Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 12/01/2003

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I am a Korean War combat infantry veteran, honorably discharged in 1952. Over these fifty some years, I have, on occasion been tempted to apply for Veteran’s Benefits to help see me through health induced financial short falls, but I felt the benefits should be provided to Veterans worse off than me. In May 2003, I was diagnosed with a disease, the treatment of which requires prescription medication with an annual cost of over $19,000. I don’t have insurance coverage for prescription drugs. This appears to be the time to request help from Veterans Administration. Not!

“As of January 17, 2003, VA is not accepting new Priority Group 8 veterans for enrollment.” Priority Group 8 are generally people who’s income including retirement, less unreimbursed medical expenses, plus cash, self-funded retirement accounts, investments at the end of year 2002 equal less than $80,000 (per my local VA office). The VA website reads “threshold set by UJ.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for public housing benefits” appears to be the criteria. I believe this to be an insult to those drafted Veterans who did not, when called say “as of July 1, 1950, I am not accepting calls to military service.” Veterans currently enrolled in co-pay prescription plans are not affected, even though they may be millionaires in their own right. Those who delayed participation should be treated no differently than those who rushed to coverage, for whatever reason, before January 17, 2003.

The stated formula also discriminates against self-employed or anyone who set aside money from spendable income for retirement. A comparable worker, for say General Motors, who has a standard defined benefit pension plan, is not required to report the funding by his ex-employer to fund his future retirement as cash, as is the case of self-funded retirees.

I would like to know who is responsible for this change in eligibility at a time when our country should be looking for ways to improve benefits for our much maligned currently active service-men, and those like me who have not asked for help until help is needed.

Very truly yours,
Victor B.

Dear Victor,
Echoes of outrage by the veterans Services organizations are reverberating throughout the walls of the White House and the Congress. Not only you, but others in your predicament are being shafted at a time when your need for health care is critical. The American Legion for instance puts it this way:

“The morning after President George W. Bush delivered his Veterans Day message at Arlington National Cemetery, the administration’s Office of Management and Budget – in writing – opposed an additional $1.3 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care budget and reiterated its call to charge many veterans seeking treatment at VA a $250 annual enrollment fee and to raise the pharmacy co-payment from $7 to $15.

“A veteran is a veteran,” American Legion National Commander John Brieden said. “The law was changed in the ‘90s to allow all veterans to seek treatment at VA. Although OMB is willing to wield the budget to repel veterans from seeking treatment at VA, the men and women of The American Legion as well as Republicans and Democrats in Congress remain determined not to let that happen.”

Brieden made the Legion’s case to Congress perfectly clear Sept. 16 when he testified before a joint hearing session of House and Senate committees on Veterans’ Affairs. Simply put: Health care for veterans is the delayed cost of war. Therefore, if Congress can meet the president’s request for an additional $87 billion to fund the ongoing war in Iraq, then Congress also can raise an additional $1.8 billion next year, and a $3 billion increase the following year, to meet the health care needs of veterans.

A blueprint passed by the House in April called for a $27.1 billion for the system, but in July the House approved an appropriations bill that called for $25.3 billion. Therein lies the $1.8 billion spending gap that the veterans groups are trying to close. As the spending bill for VA-HUD and Independent Agencies makes its way through the Senate, an amendment offered by Sen. Christopher Bond of Missouri -- an amendment that has bipartisan support -- could fill the chasm by $1.5 billion. Congress is also poised to remove the Senate Appropriations Committee’s “emergency” designation from $1.3 billion targeted for VA health care, and to send the entire increase directly to VA.

Although VA reports tremendous recent success in whittling down the backlog of those waiting to get appointments, about 164,000 veterans in the lowest of VA’s eight priority-treatment groups have been suspended from enrolling in the VA health care system since January because VA lacks the resources to serve all of the veterans who are lawfully eligible for treatment.

The Viet Nam Veterans of America also noted:

A "Statement of Administration Policy" released on November 12 by the White House "strongly opposes the omission of three key Administration proposals that would save $927 million and refocus medical care of VA's core population of veterans with special needs, and service-disabled and low-income veterans - the $250 annual enrollment fee, the proposed increase in pharmaceutical co-pays , and allowing VA to conduct competitive sourcing studies.

The VA's medical operations continue to be grossly underfunded. We are disappointed and perplexed at the continued opposition to providing vitally needed funds for veteran’s health care. Now, as the FY 04 budget reaches endgame, we need to make one final effort to achieve an increase in funding for veterans health care.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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