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

Yahoo News/The American Legion ^ | Mon Mar 16, 5:49 pm ET | Craig Roberts

[reader25]

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."

[reader25]

This is a shameful way to treat the very people who have defended this nation.

[John123]

Well, this is how the Spanish Civil War got started... the legally elected government dissed both the military and the RC church...

[Liberty Valance]

Wow. Now that you mentioned it ...

[bimboeruption]

Barry can bail out the irresponsible and the crooks, but he's going to make our heroes pay for treatment?

He's unAmerican.

[Natural Law]

If he ever had designs on using the military against the American population he just screwed the pooch.

[Lockbox]

1. Would private insurance companies cover pre-esisting conditions?

2. What would the VA due if you were uninsured, currently there are millions of Americans without health insurance?

3. Would this change break any agreement military members may have joined under?

[TeleStraightShooter]

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.

Not Commander-in-Chief, but Commander-in-CHEAP!

[SaxxonWoods]

I’ve never been big on protesting, but I’m ready to march on this one. I’m disgusted and outraged. I’ll be shocked if there isn’t a huge uproar over this slap in the face to those who have sacrificed so much for the rest of us.

[bimboeruption]

If he ever had designs on using the military against the American population he just screwed the pooch.

Maybe he'll hire mexicans as soldiers.

They wouldn't care a rat's a$$ about plugging one of us.

[Natural Law]

"They wouldn't care a rat's a$$ about plugging one of us."

But the afore mentioned former and active duty military personnel wouldn't look kindly upon that.....

[jz638]

This gives disabled veterans every incentive to drop their private health insurance. What kind of commander in chief would consciously make this decision and then stand by it once its folly was clearly pointed out? What kind of person is Shinseki for not resigning in protest?

[bimboeruption]

"They wouldn't care a rat's a$$ about plugging one of us."

But the afore mentioned former and active duty military personnel wouldn't look kindly upon that.....

NOTHING Barry and his buddies do surprises me. Just look at what he's proposing here. Could you ever have imagined this?

Who knows what they're going to pull. And they'll probably get away with it because most Americans don't care.

[Natural Law]

"most Americans don't care."

but enough do....

[bigbob]

This is low. Even for a guy who sets new standards of lowness on a daily basis.

[MarkL]

Let me see if I’ve got this straight...

Obama wants to implement government paid “healthcare” for everyone in the USA, EXCEPT for those wounded or injured while serving in the military. He wants to end the government paid healthcare for them, and force them to get private insurance...

Just wow.

Mark

[plain talk]

"deeply disappointed and concerned"

disappointed? concerned? if this were a liberal group they would be using words like "angry" and "unacceptable". Until our side learns how to communicate effectively we will continue to lose and not rally the American people to our causes.

[43north]

The occupant of the White House keeps adding more straws to the camel’s back.

We all know what will eventually happen given that kind of activity.

[bimboeruption]

"most Americans don't care."

but enough do....

Ya think? Then how'd we end up with Barry?

[Big_Monkey]

Something's afoot. I don't think that even Barry is this stupid. He's got to have some kind of angle. I bet most insurance companies wouldn't cover a vet's pre-existing condition.

Having said that, if it's true, Obama may well intend to literally, not figuratively destroy this country and remake it into something completely different.

[pvoce]

PLEASE tell me this is a hoax...as a Veteran, a son of two Veterans, the grandson and great-grandson of Veterans, as well as the son-in-law of a Veteran, this would be a travesty of monumental proportions!

Abandoning those who have EARNED the care of those they protected and served is the ultimate humiliation, and is the surest sign that our nation is in dire straits indeed!

[sheikdetailfeather]

He just spit on the troops.

[Salvation]

They need to start running anti-Obama ads on this subject immediately!

[odin2008]

He has no plans to use American soldiers,but he Will use the New National Service Brigades and U.N. storm troopers.
Backed up by Chi-Coms.... We owe them money.

[Anti-Bubba182]

So Obama is going to crap all over REAL veterans while establishing a thug national volunteer network at taxpayers expense and probably spend more in the process.

Obama Wants YOU to Serve, HR 1388 The Give Act reform National Service Laws-VOTE on

[TheBattman]

How about we make BO pay for 100% of his health care (and that of his family) as well as pay for his security detail and his travel costs....

Oh - that wouldn’t be right, he is - after all - the president.

Hell, Mr “President”.... that soldier who has his leg blown off... and is receiving care and rehab... he suffered that FOR YOUR SORRY TAIL! If it were not for young men (and women) like him - you would not have even had the chance to RUN for president.

What a sorry excuse for a human being. If there has EVER been a good reason for the US military to unite in mutiny against the Commander IN Chief - this would be the one (not just this particular issue). An ineligible man, with direct ties to unrepentant terrorists, who is systematically doing everything he can to completely throw the US Constitution that our brave fighting men and women have been SWORN to defend in the trash...

[aquila48]

Unintended consequences....
- Recruitment will go way down
- No reups
- Insurance companies will drop you as soon as you enlist
- Morale of the servicemen already enlisted will go down the toilet
- Alqaida, the taliban, and islamofascists will be licking their chops
- Our leftists will rejoice
- the center and right will be reenergized
- ....

[fifthvirginia]

Commander Rehbein said it best,,,”unconscionable”.

As for the solution, Thomas Jefferson said it best:
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”

[kaylar]

Unintended consequences....?????

I highly doubt that...

[aquila48]

You may be right....

[kaylar]

I hope not. I am clinging desperately to the hope that BHO is stupid and incompetent, not cunning and evil (but that hope is on life support.)

[exit82]

Here’s an issue the GOP can drive a tractor trailer truck through, but instead, our idiotic SEnators are saying that AIG execs should commit suicide.

[aquila48]

“I hope not. I am clinging desperately to the hope that BHO is stupid and incompetent, not cunning and evil (but that hope is on life support.)”

Problem is even if in the best case he’s stupid and incompetent, (which is not out of the question), the people pulling his strings (Reid, Pelosi, the environazis and marxists he’s appointing everywhere...) are not, and will grab this golden opportunity to remake (ruin) the country.

2010 seems so far away...