Treat vets as well as murders and thieves?

spangledbanner · Dec 1, 2015

I have been watching some Highway to Heaven episodes on youtube lately and the other day I watched an episode that was called The Hero. It is about a Vietnam veteran has a terrible tooth ache and when he goes to get it fixed he finds that his veteran insurance does not cover dental work unless the dental problem was caused by injury suffered during combat while he was serving in the military. Here is the plot summary -

A veteran feels like society let him down because he needs some dental work done which he can't afford. He was hoping his Veterans' benefits would pay for it but because his dental problems are not related to his military service he is denied.
- written by rcs0411@yahoo.com

"Highway to Heaven" The Hero (TV Episode 1987) - Plot Summary - IMDb

This guy lost an arm and a leg serving his country yet his insurance wont cover dental work. So this Highway to Heaven episode is from 1987 and it seems that nothing has changed.

I read this article the day after watching The Hero.

Most Vets Don't Qualify For VA Dental Care. So These Dentists Are Giving It For Free
They helped more than 4,000 veterans in need this year.

After years of neglect, William Bell’s teeth had deteriorated to the point that he looked liked he had been “smoking meth every day for years.” And though the U.S. veteran had kidney cancer, diabetes, PTSD and depression, he wasn’t “disabled enough” to qualify for dental care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I was trying to get my teeth worked on for three years. They wouldn’t do it,” Bell, who served three tours in Iraq and two in Afghanistan before retiring in 2013, told The Huffington Post. “I can get major surgery done, but I can’t get my teeth done.”

Most Vets Don'''t Qualify For VA Dental Care. So These Dentists Are Giving It For Free

View attachment 67193518
( google images )

This article is saying that Veterans Affairs still has the same policy on dental insurance as it had back in 1987. It goes on to say that some dentists have taken on the work for free and that is really nice but shouldnt USA be doing more to care for veterans that have risked their lives for your country?

View attachment 67193519
(google images)

The veteran in the Highway to Heaven episode - The Hero - is really upset about the fact that the US government is happy to let him suffer with dental pain that he cannot afford to get fixed. What makes him really angry is the fact that USA treats murders and thieves better than it treats its veterans. If a prisoner needs dental work done they can get it apparently but none for heros that have served their country in the military. What is up with that USA? Why does USA treat murders and thieves better than you treat your veterans? The hero actually says in the episode - " I dont need a free lunch or a medal - or your damn pity - I need to be treated as well as you treat your murderers and thieves - thats what I need." - The Hero

So what do you reckon USA? Is it about time that USA treated your veterans as well as you treat your murderers and thieves? Should veterans all get free dental?

ttwtt78640 · Dec 1, 2015

The better question is - why should prisoners get free dental? When, if ever, was this veteran promised free dental?

jet57 · Dec 1, 2015

ttwtt78640 said:
The better question is - why should prisoners get free dental? When, if ever, was this veteran promised free dental?

Doesn't the VA cover dental? and if not why not?

ttwtt78640 · Dec 1, 2015

jet57 said:
Doesn't the VA cover dental? and if not why not?

Here are the details - you figure it out:

http://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/re...b10-442_dental_benefits_for_veterans_2_14.pdf

It is not the established mission of VA to provide dental care to all Veterans or even to all those who are hospitalized. Dental eligibility is determined in a different manner than medical eligibility. The scope of care is determined by the patient’s dental classification. Eligibility for dental care is defined by statute and is to be provided in accordance with the provisions of existing law and VA regulations, i.e., 38 U.S.C. §§1710(c) and 1712, and 38 CFR §§17.160 through 17.166.

http://www.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=2867

Oozlefinch · Dec 1, 2015

jet57 said:
Doesn't the VA cover dental? and if not why not?

Why should they?

The VA is set up to take care of service connected issues, it is not medical care for life for all that ails people. Once they get out, they are no longer responsible for your medical care. They should get a job, then either get their own medical-dental insurance, or pay for it out of pocket. Like everybody else in the country.

As far as people incarcerated, they are legally wards of the state. It is not like they can make money and then go to a dentist on their own. Giving them mandatory medical care, I have no problem with. But optional treatments like sex change and reconstructive operations, that should not be provided for those incarcerated.

jet57 · Dec 1, 2015

Oozlefinch said:
Why should they?

The VA is set up to take care of service connected issues, it is not medical care for life for all that ails people. Once they get out, they are no longer responsible for your medical care. They should get a job, then either get their own medical-dental insurance, or pay for it out of pocket. Like everybody else in the country.

As far as people incarcerated, they are legally wards of the state. It is not like they can make money and then go to a dentist on their own. Giving them mandatory medical care, I have no problem with. But optional treatments like sex change and reconstructive operations, that should not be provided for those incarcerated.

Oh, I just thought that perhaps a veteran might deserve to have us pay to have a cavity filled. But, if you say no, then I guess that's it.

Oozlefinch · Dec 1, 2015

jet57 said:
Oh, I just thought that perhaps a veteran might deserve to have us pay to have a cavity filled. But, if you say no, then I guess that's it.

Why should they?

Why is it that some people believe that Veterans should be entitled to lifelong medical care? Sorry, if he wanted that he should have remained in the military for 20 years and retired, then and only then would they become entitled to such a level of medical care.

Heck, I am still in the reserves, and even I have to pay for my dental insurance through TRICARE. Why on earth should some vet get something that not even those in the Reserves get?

Of course, the OP is made by a self-identified "Socialist", so am sure his belief is that everybody should get this kind of free treatment, Veteran or not.

Alyssa T. · Dec 1, 2015

Yes, veterans should have dental coverage.

spangledbanner · Dec 1, 2015

They risked their lives for their country.

jet57 · Dec 1, 2015

Oozlefinch said:
Why should they?

Why is it that some people believe that Veterans should be entitled to lifelong medical care? Sorry, if he wanted that he should have remained in the military for 20 years and retired, then and only then would they become entitled to such a level of medical care.

Heck, I am still in the reserves, and even I have to pay for my dental insurance through TRICARE. Why on earth should some vet get something that not even those in the Reserves get?

Of course, the OP is made by a self-identified "Socialist", so am sure his belief is that everybody should get this kind of free treatment, Veteran or not.

I guess you never severed in the military then.

Oozlefinch · Dec 1, 2015

jet57 said:
I guess you never severed in the military then.

No, you are right. I have never severed in the military.

However, I have served and am still serving.

*smacks head against wall*

Did I not just say I was still in the reserves?

Oozlefinch said:
Heck, I am still in the reserves, and even I have to pay for my dental insurance through TRICARE.

Yea, that is what I thought I said.

Now I would like to have somebody explain why somebody who is no longer in the military should be entitled to free medical and dental care for life. Heck, I once worked for Burger King, and when I was there my lunch was free. Maybe I should demand that they give me free lunch for life simply because I worked there at one time.

Oozlefinch · Dec 1, 2015

spangledbanner said:
They risked their lives for their country.

Actually, they volunteered and that this might place their lives in danger. The vast majority do nothing more dangerous then driving to work every day.

I would hardly describe somebody who joins the Army knowing they would be a cook or administraion specialist as "risking their lives".

And remember, I am not belittleing anybody or their service, it is simply how things are. Yes, I did indeed "volunteer to place my life at risk", when I spent 10 years voluntarily in the Infantry. And to a lesser extent when I spent 5 years in Air Defense. Now, I do IT in a Medical Unit. Not much risk to that job at all other then maybe cutting my finger when mounting a new router.

jet57 · Dec 1, 2015

Oozlefinch said:
No, you are right. I have never severed in the military.

However, I have served and am still serving.

*smacks head against wall*

Did I not just say I was still in the reserves?

Yea, that is what I thought I said.

Now I would like to have somebody explain why somebody who is no longer in the military should be entitled to free medical and dental care for life. Heck, I once worked for Burger King, and when I was there my lunch was free. Maybe I should demand that they give me free lunch for life simply because I worked there at one time.

Oh, I missed that. My mistake.

Ya'know, when WWII was over, those guys were no longer in the military either, but they got a whole new life handed to them by the government. Health care through the VA is a lot more expensive than dental ever will be. I see no problem with a dental benefit. If you have a problem with it, we've simply reached an impasse.

Oozlefinch · Dec 1, 2015

jet57 said:
Oh, I missed that. My mistake.

Ya'know, when WWII was over, those guys were no longer in the military either, but they got a whole new life handed to them by the government.

Paid college and guarantees on home loans?

BTW, are you aware that anybody leaving the military is entitled to between 90 days and 1 year of medical benefits, depending on how and why they were seperated?

Everybody is entitled to 90 days, period (unless they had a less then Honorable discharge).

And BTW, anybody attending College under any of the various VA College programs is automatically eligable to full VA coverage.

And to be honest, what is available to anybody in the service now is pretty much the same as was available for the WWII generation. I think the only difference is that today they only get 3 years of college paid instead of 4.

You have to realize, I really do not understand the mindset behind some believing they should get lifetime entitlements because of something they did for only a few years.

And BTW, members of the military when they leave are eligable for COBRA, for a period of 18 months after they leave, but it will cost money.

Now if I was asked if people leaving the military should be entitled to a COBRA coverage for a period of say 3-5 years, I would have no problem with that. But lifetime free medical? No, I do not believe in that. If that is what they want, they should have stayed in.

spangledbanner · Dec 1, 2015

Oozlefinch said:
Actually, they volunteered and that this might place their lives in danger. The vast majority do nothing more dangerous then driving to work every day.

I would hardly describe somebody who joins the Army knowing they would be a cook or administraion specialist as "risking their lives".

And remember, I am not belittleing anybody or their service, it is simply how things are. Yes, I did indeed "volunteer to place my life at risk", when I spent 10 years voluntarily in the Infantry. And to a lesser extent when I spent 5 years in Air Defense. Now, I do IT in a Medical Unit. Not much risk to that job at all other then maybe cutting my finger when mounting a new router.

Terrorists have published lists of people that have served in the US military. If you sign up for the military you are risking your life for your nation and we should honour and support all that do it in my opinion from top to bottom.

Excon · Dec 2, 2015

spangledbanner said:
I have been watching some Highway to Heaven episodes on youtube lately and the other day I watched an episode that was called The Hero. It is about a Vietnam veteran has a terrible tooth ache and when he goes to get it fixed he finds that his veteran insurance does not cover dental work unless the dental problem was caused by injury suffered during combat while he was serving in the military. Here is the plot summary -

"Highway to Heaven" The Hero (TV Episode 1987) - Plot Summary - IMDb

This guy lost an arm and a leg serving his country yet his insurance wont cover dental work. So this Highway to Heaven episode is from 1987 and it seems that nothing has changed.

I read this article the day after watching The Hero.

Most Vets Don'''t Qualify For VA Dental Care. So These Dentists Are Giving It For Free

View attachment 67193518

HonestJoe · Dec 2, 2015

spangledbanner said:
This article is saying that Veterans Affairs still has the same policy on dental insurance as it had back in 1987. It goes on to say that some dentists have taken on the work for free and that is really nice but shouldnt USA be doing more to care for veterans that have risked their lives for your country?

All veterans or only the ones who risked their lives? What about firefighters, police officers, miners, oil workers… all dangerous jobs, all benefiting the nation? And why only dental care? Why not housing, food, clothing, education, childcare... is there a line you’re drawing or should anyone who has served in the military never have to pay for any non-luxury for the rest of their lives? These aren’t questions with answers, they’re just examples of why it’s not as simple a question as you present.

As I see it, nobody should be in a situation where they’re unable to access basic healthcare and that includes dental care. I don’t think having been in the military automatically makes someone any more worthy of that principle and I certainly don’t accept the implied collar that anyone who hasn’t served in the military is less worthy. Should someone who suffered similar debilitating injuries in their childhood (and thus wouldn’t be able to join the military in the first place) be pushed back in the line in favour of this veteran, let alone all of the uninjured ones?

I think this is really symptomatic of wider problems, first that veterans don’t get sufficient support on discharge to build self-sufficient lives on civi-street, leading to so many falling in to poverty and secondly that people in poverty in general don’t have enough support to meet basic needs such as healthcare. We should ultimately be working towards a situation where veterans don’t need any greater support of consideration than anyone else and that everyone has basic access to fundamental goods and services.

I’d be concerned that focusing too closely on single cases and limited groups actually risks distracting from those wider aims. If you just wrangle some funding around to cover dental care for veterans and then you might find there isn’t enough to cover it for the elderly, for example.

spangledbanner · Dec 2, 2015

Excon said:
1. Vets are treated far better than convicts.
2. You are trying to compare two separate things.
When a person is "serving" on active duty their dental is taken care of. A convict when "serving" time is also receives limited but similar care.
Once discharged, both the convict and the veteran no long receive such care from their respective Gov.

I am surprised that anyone would actual ask this.
The state is responsible for their health and well being. That would include oral health.

If the public wants the VA to provided dental to Veterans they need to lobby their congress critters.

Hey OP, start a petition.

I am not American. Most western nations do offer free dental to citizens that cannot afford it. To me it just seems wrong that a person that has served in the military is walking around with a tooth ache or bad teeth that causes them to become a hermit.

This is also not good for the image of USA either you know. Americans are known for having good teeth. It looks bad for USA to have veterans running around that look like the before picture of that guy. If you guys arent careful the British are going to start making jokes about American smiles.

And in my opinion veterans should still be considered military even after they have been discharged. Brothers for life and no man left behind or with bad teeth. To be honest I would like all people that cannot afford dental care to have access to help but especially veterans because they have risked their lives and served their nation and we owe them.

Maybe I could start a hashtag or something. I feel like God wants me to make a point of this because I watched the Highway to Heaven episode and then read that article. Im pretty sure that God wants the VA to cover dental for life.

spangledbanner · Dec 2, 2015

HonestJoe said:
All veterans or only the ones who risked their lives? What about firefighters, police officers, miners, oil workers… all dangerous jobs, all benefiting the nation? And why only dental care? Why not housing, food, clothing, education, childcare... is there a line you’re drawing or should anyone who has served in the military never have to pay for any non-luxury for the rest of their lives? These aren’t questions with answers, they’re just examples of why it’s not as simple a question as you present.

As I see it, nobody should be in a situation where they’re unable to access basic healthcare and that includes dental care. I don’t think having been in the military automatically makes someone any more worthy of that principle and I certainly don’t accept the implied collar that anyone who hasn’t served in the military is less worthy. Should someone who suffered similar debilitating injuries in their childhood (and thus wouldn’t be able to join the military in the first place) be pushed back in the line in favour of this veteran, let alone all of the uninjured ones?

I think this is really symptomatic of wider problems, first that veterans don’t get sufficient support on discharge to build self-sufficient lives on civi-street, leading to so many falling in to poverty and secondly that people in poverty in general don’t have enough support to meet basic needs such as healthcare. We should ultimately be working towards a situation where veterans don’t need any greater support of consideration than anyone else and that everyone has basic access to fundamental goods and services.

I’d be concerned that focusing too closely on single cases and limited groups actually risks distracting from those wider aims. If you just wrangle some funding around to cover dental care for veterans and then you might find there isn’t enough to cover it for the elderly, for example.

I am not American and yeah most civilized western nations do offer free healthcare including dental to those that cannot afford it through single pay systems. I know how fanatical free market capitalist you Americans are so I dont want to freak anyone out - which I seem to have - but yeah - people should have access to healthcare and especially veterans. You gotta start somewhere and with USA it seems sensible to start with veterans. I am a socialist you know.

X Factor · Dec 2, 2015

spangledbanner said:
I have been watching some Highway to Heaven episodes on youtube lately and the other day I watched an episode that was called The Hero. It is about a Vietnam veteran has a terrible tooth ache and when he goes to get it fixed he finds that his veteran insurance does not cover dental work unless the dental problem was caused by injury suffered during combat while he was serving in the military. Here is the plot summary -

"Highway to Heaven" The Hero (TV Episode 1987) - Plot Summary - IMDb

This guy lost an arm and a leg serving his country yet his insurance wont cover dental work. So this Highway to Heaven episode is from 1987 and it seems that nothing has changed.

I read this article the day after watching The Hero.

Most Vets Don'''t Qualify For VA Dental Care. So These Dentists Are Giving It For Free

View attachment 67193518
( google images )

This article is saying that Veterans Affairs still has the same policy on dental insurance as it had back in 1987. It goes on to say that some dentists have taken on the work for free and that is really nice but shouldnt USA be doing more to care for veterans that have risked their lives for your country?

View attachment 67193519
(google images)

The veteran in the Highway to Heaven episode - The Hero - is really upset about the fact that the US government is happy to let him suffer with dental pain that he cannot afford to get fixed. What makes him really angry is the fact that USA treats murders and thieves better than it treats its veterans. If a prisoner needs dental work done they can get it apparently but none for heros that have served their country in the military. What is up with that USA? Why does USA treat murders and thieves better than you treat your veterans? The hero actually says in the episode - " I dont need a free lunch or a medal - or your damn pity - I need to be treated as well as you treat your murderers and thieves - thats what I need." - The Hero

So what do you reckon USA? Is it about time that USA treated your veterans as well as you treat your murderers and thieves? Should veterans all get free dental?

Given your complete hate for the U.S., why do you care what we do and why should we care what you say?

Oozlefinch · Dec 2, 2015

X Factor said:
Given your complete hate for the U.S., why do you care what we do and why should we care what you say?

Notice, he does not even care if it is Veterans or not, he is simply pushing for an agenda, and this is for him a good place to start.

This my friends is what is known as "Exploitation". The individual really does not give a damn about the group or topic, they simply use it because they know it will get others on their side. To him, it is not about Veterans at all, but free medical care for everybody.

And yea, I hold those at this time who are touting "No refugees while we have homeless Veterans" crap in just as much contempt. Because I know that 99% of them did not a damned thing for "homeless veterans" 3 months ago, are doing nothing for them now, and will continue to not care and do nothing for them in a year. They are just dragging out the "Pitty Veteran Card" as a way to beat up some unrelated topic that they do not like. Plus, it makes them sound like they actually care about Homeless Veterans.

Which of course they do not. I doubt 1 in 10 that post things like that can name even one non-profit that helps Homeless Veterans.

HonestJoe · Dec 2, 2015

spangledbanner said:
I am not American and yeah most civilized western nations do offer free healthcare including dental to those that cannot afford it through single pay systems. I know how fanatical free market capitalist you Americans are so I dont want to freak anyone out - which I seem to have - but yeah - people should have access to healthcare and especially veterans. You gotta start somewhere and with USA it seems sensible to start with veterans. I am a socialist you know.

I’m not American either but I’d thought you were and were interested in an intelligent discussion rather than nationalist political bashing.

spangledbanner · Dec 3, 2015

HonestJoe said:
I’m not American either but I’d thought you were and were interested in an intelligent discussion rather than nationalist political bashing.

It is true fanatical about the so-called 'free-market'. In USA you have people claiming that the corporate welfare scam that is Obamacare is socialism which is idiotic. The left of US politics isnt even for single payer system and universal healthcare. So in my opinion the best place to start with this would be veterans because of how patriotic Americans are. And I honestly do consider USA to be the worst and least civilized western nation. To me it is a hell hole. I judge a nation on how well it treats its most needy and most vulnerable citizens. On how it treats the poor. America treats poor people like trash.

Oozlefinch · Dec 3, 2015

spangledbanner said:
So in my opinion the best place to start with this would be veterans because of how patriotic Americans are.

How about your worry about your own country, and let us worry about ours.

Funny how so many people complain about the US and want to remake it, yet they do not even live here. You do not know much about the US, only speak nonsense political crap.

And BTW, we treat the poor like everybody else. What, do you think because they are poor they should get free cars and candybars?

Excon · Dec 4, 2015

spangledbanner said:
I am not American.

What does that have to do your the suggestion that you start a petition?

Oozlefinch said:
Notice, he does not even care if it is Veterans or not, he is simply pushing for an agenda, and this is for him a good place to start.

This my friends is what is known as "Exploitation". The individual really does not give a damn about the group or topic, they simply use it because they know it will get others on their side.

^This.
It is much the same with most liberal/Democratic ideology.
Incremental implementation. Pass a little here and then a little there and eventual they get what they want.

Treat vets as well as murders and thieves?

spangledbanner

ttwtt78640

Sometimes wrong

jet57

ttwtt78640

Sometimes wrong

Oozlefinch

jet57

Oozlefinch

Alyssa T.

spangledbanner

jet57

Oozlefinch

Oozlefinch

jet57

Oozlefinch

spangledbanner

Excon

HonestJoe

spangledbanner

spangledbanner

X Factor

Anti-Socialist

Oozlefinch

HonestJoe

spangledbanner

Oozlefinch

Excon