Care costs rise as veteran population declines

[unhappycamper]

Care costs rise as veteran population declines
By Jennifer C. Kerr - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday May 12, 2008 6:13:18 EDT

WASHINGTON — Increasing numbers of U.S. troops have left the military with damaged bodies and minds, an ever-larger pool of disabled veterans that will cost the country billions of dollars for decades to come — even as the total population of America’s veterans has begun to shrink.

Despite the decline in the total number of veterans — as soldiers from World War II and Korea die — the government expects to be spending $59 billion a year to compensate injured warriors in 25 years, up from today’s $29 billion, according to internal documents obtained by The Associated Press. And the Veterans Affairs Department concedes the bill could be much higher.

Why?

Worse wounds. More disabilities. More vets aware of the benefits and quicker to file for them.

Also, ironically, advanced medical care. Troops come home with devastating injuries that might well have killed them in earlier wars.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_disabled_veterans_051108/

[izzie]

1. Right on.

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