Bu****es oppose VA Medical Benefits for Reservists

As if we needed further proof that the Bush Administration talks out of it's mouth and out of it's ass at the same time!

 

Somebody wake me. I must be dreaming!

 

The House and Senate appear to be trying to make a compromise between the 2 bills. This problem has been around for many years so hopefully they can agree to get this passed. I`m not sure I agree that a reservist who is not on active duty should get the same insurance benifits as someone who is on active duty, not saying they shouldnt have access to it, but they should have to pay a higher out of pocket premium since they are not a full time soilder. If the resevist goes on active status then he/she should get the same benefits as a full time active soilder. Insurance costs are skyrocketing and I have recently been forced to pay a portion of my insurance which was unheard of just 5 years ago.




"Now the administration's opposition may make it harder to include the Guard and Reserve health care provision in the final spending bill, as House and Senate members try to work out a compromise between the different versions each chamber passed last week.

Advocates for the Guard and Reserves have been trying to get access into the Pentagon's TRICARE insurance system for years, saying it's only fair to give them the same health care that active duty personnel receive. About 160,000 Guard or Reserve troops are serving on active duty now."

 

What do you say, treeman?
These men and women put their lives on the line and their personal lives in chaos for us as do the Professionals... and do a damned good job. They free up you guys to do more than you would be able to otherwise and are in combat situations all the time, as well as the risk inherent in so many of the jobs they do. Don't they deserve the same medical benefits?

This is outrageous. There are no excuses.
There is only unfeeling, calculating bean counting by people safe behind their desks. Something must be done. The money is chump change.

 

Why is it when I see threads like this about benefits for military personel it's always by those that are accused of not supporting the troops and wanting our military to fail. Meanwhile the people who were in favor of sending the troops into harms way to begin with are the ones who don't put their money where there mouth is.

 

Here is what Tricare currently offers:

http://www.ngaus.org/legislative/Tricarefactsheet.pdf

 

Well you don't always see that. I support the use of the all-voulnteer US military to depose sadistic dictators and extend freedom and dignity wherever we can.

I also support professional wages and benefits for those that choose to serve with pensions accelerated to recognize the extraordinary requirements of their commitment. Those stories about wounded reservest having to wait on medical care in substandard hospitals chaps my azz.

 

I think the answer is obvious. Bush is a cold-hearted snake, look into his eyes - uh-oh, he's been telling lies.

 

The lack of coverup and shortsightedness coupled with outrageous indifference to the soliders and favoritism to the rich is a bad formula for popularity. This man is not just bad, but also stupid.

 

That is something that I respect much more than people who cry out about those not supporting the troops to the protestors for peace, then still support the administration when they do things like this.

 

Amen, Gene.

Looking for some background & more info on this, if anyone finds anything - preferably not from NRO, Nation, Indymedia, Fox News - please post a link.

 

I always thought people joined the Reserves to put it on their resume. Is this not true?

 

Maybe if Bush had actually served in the military, he wouldn't be so quick to screw the people who are fighting his war.

 

As the article states the two sides are trying to reach a compromise. Advocates for Reservists have been trying to get this done for years, so this problem just didnt pop up or start with Bush. I`m all for a fair and balanced compromise and I believe they will find common ground. Where was the outcry of this years ago?

 

They weren't fighting a war.

 

I dont buy that. The advocates have been trying for many years to get this passed and just becuase there is a war doesnt mean that the reservists didnt need medical care when they were away form there military surroundings. The 2 sides are working on a compromise to get this done but the initial post in this thread has a sentiment about it like Bush doesnt want it all, which simply isnt the case, the current admin just doesnt want it in the $87 Bil Iraq Bill. I believe the truth is closer to somewhere in the middle and I hope for the reservists sake that they get this done in a timely fashion. I guess I just get tired of all these threads which want to paint one party or another as such an evil party, and that goes for both sides. peace