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BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

Navy SEAL Who Killed Bin Laden Didn't Know He Can Get Free Health Coverage

Are health benefits too confusing?

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by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t

Image: AP

The U.S. health care system is so complex even the elite Navy SEAL officer who says he killed terrorist group leader Osama bin Laden can't figure out his health benefits.

An Esquire Magazine article yesterday caused quite a stir featuring an interview with the former Navy SEAL officer who said he lost his health benefits after leaving the military. "Here is what he gets from his employer and a grateful nation: Nothing. No pension, no health care, and no protection for himself or his family," the article said. It turns out he can get coverage, but just didn't know it.

The independent military newspaper Stars and Stripes reports that Esquire got it wrong. Every combat veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is automatically eligible for five years of free healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the article said.

The writer of the Esquire piece, Phil Bronstein, who heads the Center for Investigative Reporting, claims the story didn't misrepresent the situation since the SEAL didn't know the benefits existed, Stars and Stripes reported.

"No one ever told him that this is available," Bronstein said.

Via Esquire and Stars and Stripes and Politix
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Are health benefits too confusing?

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Comments (view in Forum)

  • Ventric
    !
    Hold on, why is that Navy Seal blotting that he killed OBL? I thought sensitive information like that would be held by the elite soldiers of our nation? Either he's lying or in deep water.
  • Ventric
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    @thatgirl I'm pretty sure he's still bound by some sort of secrecy. I don't think one can freely blot out information like that once one is retired.
  • MrGreenHerb
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    @Ventric Many people are willing to get into trouble to have their voice heard. Maybe thats what he is wanting? Maybe he's mad, upset that he's not getting what most of the military branches give you. He served his country and this is how they repay him, I'd be mad too.
  • View all 70 replies >
  • Chanel
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    Every US military member recieves brief after brief after brief of what you are entitled to. Before you leave the military you are "out processed" and you recieve about a weeks worth of briefs on the next step. If this SEAL was in 16yrs I REFUSE to believe that he did not know what care he could recieve on his way out. If he had all of those injuries and they were all documented that is probably going to amount to 100% disability pay. Especially with that "back injury"..I respect his accomplishments, however he should have had more personal responsiblity when it came to his career and his families welfare.
  • Post Removed by Moderators
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    BelinKS
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    @Chanel
    The military knowing what they are able to get. I know many that knew nothing about free healthcare for five years.
  • Chanel
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    @BelinKS Why would anyone not research the benefits they are fully entitled to recieve? I have no sympathy for irresponsible individuals who put their health and loved ones health at risk.
  • View all 13 replies >
  • Antony
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    Unfortunately, it's his responsibility to make sure he has health coverage. If his health care was to expire, he should have inquired about his options. I'm sure someone would have let him know that he can receive 5 more years of health coverage. This is entirely his mistake and his fault.
  • Antony
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    @Russell797 He also gave a lovely anecdote of a bet that involved fellatio. Honestly, he doesn't sound like the most immature and responsible individual. Lucky him to be the finger that pulled the trigger on Osama, but the guy screwed up. He made his own mistake; however, I don't see why they won't just give him the health insurance now.
  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    obama should hold this man up as a hero, since his killing of bin Laden is the single reason why obama got a second term as president. Instead obama just throws this man by the wayside. Disgusting, truly terrible and disgusting...
  • martydotcom
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    Whatever happened to personal responsibility? This numbnuts tossed his career in the dumpster chasing some "gold ring" and he didn't find it. No one threw him "by the wayside" he jumped off the bus with both eyes wide open .
    I find your lies, misrepresentations and false accusations typical of you ilk,m Digusting truly terrible and just so typical.
  • Denizen_Kate
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    Neo, seriously, get a grip. Obama is a man, not a god. He isn't personally responsible for even a fraction of the crap for which you constantly blame him. [facepalm]
  • Neo_NtheMatrix
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    @Denizen_Kate - But his supporters call him the Messiah. I don't understand why they think he can walk on water. They allow him to gut our military and throw our heroes by the wayside.
  • View all 6 replies >
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    Chromalord
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    So let me get this straight. You only have to serve one term in congress ( for example) and you get a pension and full heath care for life. But you serve a lifetime in the military and get nothing? I know lots of vets who get pensions and full health care for life, along with their spouses. So why is his case different?
  • u
    fistv
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    Because he did not do his 20. There are a boat load of vets that the govt is riffing even now as they reduce size. If he had stayed another 4 he would have gotten his retirement and tricare for life for both him and his family. I'm surprised his wife did not kick his ass to finish the full 20.
  • o
    Leftofliberal
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    @fistv This not too bright guy thought there was a fortune awaiting him once he got into the wold. He learned real fast, reality sucks. Nobody, as far as we know, forced him out. He's just too dumb to know what he's entitled to and now he's pissing and moaning. I can't believe this weasel lasted 16 yrs as a Seal Team member. I never met a lifer who didn't know every aspect of his separation package. 99% had their "next life" mapped out just like Civvie retirees
  • u
    fistv
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    @Leftofliberal Yup, my wife kicked mine when I was thinking of calling it quits early, glad she did, it was worth it. I could have done that last 4 standing on my head the 10+ after that was easy. The higher ups then realize you are not in it for just 20 and out and the jobs got more interesting.
  • View all 9 replies >
  • Thunderchicken
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    My ninety year old father is probably entitled to a veterans health care pension. We've been filling out forms, making phone calls and exchanging emails with the VA since early October. We still don't know if he qualifies. The eligibility requirements appear to be a big secret and change with every different person and web link. Yeah, it's frustrating.
  • u
    mtkopf
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    Have you tried working with a veterans organization. I joined the VFW and they are helping me weave thru all the red tape to get disability benefits.
  • Thunderchicken
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    @mtkopf

    Yes sort of. There are a couple of volunteers that I've been in contact with. They've pointed me in the right direction form wise and put me in touch with two VA reps who seem to know what's what.

    My first few encounters with the VA really had me wondering. I applied for a DD214 (because according to the VA site the only thing acceptable was a DD214) and the application said to make a follow up call to a number on the application a week after faxing it. That call took a couple of hours and got me exactly no where. I was certain the application was lost. A notarized copy of a separation of service form showed up the next week with a note saying that the DD214 wasn't issued in 1948. I already had the original 1948 separation papers. We'll have to see what the rest of this adventure brings. I expect to be burning a lot of vacation time dealing with the VA.
  • u
    mtkopf
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    @Thunderchicken the best of luck to you. Just remember two things:
    1) Besides the social security administration and the IRS, the VA is the largest bureaucracy we have. You will run into ppl who CLAIM they know what is going on but, in reality, they are clueless and really don't care about your situation (they get paid no matter what). Not all ppl but some are like that. I would suggest keeping notes on who you talk to, when and what about.

    2) Whenever you deal with a govt agency, make sure the forms are filled out correctly. If you don't understand or don't have the info, ask first before sending it in. The process becomes ten times more difficult if a form is filled out incorrectly.

    Again, no matter what your political beliefs are, I wish you the best of luck. Keep fighting for your father and the benefits that he deserves.
  • Thunderchicken
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    @mtkopf

    "they are clueless and really don't care about your situation "

    This describes my first contact with the VA.

    Thank you for your wishes and good luck to you also. Oh and something I ran into last weekend. When filling out forms on line, save them often. I had some repeatedly vanish with a click of the mouse or the tab key.
  • Buzzfriendly
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    Questions to ask yourself. Who is responsible for the VA? Ok, now who will be responsible for the Affordable Healthcare Act? As you think about those two question keep in mind they VA has been around a long time and certainly had the opportunity to iron out the wrinkles. Now ask yourself why you really wanted to hand over good intentions to bad management.
  • u
    910disaster
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    This fool was seeking attention. He cant just sit back and be content like a humble war hero? Every vet knows what they get and dont. They have exit caseworkers and programs. He need to gtfo and let the vets with real issues have their say in public. They ones who get left by the wayside after those 5 years are up. They ones with undiagnosed PTSD or no real life work experience. ugh. I hate fame wh-ores.
  • o
    AllenCarltonJr
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    The question should be what type of medical benefits would there be in the American Holocaust?

    The National Goal is reduce government and government spending. Government (we the people) as in population control through Economic Oppression - extreme physical, mental, financial and emotional stress. Reducing government services like justice, medical benefits etc. Death fix it goals reached through Coercion / Collusion / Terrorism see USSC 99-565 & supplement. Premeditated and orchestrated terminal injustice creating ambush attacks aiding the National Goal (Executive Order 12871).
  • u
    BelinKS
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    Does that include the soldiers family also? My ex-husband dropped our son off his insurance when he turned 21 even though he could have kept him on until he was 26. He didn't want to pay for it. If that included war veterans families too, there was no reason to drop him. My son really needed the coverage. He had a bone marrow transplant in his teens and is now dealing with chronic graft versus host disease that could kill him. It was low down and dirty for his father to drop him because he didn't want to pay for it even though he makes plenty of money. If he had warned us of his intentions we could have put my son on my husbands insurance. If there's no gap in coverage, pre-existing conditions don't come into play. Does anyone know if that includes a soldiers family too?
  • Russell797
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    Trying to find yourself through the maze of bureaucracy and red tap with everyone passing the buck is intimidating to say the least. The hospital blames the doctor, the doctor blames the insurance company, the insurance company blames you. When trying to choose which insurance is best for you and your family, you are left to your own devices as to which plan to pick if you have the choice...of course with absolutely no idea what you are doing. This deductible, that co-pay, this is covered but that isn't, which are you more likely to insurance for etc etc. Make a miscalculation and IT IS YOUR FAULT.
  • Arumizy
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    It isn't 5 years of free coverage, if you get taken by ambulance to a hospitol other then the VA you have to pay it. On average an appointment at the VA takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months to really get into. It has been long over due a reform on veteran benifits, and unfortunatly this president will not take that task under belt.
  • DARSB
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    I'm not ready to believe this guy's story but I do agree the healthcare coverage system we have is insanely complicated and hard to navigate - and I deal with it every day.

    There's some reason for optimism, though. The Affordable Care Act includes a requirement that Essential Health Benefits must be included in all coverage plans. Some info was published last fall, I think a final version is going to be released soon. http://goo.gl/DmFDE
  • u
    sylehrman
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    The laws are written in such a way that one cannot know for sure what benefits are available and what is not. One is asked, for example, to select a program from a list of insurers but the fine print says they can change it so you sign up for something, don't get what you need, and next time around you sign up for something else. It's always a gamble or pig in poke. This is designed to help out insurance companies, not people.
  • jessejaymes
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    While I agree that things are far to complicated in dealing with our government, I also think this former Seal is not doing himself or the image of Seals any real justice. I had this image of Seals as being really smart guys. His comments and lack of knowledge certainly doesn't measure up to the image I had of them.
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