Posted on: Monday, April 25, 2005
Disability insurance urged
By Dennis Camire
Gannett News Service
WASHINGTON — Severely injured service members often face financial as well as physical problems in their long convalescence, something that legislation now moving through Congress would help, advocates said last week.
"The financial problems that come about on account of (injuries are) ... tremendous and something that hinders their recovery process greatly," said Jeremy Feldbusch of Latrobe, Pa., who was an Army sergeant in Iraq when he was blinded in 2003. "It's something that has to be overcome, something that has to be taken care of."
The legislation would create a new, optional, low-cost disability insurance program for service members, covering them in case of a traumatic injury such as loss of limbs or speech, blindness, deafness, paralysis, severe burns, or major brain injuries.
The proposed benefit would pay from $25,000 to $100,000, based on the severity of the injury. Service members would pay premiums for the coverage.
The program would cover active-duty military and members of the National Guard and reserves and would be in addition to the current Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program, which pays up to a $250,000 death benefit for a monthly premium of $16.25.
"This program is meant to supplement, and not take the place of, existing Department of Defense and VA benefits," said Akaka, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. "In no way is this to take the place of disability compensation."
Informal estimates from the Veterans Affairs Department put the premium for the new disability benefit at about $1 a month, said Sen. Larry Craig, D-Idaho, who sponsored the Senate version of the legislation.
"Family members must often pay travel and lodging expenses for extended periods of time, in addition to having to leave or quit work to spend as much time as possible with an injured spouse, son or daughter," said Craig, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.
Heath Calhoun of Clarksville, Tenn., an Army staff sergeant who lost both legs 18 months ago in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in Iraq, said the program would help.
"There are people whose electricity has been turned off, who are living in their cars, and that shouldn't happen," Calhoun said. "He put his life on the line for you and for the people of Iraq and for America, so be there for him in his time of need. That's what this insurance does."
Craig estimated the legislation would pass and be on President Bush's desk for his signature in a month.
Two Bush administration officials also expressed support for the legislation on Tuesday. Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson called the legislation "a big step toward providing security for families of veterans" and Dr. David Chu, undersecretary of defense, said the Defense Department also backs the legislation.
Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., sponsor of the House version of the disability legislation, said the legislation lets the troops know that the nation values their service and will not abandon them in their need.
Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai'i, who is co-sponsoring the Senate bill, said the new insurance benefit would help wounded service members and their families while the injured are in the hospital and before they are discharged from the military, when VA benefits kick in.
Daniel Akaka
