Obama annouces upgrades to vets' health care, touts mortgage refinancing

As astute a politician as Obama appears to be, surely he knows that to do anything as he previously proposed to cut veterans benefits or to make it the responsibility of private insurance, that would be the "kiss of death" as far as votes and support from veterans and their families. They of all our citizens should have the best of care and they should not have to pass a drug test as I feel those who get free care/welfare should.
We, American, work hard to provide for ourselves. I do not want my government to provide/choose my health care..

Promises being kept.... Thank you MR. President. We all need this encourageing news.

Great. The medical records of all current and former military personnel will now be computerized. How long after they do that will it be before we learn that thousands have been compromised due to inadequate security? The government can't secure computerized information at Los Alamos, the DVA can't secure computerized information they already have ( I got one of those "Your personal information may have been compromised" letters two years ago). The government has taken no steps to help victims of identity theft get their lives back. Why not just print everybody's name, address, and social on the web and be done with it?

The VA DOES NOT manage military retiree health care.

Why does Obama say something to help the pirate hostage situation. How about show some force and get those pirate/terrorists to back down or die.

So the only people who will NOT be eligable for these restructured loans are the people who are responsible and paying their mortgage ( and who will ultimately get to pay even more to cover all the people who are not responsible ).

Yeah. lower the interest conversation at no cost to borrower for both residential and commercial small business. Just change the rate to 3 for residential and 4 for small business commercial.
Thanks

I almost was fooled by the head line that Veterans health care might be improved. No he has violated my right to privacy.

Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record, a system to computerize medical records of all military personnel. The move, according to the White House, will streamline the transfer of medical information between the Defense Department, which holds information on active-duty servicemen and women, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which manages care for military retirees.

T

Obama uses others to pat him on the back for such a tremendous job he thinks he's doing. I would refuse and embarrassed to be paraded in front of cameras when I required assistance from taxpayers to pay for my home.

In response to Leo T.........To say that the financial difficulties that many are experiencing is a result of their irresponsibility is antagonistic and prejudiced. There are many people today who were productive working class citizens, and as a result of layoffs, have lost their jobs. People who bitterly complain that they are not eligible for benefits, presently afforded to those who have been impacted the most, look at this crisis only from the perspective of me and mine. Those responsible for the economic meltdown are not the people who are suffering the most.

i cant refinance my mortgage because i havent missed a payment. makes sense huh.
big help thanks mr president!
if i get laid of though ill be sure to default and get some cash.

Leo havent you hear? Thats part of the New New Deal, its a new America. You should feel bad for working hard and making a life for you and your family. In fact just because you have made a life for yourself you should now give your hard work to those too lazy to help themselves. It used to be hard work earns you the American Dream, now its we all deserve it and the few that work hard will bare the burden so the lazy can enjoy it too!

While new home buyers are getting 4.6% fixed interest rate. Those who already have homes are facing enormous problems. Regardless if you purchased your home prior to the escalation of home prices,or during the esclation of home prices, and regardless if you always paid on time, or ran into monthly payment problems; there is a growing concern that the majority who are seeking to improve their situation are being denied because the appraisal keeps using comps for the last 4-5 months, which keeps pushing the market down. (Collapesed Prices). For example: Homes that were once selling for $280,000 are now being appriased at $142,000, figures that fall below the 1st trust. So when you apply to modify or refinance, you cannot get approved because the loan cannot be more than 80% of the value of the home. Why is there not a system in place to help the mass populace of home owners who are trying to improve their mortage situation????

I prefer VA health care. Don't want private insurance.....that would reduce coverage and increase costs. Eventually, the oop expenses and copays make private health care unaffordable. I Suggest that we veterans be able to email our doctor to get meds renewed.

I am a Vietnam era veteran (1964-1967). How will this new policy affect veterans who were not wounded in Vietnam and did not derve ion Desert Storm or the current conflict? Currently if you are asn unemployed veteran and do not meet the VA income standard you cannot receive any Medical care. This policy excludes a lot of veterans from receiving any medical care.

just a small step in veterans care. im 24 and level 2 treatment at the VA. took me 8 months to get it all squared away. and now im dealing with my notice of disagreement part of the VA. it will take much more than some computers to fix the backlog. good luck VA and keep sending me my checks.

1. Bubba, its not always wise for the president to respond directly to acts like this. In responding he might insight others to do the same in order to have their causes heard on the world stage.
2. Leo, Banks are in the business of making money. Direct your angst towards the Banks who "Business" it is to never LOSE MONEY. They are College Educated so that they are Less likely to LOSE MONEY. Not all Banks/Lenders acted as foolishly as say, AIG did. Dont be a follower, have a mind of your own and make sense of the situation.

Jeez - guess I should have been a flake and bought the house my wife wanted very badly last year, even when I knew I could not afford it, because I am entitled to to get a mortgage that I really can't afford. Maybe I should also quit my second job and stop making the mortgage payments on our current home because the government will bail me out. Oh, and then I can appear with the President and brag about the fact that I am an irresponsible flake who took advantage of the big bailout program. But I guess it is OK, because the government is really just taking my money through higher taxes and lending it back to me, but at a lower interest rate, right? America is great, isn't it?

This

You only know how disgusting the current privatized medical insurance companies are when you are laid off and a person of pre-existing medical conditions.

Military retiree health care does not involve the VA. We get our medical through Dept.of Defense. It amazes me to no end that there are so many that don't know the difference between a military retiree and a veteran.

@ Leo: to qualify for the modification as opposed to the 'underwater' refinancing, you have to be able to show hardship (i.e. you saw a reduction in wages or other loss of income) or that you are stuck in a bad loan with a rising interest rate. On the later, yes, maybe these people shouldn't have jumped for adjustable loans with bad terms. But remember that two years ago, loads of 'experts' suggested that you would always be able to refinance out of that bad loan because values were going to increase. Well, it turned out you can't and now the payment is going higher than these people ever thought it would (some more cautious/responsible people may have stuck to a fixed-rate, that's true). So, we can get even more bad debt onto bank balance sheets, or suck it up and help these people stay in their homes and help everybody's home value stabilize. Also, neither the refinancing nor the modification require that you not make your payment. For the mod. you just have to show that you are having difficulty making the payment due to a change in income or loan structure.

Is this the first step to try to push military retiree health care off DOD to VA.
I may be veteran not sure. my check each month says on it retired/retainer pay.I am still called by my rank when on base.Retainer says Im still in military when retired.I dont VA to give me my health care.

I am amazed at how uniformed up some American’s really are. I have done over 21 yrs in the Military and work for the Federal Government. Most everything we do in life a computer or electronic component is at play. I am not Democrat or Republican but most Republican‘s have put more money in my pocket. Now we have a President that is putting more money in my pocket and improving my heath care system. I am thankful we have a smart President. My social and name has been on the internet for years. Every federal employee name and social is on the internet. So why not make our medical records on the electronic available to the VA. I was blessed it only to six months to get my VA benefits. But the system can be better and I welcome any changes that will make it faster. Every time I go to a military Dr. the first thing he does is go to his computer and type in my name and social. The only time that did not happen was when I was on a ship and I went to the infirmary. I did not have the luxury of having the same Dr. year in and year out. But thanks to the computer I have receive excellent service because the Dr . could look up the information on the computer. I have look at my hand written record and I can’t read what was written. Please Mr. President Keep up the good work. I have read the Defense Secretary Budget proposal. The new budget is putting the money where it needs to go not in some defense contractor pocket. It’ also buying equipment to better prepares our military. The Defense Budget is bigger yet I keep hearing that he is cutting back on the military. Yes they are cutting jobs in some areas but creating jobs in other areas. Wake up America please let’s just get behind this President and welcome some of the great changes this Administration is making.