The Observation Deck

Obama has found something in the federal budget to cut: medical care for soldiers. It seems he wants veterans to pay for their service related injuries:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123734281713065367.html

Hope You Can Believe In!

It was a pretty dumb proposal. Two high-ranking Democratic Senators on the Veterans Affairs committee advised Gen. Shinseki that the any budget containing the proposal would be DOA.

How about removing the 16.5 billion in earmarks from the federal budget?

How about cutting the number of congressional offices and costs to run them? How much does Dennis spend on his Parma and Lakewood offices? Does he need both? How many other house members have multiple offices?

Having veterans pay for their healthcare will never happen. There are too many in Washington that won't stoop that low to let it happen. This just shows how ultra liberal Obama really is.

Didn't this come out after Michelle O toured some military bases? Good timing for her

How about an actual article instead of an opinion piece.



http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/17/obama.veterans/



It would seem there is more to the story that is still developing.

There are some organizations who hold themselves out as representing veterans, and who are zealous to the point of misrepresentation in arguing for and against some policies. Some of them write opinion pieces.

Its true that veterans currently receive free treatment for service-connected disabilities. It doesn't follow that billing the veteran's hospitalization carrier, if he has one, for the cost of that care would cost the veteran anything, especially if the law is carefully written with respect to the threshold costs of most hospitalization policies. I know a lady who has coverage from the VA. Her claim first goes to her Blue Cross, and whatever they don't pay, the VA picks up.

I find it useful in reading opinion pieces to first make sure that I know what are the motivations of the author.

Will Brown wrote:Its true that veterans currently receive free treatment for service-connected disabilities. It doesn't follow that billing the veteran's hospitalization carrier, if he has one, for the cost of that care would cost the veteran anything,

Insurance rates are determined by usage and cost. The insurance company expects to collect more than it pays out. Veterans with war wounds can need millions in medical care. Under this plan veterans with private business can expect large increases in premiums as can any business that employs a veteran. And to what end?

The Obama administration will add more to the deficit over the next ten years than in the previous 200 years. Government spending is set to increase to from about 21% of GDP to 35% of GDP. The treasury department just announced its intention to print all the money we need. Of all the trillions to be spent and all the thousands of new programs to be enacted have you ever heard Obama complain about the cost of anything?

I haven't. Oh, wait!! He thinks we can save money sending the guy who lost his legs in combat the bill for his medical care.

Obama's plan to force veterans to find their own coverage with a private insurance company is a disgusting display of his disdain for those who serve.

Because of the political uproar he has now put that plan on hold. Not because it's a bad idea but because of the political uproar.

What would you think if the plan was to have the employees private insurers pay workers compensation claims?