Study: More Veterans Are Uninsured
By KEVIN FREKING
Oct. 31, 2007
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h5emO-Ie0iL8877xaBfsV8zLz15AD8SJPMO80
WASHINGTON (AP) — About one of every eight veterans under the age of 65 is
uninsured, a finding that contradicts the assumption many have that all vets
qualify for free health care through the Veterans Affairs Department, says a new
study.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School projected that about 1.8 million veterans
overall lack health coverage. That's an increase of 290,000 since 2000. The
researchers said most uninsured veterans are in the middle class and are
ineligible for VA care because of their incomes. Still others cannot afford
their copayments, or lack VA facilities in their community.
"Like other uninsured Americans, most uninsured vets are working people — too
poor to afford private coverage but not poor enough to qualify for Medicaid or
means-tested VA care," said Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, an associate professor and
a physician at the Cambridge Health Alliance.
The study is based on an analysis of government surveys released between 1988
and 2005. Veterans do fare better than the overall population when it comes to
obtaining health insurance. Still, the Harvard researchers said the rising
number of uninsured vets points to the need for more funding for the VA. The
best solution, they said, would be for universal health coverage in the United
States.
"Only the government can put men and women into military service and only the
government can guarantee that they are covered after they serve," said Dr.
Jeffrey Scavron.
The study notes that the VA in January 2003 ordered a halt to the enrollment of
most veterans who are not poor. The move was designed to reduce the backlog of
patients waiting for care.
But Peter Gaytan, who monitors veterans' issues for the American Legion, said
veterans now make as little as about $24,000 a year in some regions and still do
not qualify for health coverage from the VA.
"That decision created a large number of veterans who have served in the U.S.
military who are denied access," Gaytan said.
Gaytan said the number of uninsured vets could rise in coming years if soldiers
returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have trouble getting back their old jobs.
"It will be an increasing issue that needs to be dealt with," Gaytan predicted.
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On the Net
American Journal of Public Health:
http://www.ajph.org
American Legion:
http://www.legion.org