In a change from all previous administrations, Obama is considering charging vets for VA healthcare. That's a change we can believe in.

[Terminator]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance.
But the proposal would be "dead on arrival" if it's sent to Congress, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, said.
Murray used that blunt terminology when she told Shinseki that the idea would not be acceptable and would be rejected if formally proposed. Her remarks came during a hearing before the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs about the 2010 budget.
No official proposal to create such a program has been announced publicly, but veterans groups wrote a pre-emptive letter last week to President Obama voicing their opposition to the idea after hearing the plan was under consideration.
The groups also cited an increase in "third-party collections" estimated in the 2010 budget proposal -- something they said could be achieved only if the Veterans Administration started billing for service-related injuries.
Asked about the proposal, Shinseki said it was under "consideration."
"A final decision hasn't been made yet," he said.
Currently, veterans' private insurance is charged only when they receive health care from the VA for medical issues that are not related to service injuries, like getting the flu.
Charging for service-related injuries would violate "a sacred trust," Veterans of Foreign Wars spokesman Joe Davis said. Davis said the move would risk private health care for veterans and their families by potentially maxing out benefits paying for costly war injury treatments.
A second senator, North Carolina Republican Richard Burr, said he agreed that the idea should not go forward.
"I think you will give that up" as a revenue stream if it is included in this April's budget, Burr said.
Murray said she'd already discussed her concerns with the secretary the previous week.
"I believe that veterans with service-connected injuries have already paid by putting their lives on the line," Murray said in her remarks. "I don't think we should nickel and dime them for their care."
Eleven of the most prominent veterans organizations have been lobbying Congress to oppose the idea. In the letter sent last week to the president, the groups warned that the idea "is wholly unacceptable and a total abrogation of our government's moral and legal responsibility to the men and women who have sacrificed so much."
The groups included The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
At the time, a White House spokesman would neither confirm nor deny the option was being considered.

[Cidp24]

Senator Stennis is rolling in his grave over that one.

[Retdetsgt]

Even Democrats in Congress are against this. Patty Murray, a far leftie from Washington has spoken out against it. Not gonna happen.

[countybear]

I'd go so far as to say that honorably discharged combat veterans deserve government-paid healthcare benefits for life, INSTEAD of the members of congress.

[2 Blue 4 U]

What a smack in the face that would be. What an POS to even consider it.

[Captain America]

I'd go so far as to say that honorably discharged combat veterans deserve government-paid healthcare benefits for life, INSTEAD of the members of congress.

+1. It pisses the hell out of me that Obama Adminisrtation would even consider such bullshit.

[Star Man]

I'd go so far as to say that honorably discharged combat veterans deserve government-paid healthcare benefits for life, INSTEAD of the members of congress.

Don't forget the lifetime retirement pay they get after only one term since they don't pay into the same social security the rest of us do.

[Five-0]

A man who is good enough to shed his blood for the country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards.
Theodore Roosevelt

[Retdetsgt]

I'd go so far as to say that honorably discharged combat veterans deserve government-paid healthcare benefits for life, INSTEAD of the members of congress.

I don't know about members of Congress, but I don't believe serving a few years qualifies anyone for free medical care forever.

The majority of military people never see combat in their time, they work at the job more or less as a civilian would except they wear a unifrom. I don't think that deserves it.

I'm all for treating anything attributed to military service, but not run of mill medical care.

My father in law was given 100% disability mostly because he wrote his congressman and bitched. He deserves some of what he gets, but he abuses the system horribly.

[Wolven]

I don't know about members of Congress, but I don't believe serving a few years qualifies anyone for free medical care forever.

The majority of military people never see combat in their time, they work at the job more or less as a civilian would except they wear a unifrom. I don't think that deserves it.

I'm all for treating anything attributed to military service, but not run of mill medical care.

My father in law was given 100% disability mostly because he wrote his congressman and bitched. He deserves some of what he gets, but he abuses the system horribly.

I was actually qualified for disablility according to the military..not full..just partial. I told them not to even put any of the paper through...I told them to keep the money for those that deserved it.

[pgg]

One of my brothers is on 100% disability after Iraq. I don't know how he would manage if this crap passed. As it is I don't know how much longer he is going to be around.

[Retdetsgt]

I was actually qualified for disablility according to the military..not full..just partial. I told them not to even put any of the paper through...I told them to keep the money for those that deserved it.

Yeah, that's the way I look at it. I did my time, saw my combat, but was fortunate enough to come out physically okay, just a little nuts. But I don't need to drain the resources others who need help and can't otherwise afford it.

[Retdetsgt]

One of my brothers is on 100% disability after Iraq. I don't know how he would manage if this crap passed. As it is I don't know how much longer he is going to be around.

It won't, don't worry. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. I hope he gets the best of care. My heart breaks when I read about or see these young people coming back like that. Sometimes it literally brings tears to my eyes. Brings back a lot of memories.

[Wolven]

One of my brothers is on 100% disability after Iraq. I don't know how he would manage if this crap passed. As it is I don't know how much longer he is going to be around.

that is sad pgg.

I cant imagine that going through...can you imagine the outrage???? We need to give MORE to our veterans not less. "Hey..yah..thanks for serving and getting injured....now where is your money? " Unbelievable....my thinking that the country is going downhill will be solidified with this if it passes.

[pgg]

It won't, don't worry. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. I hope he gets the best of care. My heart breaks when I read about or see these young people coming back like that. Sometimes it literally brings tears to my eyes. Brings back a lot of memories.

Thanks I appreciate it. I have 2 other siblings that have deployed also. One, a Marine, did 3 tours in Iraq, he is up in Macleans area now. The other is one of my sisters. She has done 18 months in Afganistan so far. She is state side now but she is still in. She is a Sgt now. So far both are okay

[Wolven]

It won't, don't worry. I'm so sorry to hear about your brother. I hope he gets the best of care. My heart breaks when I read about or see these young people coming back like that. Sometimes it literally brings tears to my eyes. Brings back a lot of memories.

Mine too. I think it is getting worse the older I get...I realize just how young these men and women are that are coming back with horrendous injuries both physically and mentally...it does break my heart. And although I think that things have gotten a little bit better since the Vietnam War with at least the welcome these men and women have....it is still not enough. So damn young.....

[countybear]

I don't know about members of Congress, but I don't believe serving a few years qualifies anyone for free medical care forever.

... thus the term I used, "combat veterans".

[Retdetsgt]

... thus the term I used, "combat veterans".

I missed that, sorry. But I foresee people scrabbling to walk through a combat zone so they can get free medical care for life.

I think the system is fine the way it is.

[srab]

Senator Stennis is rolling in his grave over that one.

As is Abe Lincoln. Un fucking believable. You know, every time I see that POW bracelet he got during the campaign, I wonder if "they" realize what it really means.