The newest veterans hospital scandal, in which 40+ vets in Phoenix died waiting for care, makes me wonder once again whether we need a veterans hospital system at all. Vets who have civilian jobs with health insurance usually go to their own doctors and hospitals like anybody else. Vets who use veterans services generally have limited other resources, which makes their abuse that much worse.
Suppose every qualified veteran was simply issued a fully paid health insurance policy comparable to what civilians buy? (With the ACA, there's no rejection for preexisting conditions.) Or suppose vets were enrolled in Medicare, again fully paid? Another alternative might be to simply pay veterans enough money to buy their own insurance, maybe with a provision that the payments would be made directly to the insurer.
I can understand having specialized facilities like Walter Reed to deal specifically with severe war wounds. But I'll bet most care for most vets could be delivered through civilian facilities, very likely at the same or lower cost.
Suppose every qualified veteran was simply issued a fully paid health insurance policy comparable to what civilians buy? (With the ACA, there's no rejection for preexisting conditions.) Or suppose vets were enrolled in Medicare, again fully paid? Another alternative might be to simply pay veterans enough money to buy their own insurance, maybe with a provision that the payments would be made directly to the insurer.
I can understand having specialized facilities like Walter Reed to deal specifically with severe war wounds. But I'll bet most care for most vets could be delivered through civilian facilities, very likely at the same or lower cost.
via JREF Forum http://ift.tt/1g4qMCO
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