In response to Christy’s "America’s Soldiers Deserve More than Hollow Promises And Sham Support"

I personally think that some of the problems Vets encounter relate to the hoops they have to jump in order to receive treatment. Often the military tries to move them very quickly out of the “active” status, which means they are left to fend for themselves within the VA system. While that system is basically a good one, most of our troops actually tend to come from rural areas, not the cities, where VA hospitals are usually located. That leaves too many Vets so far from needed services, especially when mental health services generally require weekly treatment at the very least. (put the cost of gas together with that)

Now think how different things would be if we had national health care. Vets would no longer have to prove that their problems were “combat related” in order to receive treatment. They could simply present themselves to their nearest mental health provider or community mental health center.

What disturbs me most about the plight of our Vets is that nearly all mental health providers would be pleased to assist. But most of us are “locked out” of that system. It makes no sense whatsoever!

It makes no sense that soldiers are theoretically provided with health care, but actually moved out of the system that is best equipped to provide their health care – once they are deemed, by the military, to no longer be “fit for duty.” At that point, they’re stuck with the VA system, but also stuck with trying to prove they are “disabled” or that any disability is due to their military service. Not only that, if someone’s mental health has deteriorated, they are the least capable of advocating for themselves!

This is a travesty!

If we just took the money and the already existing infrastructure and personnel from military health care, VA health care, the National Institutes of Health, national, and other community health services (and medical plans) sfunded by national, state, and local funds, and then put that together with Medicare, I guarantee you we would be well on the way to national health care in terms of funding and already existing structures. Take all the folks, like me, having to pay for their own health care (by buying a catastrophic policy for $4500, which allows me to pay the first $5000 myself!!!), and you’d probably be able to make up the rest of the money for national health care.

Against this, of course, are those insurance companies whose financial tentacles are so bound up with the current financial mess we see causing worldwide markets. Since they’re so good at causing a financial mess, naturally we should trust them with fixing heath care. NOT!

Sorry to have taken so much bandwidth here. But obviously this is an issue I have thought much about.

Our soldiers with PTSD are up against all this. And so am I!