Needs outstrip military health services for returning US veterans

Announced February 4, the president’s 2009 budget proposal calls for some $47 billion in discretionary funding for the VA, mostly for health care. Approximately $41 billion has been requested for medical care, of which $34 billion would fund medical services and $4.66 billion would serve medical facilities. The VA requested another $46 billion in mandatory funding for pensions, education, home loans, and other veteran benefit programs.

The budget must provide for the treatment of 5.8 million patients in VA facilities, including 3.9 million returning veterans from occupied Iraq and Afghanistan. Many of these military personnel suffer extremely serious injuries and mental trauma and have little in the way of economic security. They are dependent on the military to provide care and stability.

The VA estimates it will treat 333,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in 2009, a 14 percent increase over its 2008 estimated figure. Spending on benefits and programs for this group would increase by $216 million in 2009, to $1.27 billion.

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