Is "defiles" too strong a word? Let's see! The set-up:
2,266 Veterans Die Because They Are Uninsured
The pitch:
nahant brings to our attention an extremely important and tragic statistic this Veteran’s Day. Via the Huffington Post:
According to a study released by the Harvard Medical School, 2,266 veterans under the age of 65 died last year as a result of not having health insurance. Researchers emphasize that "that figure is more than 14 times the number of deaths (155) suffered by U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008, and more than twice as many as have died (911 as of Oct. 31) since the war began in 2001."
The 1.46 million working-age veterans that did not have health insurance last year all experienced reduced access to care as a consequence, leading to "six preventable deaths a day."
And the close:
Today, while we are thinking of our brave veterans who’ve served this country well, let’s remember that they, like the rest of America, die because they can’t get or afford health care.
So what could Jason not be remembering?
Why, the study, of course!
A research team at Harvard Medical School estimates 2,266 U.S. military veterans under the age of 65 died last year because they lacked health insurance and thus had reduced access to care. That figure is more than 14 times the number of deaths (155) suffered by U.S. troops in Afghanistan in 2008, and more than twice as many as have died (911 as of Oct. 31) since the war began in 2001.
The researchers, who released their analysis today [Tuesday], pointedly say the health reform legislation pending in the House and Senate will not significantly affect this grim picture.
So, "defile"? I'd say that's mild. Jason using 2266 corpses as rhetorical props while implying his health insurance reform would have saved veterans lives, when the very Harvard study he quotes says that won't happen, is even more disgusting behavior than usual.
God, "progressives" suck. As I'm sure my Dad, who was a veteran, would agree.
When is Jane going to figure out that Jason's damaging her brand?
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As Someone In That Demographic
The bill just passed by the House, and the ones in Senate are basically garbage.
Bush screwed up the system, so if I apply for VA medical benefits, someone gets bumped off the list [I have a combat duty preference]. Vets are charged for things that were once free, and you have to have transportation to get to a VA facility to receive any benefits.
The system is overburdened because vets have no place else to turn for health care, so they are in bad shape when they apply, just like the new entrants for Medicare. It is a wasteful, expensive system.
If we have single payer, the VA could concentrate on the long-term care of those injured in combat, while other problems could be dealt with at the local level by the private medical system.
if I apply for VA medical
if I apply for VA medical benefits, someone gets bumped off the list
this is why my dad won't apply. it would probably help fill in some of the gaps left by medicare, but he feels that too many people need that help far more than he does [and he's right].
I had no idea people get bumped off list when others apply!!!
I understand the need for priorities, but, dear FSM, how can this have happened--and not be fixed by a Dem Congress and Dem pres???
This is sickening.
And I agree with Hipparchia and Bryan than, yes indeed, if we had universal single payer (or just real universal care with well and strongly regulated private insurers), vets and everyone else would be better off.
WBAI had an older lefty couple on (they have a daily show, but must run and can't take time to get their show) who were going through just how awful any of the plans coming out of Congress are. House's sucks (Anthony, why'd you take away our chance to vote on Medicare for All????); Senate's is worse.
Kill the damn things and start over.
It Was A Change To Fund Tax Cuts
Before the Hedgemony under the Shrubbery, you simply signed up like any other program, and were added to the list. Now there's a quota, and once it's full, someone on the list gets bumped, if someone with more preference points applies.
Obviously with two wars going on, there are a lot of new people applying all the time, so they are pitting vets against each other to see who gets health care.
They instituted fees and copays, and other things to reduce the cost of their wars on the VA budget, as Rumsfeld was dumping people out of the military medical system onto the VA.
The Republicans have never helped the troops since they were founded as a party.
Teh snarkage!
I can't help remembering how Jane recently whined that she wasn't getting enough money for her impassioned Obamalovin' during the election.
And here I thought that knowing you were doing the right thing and taking a principled stand were reward enough.
;-)
P.S. Bryan, I enjoyed reading your comment.
Never vote for people who hate you.
ERA Now!
The Widdershins
Expanding on Cost Saving
Since most people don't know, part of the Defense Budget is health care for military dependents. A single payer system would move that expense out of the Defense Department, just like it would save money for the VA.
If you moved the Medicare Part D [drug plan] to the VA/DoD pricing schedule, the cost of that program would plummet, and if you eliminated Part C [Medicare Advantage], the Medicare funding "problem" gets a lot smaller, if it doesn't actually disappear. These are obvious savings, but no one wants to talk about them because Pharma and the insurance companies take a major hit. Hey, the system is called capitalism or the free market. Buyers get to use it too.
I don't expect "perfect", but I'm not putting up with total garbage and the majority's loss of rights [Stupak] just to make Obama look good. I want a solid example of the incremental scheme actually working before I accept it as a valid argument.
Medicare C and D
I have Medicare, and boy howdy would I love to get my medications at the VA/DoD prices. I get a subsidy from Social Security to help pay my Part D premium and drug costs ('cause even w/Medicare I am pretty poor),which means if drugs were VA/DoD priced it would save both me and the gov't.
Insurance companies are insisting that Medicare Advantage provides more benefit coverage than regular Medicare. And that is true. Many offer vision and dental, things that those of us on regular Medicare pay for out-of-pocket. If the gov't believes these added benefits are so important that Medicare pays approx. 18% more for Medicare Advantage than for regular Medicare, why not do away with Med. Advantage, thus cutting out that pesky and expensive middleman, and simply add those benefits to regular Medicare? I think that would be the cheaper option.
Of course, that would mean putting the good of the people above the profits of the insurance companies. Silly me.