President Bush often emphasizes his commitment to veterans, saying in 2001, "My administration understands America's obligations not only go to those who wear the uniform today, but to those who wore the uniform in the past: to our veterans."
But the 200,000 veterans waiting six months or more for their first appointment at a VA facility would be denied access to VA health care under Bush's plan. Others would be charged $250 annual enrollment fees, doubled prescription costs and increased co-payments.
The same day the President met with wounded soldiers and said that America "should and must provide the best care for anybody who is willing to put their life in harm's way," the Veterans' Administration explained that it could solve the backlog problem by limiting enrollment.
...The administration would also reduce costs by denying access to "better-off" veterans - those who do not have service-related disabilities and with incomes as low as $21,050.
Estimates suggest this would likely more than triple the number of veterans denied health care by FY 2005 to more than half a million, and the VA anticipates that 55%8 of veterans who already participate in the VA health care plan, numbering 1.25 million, may be unable to continue participation due to the enrollment fee.
Supporting our troops.
I wonder if George Double-face Bush would be willing to take that "better off" idea into the tax arena.
....hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
(Golden Corral cafeterias are offering a free meal to all veterans today. I wonder how many veterans' activists will be on hand.)
....but hey, do what you want....you will anyway.
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
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