cause & effect

This could cause another shot to be heard around the world.
Crabby



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===============> ">> WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16, 2009 - National American Legion Commander David
K. Rehbein> is "deeply disappointed and concerned" after a meeting with>
President Barack 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 Rehbein. "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 sai!
d,> "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
needs of America's> veterans!">> Commander Rehbein was among a group of senior
officials from veterans> service organizations joining the President, White
House Chief of Staff> Rahm Emmanuel, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki
and Steven> Kosiak, the overseer of defense spending at the Office of
Management> and Budget (OMB). The group's early afternoon conversation at The
White> House was precipitated by a letter of protest presented to the> President
earlier this month. The letter, co-signed by Commander> !
Rehbein and the heads of ten colleague organizations, read, in part,> "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, but would have an adverse impact o!
n> service-connected disabled veterans and their families. The Legion> !
argued 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 veteran's family
without health care benefits. The Legion also> pointed out that many health
insurance companies require deductibles to> be paid prior to payment for any
benefits are covered. Additionally,> the Legion is concerned that private
insurance premiums would be raised> 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. Finally, 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.>> "I got the distinct impression that the only hope of this plan not>
being enacted," said Commander Rehbein, "is for an> alternative plan to be
developed that would generate the desired> $540-million in revenue. The American
Legion has long advocated for> Medicare reimbursement to VA for the treatment of
veterans. This, we> believe, would more easily meet the President's financial
goal. We> will present that idea in an anticipated conference call with White>
House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel in the near future.">> "I only hope the
administration will really listen to us then.> This matter has far more serious
ramifications than the President is> imagining," concluded the Commander.>>>
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