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Salazar-Led Increase To Veterans Reimbursement Rates
United States Senator Ken Salazar announced that as of February 1, 2008, the
Veterans Administration will increase the mileage reimbursement rates for
veterans from 11 cents per mile to 28.5 cents per mile. Senator Salazar fought
to include this increase in the Veterans Affairs Administration Appropriations
Act that passed late last year. While increasing the reimbursement rate, the
Secretary of the VA has also decided to increase the deductible that is charged
against veterans receiving this benefit. Accordingly, the deductible will rise
from $6 per round trip (max. of $18 per month) to $15.44 per round trip (max. of
$46.62 per month).
A 2004 study by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) found that even
though one in four U.S. veterans lives in a rural area, these rural veterans
tend to be in poorer health than those in urban or suburban areas. The distance
and other difficulties associated with obtaining care causes many rural veterans
to put off preventive care as well as other necessary treatments. The result is
poorer health and increased health expenditures for these courageous Americans.
“This is a long-overdue increase for our veterans, especially those living in
rural Colorado,” said Senator Salazar. “With one in four veterans living in
rural areas, we must do what we can to help defray the costs they incur because
they have to travel significant distances for medical care. This is one small
way that we can ensure our vets have access to quality health care and show our
gratefulness and appreciation for their service and sacrifice. I will continue
to fight to improve the reimbursement rates and to ensure that the deductibles
are affordable to all veterans.”
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