The federal government has a generally unquestioned obligation to provide health care to veterans for diseases or disabilities acquired during military service. Much argued, however, is the government's obligation to offer care for nonservice-connected disorders. The Reagan administration has sharpened the debate recently by attempting to impose a means test on veterans over sixty-five who are seeking such care. But the controversy focuses on the wrong issue. Society has a moral obligation to provide adequate health care to all citizens but has no special obligation to care for nonservice-connected health problems of veterans.
KIE: Levinsky maintains that, while the federal government has an obligation to provide health care for veterans with service-connected disabilities, the term "service-connected" may be too broadly interpreted. He rejects the contention that government payment for nonservice-connected care is an obligation of society and asserts that veterans should have no special privileges in this regard. The author views the debate about whether veterans over age 65 should be subject to a means test as a red herring--all citizens should receive health care regardless of military status. However, he acknowledges that the system of Veterans Administration hospitals will probably be retained even though extended health insurance coverage through Medicare would enable many veterans to obtain care within the regular health care system.