I think it safe to say that there is less than “six degrees of separation” between any given American and another who is presently in the service; and even fewer degrees to one who has served in the military in the past. But does this mean Americans appreciate the service our veterans have given for our nation? Do Americans believe that their government has a responsibility to care for veterans when they are discharged? Do they realize that taking care of our veterans benefits everyone?
As we think about the men and women we know who have served our country, we must remember that they kept their promise with the expectation that their country would keep its promise to them: to care for them in their time of need.
For the past 75 years, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been responsible for veterans’ health care and-under the watchful eye of Veterans Service Organizations like ours-has provided some of the most up-to-date care possible. It is in everyone’s interest for VA health care to be the best in the world. Medical care rendered at VA hospitals is often cutting-edge. When procedures that insurance companies may have passed on in the private sector are proven effective in the VA, the rest of the medical world follows. Every time we see new developments in spinal cord medicine, veterans have played an important role.
With the escalating number of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq who are now eligible for care, the VA will need every American’s support to continue to deliver the best care possible. As the cost of health care rises, the amount of VA funding must rise proportionately or the system will not be able to meet increased demand.
Last year the VA had to go back to Congress and ask for a supplement to its budget because it ran out of money. Budget shortfalls affect everyone-every local VA hospital, every veterans’ health care facility, and every local government agency. When veterans are not taken care of as they were promised, private insurance companies and local governments end up trying to make up the difference. This becomes very costly for local communities and does not provide optimum health care.
The young man or woman returning from active duty should continue to have the best care possible, but this will only happen if you continue to tell your legislators, both local and national, that the VA system has to be fully funded. It is easy for the administration to say it has given the largest increase we have ever seen but, when the cost of medical care rises faster than budget allocations, that increase still amounts to a cut in care.
Essentially, when you cut the care of one veteran, you have weakened care for everyone else.
Be well. Be as active as you can be.
Clair Russell Hesselton, PhD
President
