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Health Care for Veterans: The Limits of Obligation
Author(s) -
Levinsky Norman G.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hastings center report
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1552-146X
pISSN - 0093-0334
DOI - 10.2307/3563106
Subject(s) - obligation , health care , government (linguistics) , military service , moral obligation , administration (probate law) , payment , political science , law , medicine , business , philosophy , linguistics , finance
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.