LANSING – State Representative Gino H. Polidori (D-Dearborn) on Tuesday called on the U.S. Congress to offer health care coverage to more than 1.8 million veterans with disabilities who currently lack coverage. The Michigan House of Representatives adopted the resolution.
"The brave men and women who served our country in the armed forces have earned our respect and support," said Polidori, who is chair of the House Military and Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security Committee. "It is wrong for our country to turn its back on them when they fall on tough times. Ensuring our veterans have health care coverage is the right thing to do to honor them for all that they've sacrificed for this nation."
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) maintains eight "priority categories" to manage access to VA health care if sufficient resources are not available for all veterans seeking care. As a cost-cutting measure, the department ceased enrolling veterans categorized in Priority Group 8 for VA health care. Veterans in Priority Group 8 are those with no service-connected disabilities and who have an income above $27,790 for one person or up to $38,948 for those with four dependents. It is estimated that of the 1.8 million uninsured veterans younger than 65, about half are categorized as Priority Group 8. The VA considers individuals categorized in Priority Group 8 as the lowest priority.
"There is no such thing as a 'low priority' veteran," Polidori said. "These men and women fought for our country and our freedom. I call on Congress to take action to ensure that every veteran has the health care needed to live a full and healthy life, and I commend my colleagues in the Michigan House for supporting this resolution."