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03/17/2009: "Senator Murray Supports Government Providing Veterans Medical Care"

While praising Administration's overall budget, U.S. Senator Patty Murray warns Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki against including any proposal that would require the VA to bill veterans’ private insurers for the treatment of wounds and conditions sustained as a result of their military service.

Murray believes that any proposal to bill veterans' private insurance companies for treatment of service-related injuries would meet with stiff resistance. The American Legion has also come out in opposition to the idea, as indicated by a recent Yahoo story on the subject.

Murray points out that currently, the VA covers those costs, and bills veterans’ private insurance only for treatments unrelated to a veterans’ military service. While Senator Murray has been supportive of the Obama Administration’s budget outline for Fiscal Year 2010, she has made clear that this plan, which is currently under Administration consideration, would be met with opposition in the Senate.

“While there is much to commend in this budget, I do want to express my concern about a rumored proposal that would supposedly allow the VA to bill a veteran’s insurance company for service-connected disabilities and injuries.” Senator Murray said at today’s hearing. “I believe that veterans with service-connected injuries have already paid by putting their lives on the line for our safety. When our troops are injured while serving this country, we should take care of those injuries completely. We shouldn’t nickel and dime them with their care. While no such proposal has been formally made, I can assure you that it will be dead on arrival in this Congress if it is proposed.“

Senator Murray had previously discussed her opposition to this proposal with Secretary Shinseki in a phone call last Friday. Senator Murray believes that changing the insurance billing plan would place an undue burden on veterans and could discourage employers from hiring disabled veterans because it could raise employer premiums.