This is outrageous: The American Legion Strongly Opposed to President's Plan to Charge Wounded Heroes for Treatment

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http://news./s/usnw/20090316/pl_usnw/the_american_legion_strongly_opposed_to_president_s_plan_to_charge_wounded_heroes_for_treatment

 

 

WASHINGTON, March 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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. "

The Commander, clearly angered as he emerged from the session said,

" This reimbursement plan would be inconsistent with the mandate ' to

care for him who shall have borne the battle' given that the United

States government sent members of the armed forces into harm's way, and

not private insurance companies. I say again that The American Legion

does not and will not support any plan that seeks to bill a veteran for

treatment of a service connected disability at the very agency that was

created to treat the unique need of America's veterans! "

Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior officials from veterans

service organizations joining the President, White House Chief of Staff

Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki and Steven

Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB). The group's early afternoon conversation at The White House

was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the President

earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander Rehbein and the

heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part, " There is

simply no logical explanation for billing a veteran's personal insurance

for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide. While we understand

the fiscal difficulties this country faces right now, placing the burden

of those fiscal problems on the men and women who have already sacrificed

a great deal for this country is unconscionable. "

Commander Rehbein reiterated points made last week in testimony to

both House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees. It was stated then

that The American Legion believes that the reimbursement plan would be

inconsistent with the mandate that VA treat service-connected injuries

and disabilities given that the United States government sends members of

the armed forces into harm's way, and not private insurance companies.

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.

" I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not

being enacted, " said Commander Rehbein, " is for an alternative

plan to be developed that would generate the desired $540-million in

revenue. The American Legion has long advocated for Medicare

reimbursement to VA for the treatment of veterans. This, we believe,

would more easily meet the President's financial goal. We will present

that idea in an anticipated conference call with White House Chief of

Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.

" I only hope the administration will really listen to us then. This

matter has far more serious ramifications than the President is

imagining, " concluded the Commander.

SOURCE The American Legion

 

 

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