Guaranteed Healthcare

I am a 75 year old married retired member of over 25 year of military service. Throughout my military career I was told that if I served honorably and retired from that service, I, and eligible members of my family, would be given lifetime medical care. This was a recruiting and reenlistment enticement tool.

After I retired in 1970, the U.S. Congress determined that the government had not made those promises, and I had to buy a supplemental health care policy for myself, my wife and my 4 children. I was supposed to be eligible for treatment at military hospitals and Veterns Administration hospitals since I was medically retired. When we became eligible, my wife and I enrolled in Part A Medicare and purchased a Medicare supplemental policy through the Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. I am eligible for the government sponsore TriCare for Life program for retired personnel and their dependents.

I am a lifetime smoker and a renal system cancer (1974) survivor with severe back and leg injuries caused by my military service. On my 74th birthday we decided that since I had not seen a doctor in over 10 years that I should have a complete physical examination. I contacted the Denver Veterans Administration Regional Hospital and was told they no longer give routine physicals because they are understaffed because of a flood of newly injured veterans seeking care. Hospitals at the United States Air Force Academy and Fort Carson are understaffed since many of their medical staff are in the overseas war zones and they no longer give routine appointments.

I contacted a local physician and was told that she could not give me an appointment since Medicare does not pay for routine physicals. Since Medicare will not pay for routine phyicals, my secondary provider (Physicians Mutual Ins. Co.) will not pay; nor will the military TriCare for Life program. Our Medical Insurance expenses each year are: Part B Medicare - $2244.00 and Physicians Mutual - $4806.00. Add in the 25 years of military service and it gets a little expensive! I am writing in support of more health care, and less health insurance.