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WASHINGTON (AFP) – 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.
The analysis uses census data to isolate the number of US veterans who lack both private health coverage and care offered by the VA.
"That's a group that's about 1.5 million people," said David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program who co-authored the study.
"The uninsured have about a 40 percent higher risk of dying each year than otherwise comparable insured individuals," Himmelstein told AFP.
To those who are against the public option or health care reform, who think "the govt has no business in my health care" or "I like mine the way it is and just don't wanna share!" -- WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION? Do you think it's okay that you get to live, and others get to die?
WASHINGTON (AFP) – 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.
The analysis uses census data to isolate the number of US veterans who lack both private health coverage and care offered by the VA.
"That's a group that's about 1.5 million people," said David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and co-founder of Physicians for a National Health Program who co-authored the study.
"The uninsured have about a 40 percent higher risk of dying each year than otherwise comparable insured individuals," Himmelstein told AFP.
To those who are against the public option or health care reform, who think "the govt has no business in my health care" or "I like mine the way it is and just don't wanna share!" -- WHAT IS YOUR SOLUTION? Do you think it's okay that you get to live, and others get to die?
You should link the article you're copying so that others can read the entire article for themselves. If they have a service connected injury then they have access to the VA health care system. If they have a job then they have access to health insurance. If they are phyiscally or mentally unable to hold a job due to what they experienced in the military then that would also open the door for them to have VA health care. If they're disabled then they're on the government's health care. Your article is a blanket statement without supporting facts. What did they die from? Why didn't they have access to health care? Was it because of their own drug and alcohol abuse? If it was, then that was their own fault and not the fault of the federal government.
I wonder how many who say; "Thank you for your service" are unwilling to see that the homeless vets get a roof over their heads. Or that the sick vet gets doctor's care. Or that the hungry vet gets fed. It is a lot easier to give lip service than to actually step forward and help.
I wonder how many who say; "Thank you for your service" are unwilling to see that the homeless vets get a roof over their heads. Or that the sick vet gets doctor's care. Or that the hungry vet gets fed. It is a lot easier to give lip service than to actually step forward and help.
I've met some allegedly homeless vets. Some are veterans. Some only claim to be veterans to get more money when panhandling. What the ones I've met all had in common was drug and alcohol abuse. They put themselves in that condition. If you know the right questions to ask, you can get a fake homeless vet to expose his lies.
Looks like the sources are advocates for government run healthcare so it's an article written for a certain political purpose and with data we can't review. Great
It is a lot easier to give lip service than to actually step forward and help.
I help whenever I can afford to.
I purchase canned goods and non perishable items at wally world and dollar stores, and take these items to some homeless vets living in their vans/cars down by the rio grande near our state park.
Since I myself am a vet, and on a fixed income, I know what it is like to have to live in your own vehicle. This is why I help when I am able to.
One of my buddies, a korean war vet passed away 2 years ago after being brutally beaten by some young punks. They never found out who did it.
I think the healthcare bill needs to be passed, so vets and other people who fall through the cracks can get help.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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Originally Posted by sailordave
You should link the article you're copying so that others can read the entire article for themselves. If they have a service connected injury then they have access to the VA health care system. If they have a job then they have access to health insurance. If they are phyiscally or mentally unable to hold a job due to what they experienced in the military then that would also open the door for them to have VA health care. If they're disabled then they're on the government's health care. Your article is a blanket statement without supporting facts. What did they die from? Why didn't they have access to health care? Was it because of their own drug and alcohol abuse? If it was, then that was their own fault and not the fault of the federal government.
This is simply not true, many people work in 'temp' jobs for years and insurance is either unavaiulable or available at astronomical rates to provide little more than a Band-Aid when needed.
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