Noteboom The Law Firm

Patches Needed to Protect Military and Veteran Benefits in Health Care Reform

March 26, 2010 - Valid concerns arose Friday over the fear the health insurance renovation Congress passed would negatively influence active duty and veteran benefits. TRICARE is the military's medical insurance program and the House met over this last weekend to ensure TRICARE meets all the new required standards.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Eric Shinseki rejected the possibility that veterans' health care would suffer in any way. Secretary Shinseki confirmed both his and the VA's commitment that veterans will have the superior health care they earned from this country through their service.

Very real concerns were raised that while veterans may continue to be protected under the new health care reform, their beneficiaries would not. Beneficiaries include those who receive health care under the VA's Civilian Health and Medical Program: 

• Dependants;
• Children with spina bifida resulting from their parent's exposure to Agent Orange;
• Widows; and
• Orphans.

Saturday brought a unanimous vote recognizing TRICARE as meeting the quality health care standards. This vote was necessary as the original bill did not mention veteran health care programs as meeting minimum health care requirements. This may not, however, be the last accomplishment necessary to ensure no inadvertent results present themselves from the original omission of veteran health care.