Veterans for Change Voices the Medical and Emotional Costs of Freedom

GARDEN GROVE, CA – Discovering a need to improve the services and benefits promised for our military Veterans, Veterans-for-Change was founded. The primary purpose for this group is to educate legislators, and serve as an advocate for Veterans. Many people are unaware of how long the process is to establish research and approve Veterans Benefits.

To those who are not aware, the process of receiving Veterans benefits is not an easy task. Many Veterans take years just to get the benefits they deserve. After filing, the process of receiving benefits is a long, strenuous, emotional war. Many Veterans give up defeated, never to earn, or deserve, what was promised them during their Tours of Duty. 

Jim Davis founded the non-profit group. Serving as the advocate, he, along with the growing list of members of Veterans-for-Change, would like to express the following needs that must be expressed, published, and shared with our Government, the news media, and the Veterans.

As publicized on the news, radio, TV and all forms of media, our Nation is suffering with a severe economical downfall. Unemployment rates continue to escalate while the cost of living rises every day. Healthcare costs continue to increase on a daily basis. Medication costs affect household budgets and many Veterans who are not receiving medical benefits are not able to afford the high costs of prescriptions needed for their medical ailments, a result of war or hazardous duty. Retirement is not enough to afford daily expenses as real estate, insurance, food costs, and budgets are squeezed to the limit.

Living on fixed incomes is not enough and many Veterans and families are forced to cancel health insurance and other expenses necessary, but not affordable. As a member of Veterans-for-Change, a vocal group for Veterans rights, benefits and treatments, I, as well as my co-members and Veterans nationwide am extremely upset that the Congressional Budget Office and the Veterans Affairs, or Congress, would dare to consider: 

1. Veterans-for-Change requests increasing Tricare out of pocket expense for retirees and families.
2. Veterans-for-Change requests increasing Tricare fees, co-payments, and deductibles for retirees and spouses 62 and under.
3. Veterans-for-Change requests increasing health care costs for Medicare eligible retirees and active duty families.
4. Veterans-for-Change demand that Congress remove millions of users who have no service related injuries or illnesses.
5.  Veterans-for-Change requests inadequately funding the VA’s budget in full to cover a two year budget. 

 President Barack Obama stated, “We are going to go through our Federal budget as I promised during the campaign, page by page, line by line, eliminating those programs we didn’t need and insisting that those that we do need operate in a sensible, cost-effective way.” Nevertheless, it is the hope and mission for Veterans-for-Change that this statement cannot, and SHOULD NOT be enforced at the expense of our Veterans, spouses, and their children. Another compelling quote from President Obama said: “We have a sacred trust with those who wear the uniform of the United States of America, a commitment that begins with enlistment and must never end.” 

Throughout the organization of Veterans-for-Change we have discovered our Veterans have received “canned replies” which state “I want to express my appreciation for Veterans who have answered the call of duty.” Expressing canned appreciation is one thing and it is appreciated; however, expressing appreciation does not address any of the issues and/or acts only as a PR campaign to cover the actions and response time for such correspondence.

Canned replies do not address the issues, and/or the problems in filing the claims, appeals, the receiving of timely replies and awards. Expressing concern is one consideration; however, this concern does not assist the Veteran with necessary medical care, prescription drug care, nor does the verbal concern assist with monetary rewards the Veteran is entitled to for serving his or her country. Freedom is never free. Freedom comes with a price and in the Twenty-first Century, that price continues to escalate. For many Veterans, freedom was paid for in full by our military, the Veterans, their spouses, and their children. For many Veterans, the price of freedom is embedded within their minds, after seeing the emotional costs of war. For our Veterans, the price of freedom is paid for in blood, sweat, tears, and emotional wars that will never escape their minds. Isn’t it time for Congress, President Obama and the Veterans Affairs authorities to stand tall and pay the bills in full? Isn’t it time for Congress to welcome the Veterans home and to fulfill the promises made when the Veteran served their country? 

The actions of Congress exemplify the actions and policies of the VA – expressing so clearly without saying one word that it is far better for our women and men who served their country to suffer the denials, the schemes and shenanigans, and the mistreatment provided by this government called the United States of America. Why can’t Congress unite and provide our Veterans with the benefits deserved, instead of expressing the denials. 

Congress does have a moral, ethical, and Patriotic obligation to provide benefits and care, including Tricare, regardless of the costs involved! You, as the legislators, lawmakers and voices for our Nation, have a moral, ethical, and Patriotic obligation to care for those who did the job you did not want to do. You have a moral, ethical, and Patriotic obligation to care for those who had the courage you did not have. You, as the voice of our Nation, should stand tall to serve the many millions of American Veterans who fought, suffered, and stood tall to protect America and our FREEDOM.  

The actions of Congress, combined with the actions, reluctance and policies of the VA shout loud and clear that it would be far better had our military men and women not served or died, or suffered with emotional and physical war wounds than to suffer the denials, schemes and shenanigans provided by the actions of our Government, Congress and the VA. Veterans-for-Change requests that you wake up and recognize our Veterans need and deserve what was promised, including increasing Tricare out of pocket expenses, co-payments and increasing health care costs for all retirees, Veterans, and their families. The costs for freedom is not free.

Our Veterans are still paying a detrimental price. 

For additional info on Veterans-For-Change:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VETERANS-FOR-CHANGE/