TOPICS
TOPICS
House panel basses bill aiding severely disabled veterans
The House Veterans' Affairs Health Subcommittee Thursday approved by voice vote a measure that would protect the most severely disabled veterans from making insurance co-payments.
Noting 25,000 "catastrophically disabled" veterans would be affected, bill sponsor, Rep. Don Cazayoux, D-La., said oftentimes the most disabled veterans are "some of the poorest of the poor."
The bill would prohibit the collection of co-payments for hospital or nursing home care from catastrophically disabled veterans and even those with disabilities that are not service-connected.
Cazayoux said the category "catastrophically disabled" would cover veterans who are paralyzed and have other neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease.
"At a time when the veteran is in need of specialized assistance to regain some independence and quality of life, the financial burden of medical bills should be lifted," said Paralyzed Veterans of America Legislative Director Carl Blake at a June 26 Health Subcommittee hearing.
Blake also said other factors, such as essential medicines and equipment that is needed for disabled veterans, placed an increased financial strain on the more severely disabled veterans.
COMMENTS
- Margie is absolutely correct. Jeremiah does have a point, but probably not stated well. If the government can be said to have an obligation to cover medical costs that would be in the best interests of the nation, then the case to FULLY cover disabled veterans takes first place. No one else comes close to that priority. And, in defense of Jeremiah, we definitely should not be providing any kind of non-emergency health care for non-citizens, such as we experience too frequently here in California. That is not in our nation's best interest. By the way, if one isn't immediately threatened by loss of life, limb, or eye-sight, then it is not an emergency. Anyway, I recommend we take care of the vet first and quit wasting health dollars elsewhere. It only encourages a vast social problem we can't afford. But we owe the veteran our very freedom and security in this nation. That is money well spent. Phil Posted July 17, 2008 2:54 PM
- thanks again Margie--i agree with your comment fully. My dad served 22 yrs, died (at 53yrs young---this was back in the 70's) soon after he retired--have no idea what he ever got or my mother. THE VETS DESERVE WHAT THEY ARE PROMISED. He served in the Korean & Vietnam wars. but did not come back disabled(phyically) maybe a little mental(harsh realities of wars?? paula Posted July 17, 2008 2:38 PM
- I'm with Margie. I can't understand why our priority seems to be foreign aid. We have so many U.S. citizens who don't have enough to eat, and little or no medical care. Enlistees seem to be promised the moon when they sign up only to find themselves without after they've served. Christi Posted July 17, 2008 9:00 AM
