U.S. Veterans Groups Have ‘Grave Concerns’ On Health Bill

From The Hill:

Six high-profile veterans groups are raising objections to the House healthcare reform bill, warning House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that it could jeopardize the care of millions of veterans.

Citing “grave concerns,” the groups are urging Pelosi to modify the House bill. If changes are not made, the veterans groups say they will actively oppose the measure.

In a letter to Pelosi that was obtained by The Hill, the groups state “the legislation could limit the health care choices for veterans, increase the cost of health care for veterans, deny coverage to dependent family members of veterans, and threaten the quality of health care offered to veterans through the VA health care system.”

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My Comment: As a Canadian .... I have more than an intimate experience with Canada's medical system, and as such I can give a perspective to the debate that is absent in the U.S.

My advice, if health costs are going beyond your control to afford it and this is your priority, the Canadian system is then for you. But there are consequences from pursuing this action .... namely .... long waiting periods, delays in receiving aid for catastrophic illnesses (i.e. cancer), and a slow degradation of your medical service. In addition .... because many young people will not pursue a medical profession because it is no longer financially viable for them, a heavy reliance on foreign trained doctors (many with different standards of medical training) becomes the net result.

There are some exceptions to the rule .... Canadian vets are enrolled in a private system, as well as the RCMP and federally incarcerated prisoners. These "exceptions" to the rule have no desire to be part of the "public" system.

On a finishing note, I live in Montreal, Quebec. The Public medical system was mandated in this province in the mid 1960s. The last time a new hospital was built in this city and metropolitan area of 3 million was in the early 1960s.