tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117052622734035189.post7791947147622751811..comments2009-05-29T05:45:05.955-07:00Comments on WHAT IS MARK TALKING ABOUT?: Obama planned to take away Veterans Insurancewhatsmarktakingabouthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11018656169021765037noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-117052622734035189.post-1404229188185757142009-05-29T05:45:05.955-07:002009-05-29T05:45:05.955-07:00Mark, as I recall this was the topic that raised t...Mark, as I recall this was the topic that raised the most eyebrows at our get-together the other night. I believe the "what-is-Mark-talking-about" factor was the result of some mischaracterization in your recounting of the story, which was presented by you as "Obama wants to strip veterans of their benefits." Such a statement is misleading. In the context of the extremely challenging economic situation he has inherited, and the extremely ambitious goal of seeing all citizens provided with health insurance, the administration *proposed* that private insurers actually cover some of the medical costs of veterans holding their policies, rather than making taxpayers absorb all the costs and giving the insurers a free ride. It wasn't a case of taking benefits away from vets, but of shifting some of the financial responsibility to the private insurance companies that are making billions in profits. When the *proposal* drew fire, the administration expressed its willingness to consider alternative approaches. And after meeting with the Legion to hear their objections, Obama agreed to scrap the proposal and start over. So rather than saying "Obama wants to strip veterans of their benefits," it might have been more accurate to say "The Obama administration considered shifting some of the cost burden for veterans' care to private insurers but ultimately agreed the approach wasn't in the best interest of the vets." But that wouldn't have raised any eyebrows, would it?Sevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12333397416262416697noreply@blogger.com