Just to contribute to this sad story:

In 1996 my father-in-law (retired Army on Agent-orange list) received treatment from the local VA hospital. However, receiving treatment was not easy. It was a constant struggle to justify treatment. When applying for care, you have to prove how much money you earned in the previous year. Because of this, they wanted him to go to a private hospital and would only see him on a 'space available' basis. He fought it and eventually received treatment. Personally, I was never allowed treatment even though by law I was qualified. Regardless of laws, the practice has always been to serve on a 'space available' basis. Funny thing is that when he was admitted there were hundreds of empty beds.

Tracy

>>>I saw an interesting report on television news. Imagine veterans loosing hospital benefits at a time like this? If you are a veteran of the United States Military, up until now you had the right to receive hospital care from any VA hospital. That has changed effective immediately. Unless you have a medical condition defined on your discharge records related to the military you are not eligible for medical care! Those persons who do qualify have to wait up to six months for a doctor’s appointment.
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>>>Not all veterns require care from a VA hospital but I am concerned about those men and women that have just lost a benifit which has been in effect for many decades, require or will require medical care and use or could have used the VA hospital for medical treatment.
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>>>Tom
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>>Just a question Tom, but who should receive care at a VA hospital? What criteria would you have set up?
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>Bret;
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>It is my understanding that any person who has served in the United States Military and received an Honorable Discharge is/was eligible for treatment at any VA Hospital. My understanding could be incorrect but up until the last few days that seems to have been the case.
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>The report I saw said that in the future, eligibility may be based upon personal income and an annual income of $35,000 more would exclude you from VA medical care.
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>To answer your question, “What criteria would you have set up”?, I think if a veteran needs medical treatment and has no insurance or means to pay he/she should be entitled to medical treatment at any VA Hospital.
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>I realize everything costs money and that helping those in need is not at the top of the list for many people. Rather the majority has an attitude of, “dog eat dog”. Every day the number of vetrans decreases based upon deaths and the reduced number of people that were members of the military within recent times.
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>Veterans of World War I were promised a bonus. In 1932 the veterans gathered at Washington D.C., and camped in vacant government buildings and in open fields made available by police superintendent Pelham D. Glassford, and demanded passage of a bill to received the promised bonus. The bill was overturned and the veterans refused to leave. Herbert Hoover ordered Douglas MacArthur to use the Army to evict them forcibly. MacArthur had their camps set on fire, and the army drove the veterans from the city. Hoover was much criticized by the press and the general public for the severity of his response.
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>I can imagine the same thing happening today or in the future.
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>Tom