"Heroes Health Card" - Richardson's Proposed Health Care Coverage to American Veterans

What do you think of this proposal of Bill Richardson's?

Providing a "Heroes Health Card" to all of our Veterans

The conditions at Walter Reed and so many VA facilities are a disgrace. Richardson's plan will give every veteran returning from active duty with a Heroes Health Card that provides them with a choice of physicians wherever they live. No one who has served in our military should have to drive 100 miles to the nearest VA facility just to get care.

Proposal here --> http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/healthcare

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

but I don't like it.

It's not that I don't think our "heros" don't deserve the best healthcare. They do. But it's an illustration of what exactly is wrong with our healthcare system. Why do "heroes" get more healthcare than me in the first place?

This kinda smacks of school vouchers for veterans.

Shouldn't we all be treated like "heroes" when it comes to our health?

And fix the damn VA system by completely funding it in the meantime while we wait for UHC.

:thumbsup: :applause:

My dad worked at the VA for over 10 years, so I am very familiar with the place.

elswhere - the old "You will get covered just like a senator" idea.

Bryant

elsewhere... but I'm really tired of the "special" categories of people who deserve better care idea.

If a vet joined as a volunteer, then s/he sacrificed for this country voluntarily, when many others couldn't be bothered.

I support healthcare for all. But as long as we don't have that, veterans should be at the head of the line. (Along with similar sacrificers in alternative paths such as the Peace Corps, community firefighters, etc.)

fully fund the VA system.

there are not very many VA health facilities. Many vets live too far away to use their benefits, or have to drive ridiculous distances.

Vets shouldn't have to wait for their benefits until everybody else gets universal health care, which will take a very long time given how effectively the selfishness rampant in this country is exploited by the monied interests who will lose under UHC.

they didn't sign up for have to travel many miles, sometimes hundreds of miles, to places that have the expertise to treat them. Their local hospital isn't in a position to know about their condition.

How do I know that? I live about five miles from a medical mecca that brings them in from all over the world. These people have expertise you just can't get anywhere else, both at Duke and across the street at VA. And many people stay here... for months sometimes. They get apts, they disrupt their lives and spend all kinds of money just living, and that's on top of the treatment.

Are they any less deserving? Yes, it's a hardship for all involved. I'm not requiring you to say that veterans somehow deserve less. I'm asking you to see that many people, not just vets, must make many of the same decisions as vets do every day in their healthcare.

What's the solution? I don't have any big answers. Why do certain places become famous for certain disciplines and not others?

Do we want every hosital to be a big trauma center? Do we want every community hospital to be a Comprehensive Cancer Center (established by Nixon's War On Cancer). Do we want every community hosptial to treat PTSD?

I think those are the questions we ought to be asking and discussing.

than anyone who has not done anything for their country or their community.

The point is that vets should be able to use the facilities that do exist, and receive care under the same benefits they receive at VA facilities. Yes there will still be cases where they have to travel miles for some services. But currently they have to travel miles for ANY services under the VA system. Well, I say currently, but I only know that was the case 15 years ago, when my parents (since passed on) gave up on the VA system because they were out of reasonable transport distance.

That's written in the Constitution. "All men are created equal.."

You want to say that some "citizens" are more "citizen-worthy" than others.

Is that correct?

edit: All men, not all mean. :silly:

Yes, those who sacrifice for their community, are more "citizen-worthy" than those (free riders) who don't.

UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL -- THAT'S ALL -- AMERICANS.

Sorry, Bill, but you get the Out of Touch Award for the day.

You're not equal to veterans returning from Iraq. Your needs are different and vets deserve more care than they are currently getting.

I said I don't think Richardson's plan is the way to go about it.

You said they deserve the best care and I agree. The reason they need more health care is that they volunteered for one of the most horrible experiences on earth.

for a cumulative period over my life of about five years.

And no, I'm not in perfect health.

*Sigh*

You know what does make me sad?

Pissing contests about who has the worst life sob stories... regardless of the reason. There is no comparing life experiences when you talk about who carries more pain than someone else. Can't be done.

That's why I say, we all deserve as much care as we all need. And Richardson's plan, it's just another cosmetic band aid that won't solve a damn thing.

But if you think you're First Man in Rome ahead of me because of a war zone, go right ahead.

I'll be over hear fighting my battles alone ... and winning.. like I usually do.

I don't think there's any difference in our opinion. I personally feel like we as a nation should give everything to our vets for giving everything to us. I'm uncompromising about this. This doesn't change the fact that EVERYONE deserves the best care possible 100% of the time. :pals:

:pals:

When I was growing up, my Dad was a WWII vet, as was his brother, and they both worked at the VA for 10+ years. I spent a lot of time there as a child visiting with them and the patients.

Really wonderful people, both staff and patients that tolerated a tot underfoot. LOL!

Your right to access to quality medical care should not require military service as a prerequisite.

because right now every active duty service member and their families have Tricare for healthcare and many servicemembers are running into the problem that doctors aren't accepting them.


How is the governor going to resolve that issue?

Some docs don't accept medicare patients anymore because, the way the system is set up, they don't feel they get reimbursed at a decent enough level.

It's a real issue that will definitely have to be addressed in UHC.

Veterans should at the very least get what was promised them and this would be a correct step..

He gave a speech on the 2nd where he outlined his plans for veterans. His Hero's card is for folks like my father-in-law. He is retired from the military and did two tours in Vietnam. He has to drive over 45 miles to get to the nearest VA facility. He also has to pay an annual fee to get in easily instead of waiting hours in the waiting room or making an appointment days in advance. The plan Richardson proposes would allow him to go the local doctor in the small town just up the road. If he injured himself while working on his farm, he wouldn't have to drive 45 miles to be covered.

I think that folks like my father in law do deserve special treatment. They put their life on the line for our country. Even when they didn't agree with the mission, they still went out and fought because it was their duty. The result is that we've got millions of folks with physical and mental injuries that they'll carry for the rest of their lives. A recent study pointed out that 25% of the homeless are veterans. My Father in law has never spoke about his tours in Vietnam. I'm not sure what happened to him there but he does carry a burden from it. I think it's only fair that we give him the best health care.

Bill Richardson also supports opening the Federal employees health plan for everyone that wants to buy in and supports lowering Medicare eligibility to 55. He would give direct credits to lower income folks so that they could purchase insurance or join the Federal plan.

Use that money to give EVERYONE medicare..People can go WHERE THEY WANT and see any doctor they need to see..

UHC would eliminate the need for all these piecemeal programs.

:)

Mostly, I love it as a step towards universal care.

Don't make perfection the enemy of the good.

If they would do this, and lower medicare to age 55, I would be covered twice. :)