My Army Service Made Me Believe in Universal Health Care
A veteran argues that civilians deserve the same access to coverage and treatment as those who wear the uniform.
Excerpts only. Read complete article here.
Query: “cost of ER visit”
Google: “$1,233”
Query: “cost of broken leg”
Google: “… typically costs up to $2,500 or more …”
And as my military training had conditioned me to do, I investigated the worst-case scenario.
Query: “cost of ankle surgery”
Google: “… between $9,719 and $17,634 …”
But one final search changed my prospects that day—and my perspective on the health-care debate in the United States.
Query: “cost of VA hospital visit”
I was taken aback: The results suggested I’d pay little to nothing. For me—an honorably discharged veteran of the war in Afghanistan with no disabilities—the total out-of-pocket cost for multiple X-rays, visits to orthopedic specialists, medications, and a knee scooter was just $8 through the Veterans Health Administration medical system.
. . . During my Army service, I did my job, lived my life, and didn’t think twice about premiums, deductibles, or annual limits. Treatment was seamless, automatic, and focused on helping me perform my duties as a soldier.
. . . The rationale behind this type of care is clear: The Army understands that healthy soldiers are more effective soldiers. A national health-care system that treats all citizens this way may offer similar benefits. Chief among them is what I discovered earlier this year with the help of a Google search, when I realized I could get care when I needed it: a better quality of life.