Trumping Bush's Troop Card

We have more vets every day, and, when this endless war finally peters to a close, we'll have even more ex-troops, and many of them will be uninsured. A new study, which will appear in December's American Journal for Public Health, finds that nearly 2 million veterans (12.7 percent of non-elderly vets) were uninsured and ineligible for VA care in 2004, up 290,000 since 2000. An additional 3.8 million members of their households were also uninsured and ineligible for Veterans Affairs services.

Other findings:

-Of the 1.768 million uninsured, only a third were Vietnam-era, the rest were veterans who served during “other eras” (including the Iraq and Gulf Wars).

-Uninsured veterans had as much trouble getting medical care as other uninsured Americans. 26.5% of uninsured veterans failed to get needed care due to costs; 31.2% had delayed care due to costs; 49.1% had not seen a doctor within the past year; and two-thirds failed to receive preventive care.

-Nearly two-thirds of uninsured veterans were employed.

And those who are uninsured are often turned away from VA care. Many face waiting lists, unaffordable co-payments for specialty care, or the lack of VA facilities in their communities. And while Bush has pledged to change the "antiquated system," largely in response to the cockroach dust-up at Walter Reed in February, remember that it was his administration that approved an early 2003 order that halted enrollment of most middle-income veterans.

This news, not surprising. But seriously, Bush really needs to cease playing the troop card ad nauseum. Earlier today even he used the "wounded warrior" defense to chastise Congress for a combined spending bill. And still, year after year, Bush's budgets make it more difficult for vets to receive care.

Bush is consistent in his speeches, supporting our troops, rooting out terror, yada yada, and one familiar, oft-repeated refrain is assuring our troops we will "give them everything they need to succeed." I guess he means everything they need to succeed in uniform, after that all bets are off.

Comments

That makes me so angry. We send our boys and girls to fight a war and when they come home in desperate help for medical help, the government kicks them to the curb.

Posted by: mama on 10/30/07 at 2:55 PM Respond

Unfortunately, Bush is just the latest in a long line of presidents who use the troops for photo ops and then f*ck them in the drive-thru. It doesn't look like it's going to stop any time soon.

Posted by: dejah on 10/31/07 at 12:01 PM Respond

Lying about Healthcare for Vets is nothing new. When I was drafted in 1969 I was told: "Sure you're only making $56 a month troop, but you'll have free healthcare for life at the VA".

Yeah sure, so now I pay $500 a month for a $2500 deductible Blue Cross policy that will probably bankrupt me if I ever really need it.

As usual with Bush, every situation he dabbles in becomes more catastrophic than any of his predecessors could ever manage on their worst days.

When will we make a serious effort to impeach the lying little egomaniac and his puppeteer Cheney?

Posted by: Hyrdflyr on 10/31/07 at 12:27 PM Respond

This is what I have been saying all along. Bush doesn't CARE one BIT about the troops. They are NOT HUMAN to him. They are "Boots on the ground" Tools to be used up. Use them until they break and then discard them. That and a source of OBSCENE revenue for his buddies.

Posted by: Laura Nason on 10/31/07 at 12:28 PM Respond

Dennis Kucinich is bringing the Articles of Impeachment against Cheney to the table for a vote in 2 weeks. Unfortunately, someone on the other side will bring up a Motion to Table the bill. If everyone writes/calls/e-mails their representatives and demands they vote NO on the Motion to Table and enough do, then they HAVE to vote on the Articles of Impeachment.

Posted by: Laura Nason on 10/31/07 at 12:32 PM Respond

It just shows you that Bush is a liar and our govenment is incompetent. They simply don't care about our veterans otherwise they would have done something by now. In fact our government does not even care about the American people.

Posted by: Rick on 10/31/07 at 1:04 PM Respond

When is the United States going to take care of their veterans. National shame - as is the lack of healthcare for all people, esp children
More reporting on this is needed.

Mary

Posted by: Mary Robinette on 10/31/07 at 1:14 PM Respond

Possibly one of the wisest things I have ever heard was when Barbara Bush shared her philosophy about the war; that bodybags and death and all that are irrelevant. She said "Why should I waste my beautiful mind on all of that?"

How right she was. I have spent hours at the day spa, shopping, enjoying my beautiful home and garden and such. I have never felt better or looked so good in my life. The war has been a time of precious memories and beautiful experiences for me. I hope it never ends. Everyone should take Barbara's advice, really.

Posted by: Sylvia Suzanne on 11/01/07 at 4:59 PM Respond

I agree, Sylvia! My husband is a defense contractor selling body bags and embalming fluid to the Army. We just bought our own private jet! We're banking on endless war so our kids can go to Europe for school and fun, then we can retire to St. Tropez to spend our days counting our money on the beach! Life couldn't be better!

Posted by: Lydia Farqhuar on 11/03/07 at 5:03 AM Respond

WHO WROTE THE PATRIOT ACT?

Posted by: martinchill on 11/07/07 at 4:10 PM Respond