal that would bill veterans with private health insurance for the care they receive for their service-connected disabilities and wounds. "It is unconscionable to pass along the costs of war to wounded and disabled veterans," said the VFW's Glen M. Gardner Jr., a Vietnam veteran from Round Rock, Texas. "This is one policy proposal that the VFW will work hard to defeat because it breaks a sacred trust that veterans have with their government." The administration proposed Thursday that the Department of Veterans Affairs would receive $55.9 billion in discretionary funding in fiscal year 2010, an amount that exceeds the current year budget by $5.5 billion. Gardner said the proposal includes good initiatives, such as additional funding to enable more veterans to enroll into the VA system, to expand the concurrent receipt of disability compensation and retirement pay for medically-retired veterans, and to target access to care issues, especially for rural veterans. But the VFW national commander stopped short of applauding the budget when it was confirmed that VA would increase third party collections by billing for service-connected disability treatments. Gardner said the administration's budget proposal for the VA will get a much closer examination once details are released in April, but he fears the collections increase could lead to higher insurance premiums, as well as make it more difficult for veterans and their families to obtain or retain private health insurance. It could also discourage civilian employers from hiring disabled veterans. On Friday, the VFW and 10 other major veterans' and military organizations wrote President Obama to voice their objections to the budget proposal. "The VFW adamantly opposes this proposal, and I am asking every VFW and auxiliary member, as well as every American, to urge their congressional delegations to block this move," said Gardner. "Charging veterans for the VA care they receive for service-connected disabilities and combat wounds is not how a grateful nation takes care of her warriors." To contact a member of Congress, go to: http://capwiz.com/vfw/issues/alert/?alertid=12844211. Click http://www.vfw.org/PR/Legislative/Jo...nt%20Obama.pdf to read the joint letter to the president.

http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.newsDtl&did=4952

[SuperScout]

Despite all the promises of how much better off veterans would be under a B.O. administration, the screwing of us veterans is just beginning. Mark my words, the benefits we are currently receiving are under assault, and it will get much worse.

[Packo]

More "change" we can believe in! He's looking more and more like a one term Carter. That's HOPE I can believe in.

Our National Cemetary is filling up. This historic cemetary has many of the famed 54th Mass., "Glory", movie buried there along with many other heroes from this country. A local man has property adjacent to it that he is willing to sell the VA for 1.4 Million. This is 40 acres of prime real estate in Beaufort that is worth over 5+ million. BgGen Jimmy Leach approached his old friend, the new VA Secretary about it saying that when the VA needs the property it will probably be worth over 10 million. His "friend" had his Deputy write Jimmy back and at our MOPH meeting he read the response. Basically it says.....The Beaufort National Cemetary is on the bottom of the list. No thanks. Now here is a guy willing to sell his property for way below value so the cemetary can expand. Here's the new VA leadership saying....tough shit. More CHANGE I can believe in. Unless I go quickly, there will be no place for me and Deb in the near future. Oh, the Deputy said that he's going to expand a place that we can have our urns placed instead....so, either cremation or nothing. I'm already hoping for change in 4 years. Damned liars, all of them.

Pack

[phuloi]

Be careful, friends. During the current 'Perfect Storm' the bastard in chief will continue to try and slip crap like this under the radar. We (veterans in particular) need to be ultra-vigilant and continue support of NSOs, as they are our strongest ally in Washington.

[darrels joy]

AKAKA: VA, NOT PRIVATE INSURERS, ARE OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR COMBAT INJURIES



March 17, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, issued the following statement today in opposition to a proposal to shift the responsibility to pay for care for service-connected injuries from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to the private insurers of wounded veterans:

"VA's sacred duty is to care for veterans injured in honorable service to our nation, and the department should not turn to wounded warriors' private insurance to pay for combat injures. Under my Chairmanship, the Veterans' Affairs Committee will not advance any such legislation," said Akaka.

Akaka's statement follows the submission of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee's views and estimates on the budget to the Senate Budget Committee yesterday. The views and estimates were signed by Chairman Akaka, Ranking Member Richard Burr, and a majority of the Committee members. Last week, Akaka applauded the overall increase President Obama has proposed for VA, as well as his plans to improve services, expand care, and target problem areas within the Department.

http://veterans.senate.gov/public/in...lease_id=11927

[SuperScout]

.... but as I said much earlier, I told you so. Any veteran who voted for B.O. needs to apologize to those of us who saw through his vapid promises, and knew him to be the socialist that he is revealing every day. He is in the process of destroying the basic elements of culture and society, and wants to replace it with bigger government, more taxes, less liberty, andno genuine hope for improvement. I told you so.

So how do you like this B.O. loser now, liberals?

[darrels joy]

Obama/Emanuel/Shinseki walk back from VA insurance plan

March 18th, 2009
Sources tell us that the White House called the Veteran Service Organization representatives back for a meeting at 1 PM today to announce that they’re backtracking on their proposal to force veterans into health insurance to pay for service-connected treatment. Despite the fact that the Obama/Emanuel/Shinseki team made it clear that they couldn’t be persuaded, somehow they got persuaded. I guess when their own Congress turned against them, they figured it wasn’t worth the political capital they’d have to expend.

ADDED: Here’s the press release from the American Legion;

The leader of the nation’s largest veterans organization applauded President Obama for dropping his plan to bill private insurance companies for the treatment of military veterans who have suffered service-connected disabilities and injuries.

“We are glad that President Obama listened to the strong objections raised by The American Legion and veterans everywhere about this unfair plan,” said National Commander David K Rehbein of The American Legion. “We thank the administration for its proposed increase in the VA budget and we are always available to assist by providing guidance to ensure a veterans health care system that is worthy of the heroes that use it.”

Following a meeting this afternoon with The American Legion and other veterans service organizations, the White House announced that it will no longer consider billing insurance companies or veterans for their service-connected disabilities.
“Although we disagreed with the proposal, additional revenue streams are needed by VA,” Rehbein said. “I strongly encourage Congress and the administration to allow VA to begin billing Medicare for the treatment of Medicare-eligible nonservice-connected veterans. They paid into Medicare for their entire working careers and should be able to use it in the medical system that was built specifically for them.”

With a current membership of 2.6 million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and the mentoring of youth. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.

As I said this morning, whether it would have passed or not, it’s just one more example of the extent that the Obama Administration will go to screw veterans and the military to divert taxpayer money to use to buy votes.

Right out of the box, on Inauguration evening, on bad advice from one of his supporters, he ended a 56-year tradition of the President visiting the living Medal of Honor recipients at the ball held in their honor. Next, he ended the 18-year-old ban against the media making props of our returning casualties from war at Dover Air Force Base.

And then Obama/Emanuel/Shinseki want to fund their vote buying on the backs of wounded veterans. Is there anything left that we veterans and military service members hold more dear than the things Team Obama seem to hold in such low regard? Why are any veterans, like John Soltz, still carrying water for the Administration which seems to despise everything we stand for, the reasons we serve(d), the reasons we stay engaged.

Last August, Obama made the comment that he needed to earn the troops’ trust. It doesn’t seem that it’s particularly important to him now that the election has ended. During the campaign, he said he wanted to add 65,000 people to the ranks of the military - how is he going to accomplish that while he simultaneously takes away their benefits - the things that make them willing to risk their lives and limbs accomplishing their inherently dangerous missions? Who’ll stay, who’ll join under those conditions?

Honestly. What’s next? Are families going to get a bill for bringing their service member home in a casket?

ADDED a link from Ed Morrissey on the walk-back http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/...009-03-18.html .

http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=8896

[Packo]

that the Rats are leaving this sinking ship. Thank GOD for our service organizations. If they were only as strong to the Democrats as the Unions....we'd have nothing to worry about. Ahh, if only they were. All stimulus contracts would have to first go to Disabled Veteran or Veteran owned business. Darn the luck, they HAVE TO GO TO UNION BUSINESS OR THE STATES MUST PAY UNION WAGE. I thank God also for Gov. Mark Sanford, SC who's fighting this administration and their illegal demands of the the states and "stimulus" spending. Now, instead of a state getting to asphalt 100 miles of bad road, they may get to do 40 due to these outrageous restrictions. May be ok for Illionois...but SC is a right to work state where we don't have to pay a guy $40 a hour for $18 dollars worth of labor. And this is less than 100 days. God help us.

Pack