{Support The Troops!} Number of uninsured vets nears 2M

[babylonsister]

Number of uninsured vets nears 2M

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — The number of uninsured veterans jumped sharply in the first half of the decade to 1.8 million in 2004, a new study shows.

Conducted by researchers at the Harvard Medical School, the study shows the uninsured veteran population rose twice as fast as the uninsured in the general population.

The increase in veterans lacking insurance coincides with Bush administration policies aimed at limiting the number of veterans eligible for VA coverage, according to the study published online Tuesday in the American Journal of Public Health.

In 2002, the administration stopped marketing veterans health care and, in January 2003, cut off access to future veterans earning more than $30,000 to $35,000 annually on average. Both times, VA officials cited budgetary constraints and backlogs in untreated patients.

Only a minority of veterans — those disabled by military service — are automatically eligible for VA care, the study says.

Coverage continues for veterans already enrolled, poor veterans, Purple Heart recipients and former prisoners of war.

"Most uninsured veterans are low- to middle-income workers who may be too poor to afford private coverage but are not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid for Medicaid or free VA care," the study says.

more...

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-10-30-uninsuredvets_N.htm?csp=34

[AndyA]

1. Yeah, that's a great way to support the troops, isn't it?

I wish the Dems had the guts to throw this in their faces every time a GOPer utters the words "Support the troops."

[slipslidingaway]

2. K&R thanks :( n/t

[lovuian]

3. Bush can order them to fight but when it

comes to taking care of them

Screw you

Who could work for this jerk