Veterans Day--A Report on Veteran Deaths

On its Web site, the Physicians for a National Health Program has an article on a study published by Harvard Medical School concerning the deaths of veterans. The study found that in 2008 over 2,200 veterans under age 65 died because they lacked health insurance. I am lucky(?) enough to have a service-connected disability, which means I can use the VA medical centers. Not all veterans can use VA facilities. This is something many civilians don't understand.

In my first blog post, I stated that I have utilized the VA health care system. I have nothing but praise for the care I have received. When I lived in Cincinnati, I had the most wonderful nurse practitioner who was my primary care provider. I plan to use the facilities here in Dayton as well.

As a female veteran, it has often been frustrating to be overlooked. So often when pictures are shown of veterans, we usually see male faces. At times at the VA clinics, when I am checking in, I'll be asked if I'm there with my husband, "Do you have your husband's card?" It is generally assumed that my husband is the veteran, not I. Sitting in the waiting rooms, I'll engage in conversation with others, overwhelmingly men, and they'll ask which service my husband was in. When I respond that it is I who served, I very often get raised eyebrows from the questioner. Really, they literally raise their eyebrows. Then to add to the momentary disconnect, I'll tell them I was in the Navy. With Ohio being in the middle of the country, there seem to be many more veterans here who were in the Army, Air Force, or Marines. I've met very few who were in the Navy.

There is an invisible bond between people who have served, and still serve, in the military. There is an almost instant connection made. "You were in the service? Which branch? What was your MOS/your rate/your rank?" An almost imperceptible nodding of the heads at each other. Yes, we know what it means, whether we hated it, loved it, or have feelings somewhere in between the two, we know what it means to have been in the military. Or, we know what it means to have a father/husband/mother/wife/brother/sister in the service.

My father was a career fighter pilot in the Air Force who fought in two wars. My sister was an air traffic controller in the Air Force, my middle brother was a machinist in the Navy, and I was in computers in the Navy. I know what it is to be the daughter and sister of veterans. I know what it is to be a veteran.

So, I was very saddened to read about the more than 2,200 veterans who die each year from lack of health insurance. Especially on a day that has been set aside to honor our veterans. I laud the Physicians for a National Health Program for advocating for a single-payer system. Why is it we are willing to pay, overpay in fact, outfits like KBR, Blackwater, or other military contractors, but we're not willing to pay for our citizens or our veterans to have access to health care? Why is it okay for our women and men in the military to risk their lives in places like Iraq and Afghanistan or other places, but we're not willing to provide them with health care for their service? Too many of the people waving the flag, calling themselves "real Americans" and applauding veterans and active duty personnel are the same ones who are arguing against universal health care. Why would they begrudge anyone access to good, affordable health care? Please, explain it to me because I don't understand their shortsightedness.

Here is the link to the article: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/november/over_2200_veterans_.php