Lack of health care killed 2,266 US veterans last year: study

[TacticalPeek]

Source: AFP


Lack of health care killed 2,266 US veterans last year: study

(AFP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — The number of US veterans who died in 2008 because they lacked health insurance was 14 times higher than the US military death toll in Afghanistan that year, according to a new study.

The analysis produced by two Harvard medical researchers estimates that 2,266 US military veterans under the age of 65 died in 2008 because they lacked health coverage and had reduced access to medical care.

That figure is more than 14 times higher than the 155 US troop deaths in Afghanistan in 2008, the study says.

Released as the United States commemorates fallen soldiers on Veterans Day, the study warns that even health care provided by the Veterans Health Administration (VA) leaves many veterans without coverage.



Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iXSJa5eFMuXF2Uxwptns_JOxRcMA

---

Victims of the Republican party know-nothings.

[fascisthunter]

1. but they say they care about veterans...

:shrug:

[boobooday]

2. Oh, but nobody in this country goes without health care . . .

right? Right?

:eyes:

[valerief]

3. All they had to do was go to emergency rooms, right? That's what the pols say.

:shrug:

[Soylent Brice]

4. fucking sad.

[winyanstaz]

5. Oh they give us insurance alright....its called Tri-care....

but if you are not active duty...you have to be seen by civilian Dr's only...and you must pay the first $150.00 of each visit out of your own pocket.
What is killing the vets is....when you are living on $880.00 and / or much less depending on the rank........every month...where do you get that $150.00>??
This is the reason my right leg may be permanently crippled now to some degree.....because I couldn't find the money to see a regular Dr on my small pension after a bad fall.
This is how the U.S. Congress does its vets, widows and orphans. This is why they are dying from lack of health care.
My last ear infection ended up costing me $450.00 from emergency room visits alone. (they kept giving me the wrong meds or not enough to end the infection) and it took me a year to pay off the debt.

[24601]

7. Tricare covers military retirees & families, but not vets in general.

I use Tricare only as secondary insurance as it's not so great.

[xCrushx]

6. Vets are the ones who need real health care reform

Has anyone ever seen the hellish conditions their hospitals are in? It's sad how we treat our veterans like shit after they risk their lives for worthless politicians.

[David Zephyr]

8. Tell that to Bill O'Reilly.

.