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!"
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"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.

We all know that the sacred trust does not end when the uniform comes off. That’s why it’s time to build a 21st-century VA. No more red tape. It’s time to give every service member electronic copies of their medical records and service records upon discharge so that they can immediately get the services that they’ve earned. No more shortfalls. We’ll fully fund VA health care. No more delays. We’ll pass on-time budgets. No more means testing. It’s time to allow every veteran into the VA system.

The individual vet shouldn't suddenly be on the hook for deductibles, copays, etc., that s/he wouldn't owe if s/he wasn't covered by private insurance at all.

Well, in theory the idea of making one's insurance company pay for one's health care doesn't seem like a bad thing.

And if you don't have insurance? Then you get what we have now, the VA.

Lets face it though, the VA has never been a shining example of health care. Even when there wasn't a war going on, getting any kind of care at all for my grandfather from the VA was like herding cats and arguably played a large role in the decline of his health in his later years.

I'm not advocating, "Make the vets pay!!" but...there's gotta be something better than what we're doing with them now. You know vets all over aren't getting proper medical care under the current system.

why in the world do we want the government to take an even larger role in healthcare for the rest of us?
If we think the government is doing such a horrible job with the VA that it's a good thing to move them to private insurance... why in the world do we want the government to take an even larger role in healthcare for the rest of us?

Well, lets be fair here, that's a pretty misleading title you put up there.

I'm not entirely sure I have a problem with insurance companies helping to foot the bill for caring for injured troops. Perhaps some discussion would help out on it, I dunno.

Insurance companies are for profit agencies. If they foot a portion of the bill, that portion will eventually be filtered down to the Vets in fees or premiums. This is a bad precident.

But the same is true for government money. That money isn't magic money that is pulled out of thin air. It is paid for by all of us, with interest to boot.

You're either missing the point, or you don't care. Either we the taxpayers pony up the money to take care of the soldiers who were injured in service to this nation, or we make them pay for it themselves.

One of these is the right thing to do. The other is a despicable abuse of the men and women who have served this nation.

True, but if the government is running it through an insurance company we're double paying and the vet is triple paying.

Note: I'm a combat with vet with an actual combat injury. My rehabilitation and care were outstanding.

That response shows a lack of business understanding. Do you also think when they raise the taxes on gas the oil companies eat that cost? When they raise taxes on cigarettes the tobacco companies keep selling them for the same cost?

No matter what the government puts in place, if you start charging private companies portions of medical bills, that portion will be passed back to the consumer in some fashion.

They just ditched the plan. Oh well Venen, better luck next time, eh?

From what the article says it looks like the plan will require vets to have private insurance to pay for their coverage. That is wrong on so many fronts.

Of course, at that point in time he also hadn't been called out on basing it all on lies, either.

How many of the 'no' votes in the House came after the measure already had enough votes to pass?

Well, in theory the idea of making one's insurance company pay for one's health care doesn't seem like a bad thing.

He pointed out that private insurance doesn't EXPECT people to be in a fucking warzone intentionally.