Rising number of veterans are uninsured, many ineligible for VA care

[Robbien]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - About one of every eight veterans under the age of 65 are uninsured, a finding that contradicts the assumption many have that all vets qualify for free health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, says a new study.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School projected that about 1.8 million veterans overall lack health coverage. That's an increase of 290,000 since 2000. The researchers said most uninsured veterans are in the middle class and are ineligible for VA care because of their incomes. Still others cannot afford their copayments, or lack VA facilities in their community.

. . .

The study notes that the VA in January 2003 ordered a halt to the enrollment of most veterans who are not poor. The move was designed to reduce the backlog of patients waiting for care.

But Peter Gaytan, who monitors veterans' issues for the American Legion, said veterans now make as little as about $24,000 a year in some regions and still do not qualify for health coverage from the VA.

"That decision created a large number of veterans who have served in the U.S. military who are denied access," Gaytan said.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/1030veterans-health1030-ON.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. Fuck em

if they had conservative values, they'd take care of themselves. All this liberal namby pamby bullshit is not helping our veterans. They need to suffer or get with the program.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Good ol' Republican-style troops supportin', yessirree.

:eyes:

Asses.

No veteran should EVER have to go without healthcare, and should never have to pay for it, either.

[kestrel91316]

3. Wow, I just love how we Amurkins "Support The Troops(TM)".

[crickets]

4. Reduction of backlog

might be easier if the number of VA health care employees and facilities were increased rather than cutting the number of people who qualify.

House Conservatives Cut $500M Off Vet Bill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2295283

The conservatives, led by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, used parliamentary procedures to delete some 20 projects worth $507 million from the $94 billion spending bill for military construction and veterans programs in fiscal 2007, which will begin Oct. 1 (1996). The overall bill passed 395-0.

Support the troops! :eyes: The way veterans in this country are treated is criminal.