Stuuuuuuu wrote:
Not sure what the policies are, but I think if you find yourself without insurance, you can get treated at the VA Hospital. I know that's not the best care, but it's free.
As far as 20 years in the service before getting care...I disagree if you're a combat veteran. I had a great uncle who didn't serve for 20 years, but his brain never really came back from WWII. They used to call it shell-shock in his day. Now they call it PTSD. Just a little combat can result in that as far as I can tell. So I think if the government is willing to put people in that kind of danger, even for a day, they ought to be there to care for them later in life, whether it's an ailment of mind OR body (they are really the same after all).
Aside from retirees or those that have service related disabilities you do not get health care after you get out. Those that do retire after 20 years pay a monthly premium and co-pays as well so it isn't "free". Also...if you have ever been to a VA clinic you know that the facilities and the care you receive aren't always stellar. For example, I served four years and get zero health care since I stayed healthy while I was in and didn't get hurt in combat. My only benefit is my GI Bill which I paid into while I was active duty....yes, again it isn't free...we pay for it like a mutual fund. My wife is active duty and she gets full health care while active. My kids and I get free medical but I pay for dental for myself and the kids and pay a co-pay for anything downtown, which is anything outside of a routine visit since most clinics don't see dependents (though the kids are seen on base at pediatrics). When my wife retires she will have to pay a premium each month to keep her coverage and it will shift from active duty hospitals on a base to a VA facility off base which is nearly always a million times shittier....trust me, I've worked in many. Their was a time when veterans could make appointments in active duty clinics but now it is only standby appointments at some bases and a no veteran policy at most. (I was a medic and my wife is one now)
As far as your earlier statement:
Quote:
Don't doctors, nurses, taxi-drivers, dishwashers, receptionists, cashiers, garbage and mailmen, teachers, truck drivers, etc. ALL serve their country? I get that the military are putting themselves in danger for the sake of the greater good, but they're not the only ones.
If you think that there is no difference between working a job and serving in the military then it may do you some good to go enlist for a few years and then come talk about this when you have a bit of perspective.
You are given these incentives as military members because you can be called up any minute of your enlistment and find yourself being shipped to some hell hole. You leave your spouse, your friends and your children to go live in a tent in hostile desert territory. The government needs people to fight and to serve and since not everyone enlists on patriotism alone the government offers bonuses and incentives to make it more appealing. When you enlist you expect the contract you signed to be honored after honoring your service.
On a side note, we just found out today that my wife will be leaving us to go to Kuwait in April for a 6-12 month deployment. My children and I won't see her the entire time she is deployed. The good thing is that 6 months is a short deployment and Kuwait is safer than other hot spots. How many dishwashers, mailmen, cashiers or teachers get that call?
Login
Register
FAQ
Search
)
