Murray, Larsen pushing for VA to cover in-vitro treatments
LAKEWOOD, Wash. -- They are casualties of war not often heard about: wounded soldiers who can no longer start a family.
Under its current policy, the Veterans' Administration does not assisting military families with in-vitro fertilization.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., calls the policy a disgrace, and is working to change that.
Thinking of coming home to family is what gets members of the military through deployments. But some of them return home wounded and unable to conceive.
Capt. Niall Kennedy is in a wheelchair with a spinal cord injury. His wife, Margeaux, is worried about him and their prospects of starting a family.
"I have the ER doctors looking at me, (saying,) 'We're just trying to keep your husband alive.' And I'm like, 'Oh, he'll be fine, but I need to make sure that I can be a mom one day, like this is my dream."'
Sarah and Sean Halsted found themselves in the same situation several years ago.
"I fell from a helicopter about 40 feet," said Air Force veteran Sean Halsted. "Shattered all vertebrae, became a spinal cord injury."
The couple chose in-vitro fertilization and conceived twins, but had to pay for the procedure themselves.
"We thankfully had the resources to be able to pursue in-vitro, and it was about $15,000," said Sarah Halsted.
The Kennedys don't have the same luxury.
"Right now, there's no way we can pay out of pocket," said Margeaux Kennedy.
And so without VA assistance, they'll remain a child-free couple, which Niall Kennedy believes is wrong for service people who sacrifice everything for their country.s
"Then the government will be executing a policy akin to a de facto enforced sterilization," he said.
Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., have bills in Congress that aim to change that.
"I decided it's time for America to do the right thing for these men and women," Murray said.
Murray says there are about 1,800 service people and veterans with these kinds of injuries. And with so many foot patrols in Afghanistan running across roadside bombs, she expects that number to climb.
Under its current policy, the Veterans' Administration does not assisting military families with in-vitro fertilization.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., calls the policy a disgrace, and is working to change that.
Thinking of coming home to family is what gets members of the military through deployments. But some of them return home wounded and unable to conceive.
Capt. Niall Kennedy is in a wheelchair with a spinal cord injury. His wife, Margeaux, is worried about him and their prospects of starting a family.
"I have the ER doctors looking at me, (saying,) 'We're just trying to keep your husband alive.' And I'm like, 'Oh, he'll be fine, but I need to make sure that I can be a mom one day, like this is my dream."'
Sarah and Sean Halsted found themselves in the same situation several years ago.
"I fell from a helicopter about 40 feet," said Air Force veteran Sean Halsted. "Shattered all vertebrae, became a spinal cord injury."
The couple chose in-vitro fertilization and conceived twins, but had to pay for the procedure themselves.
"We thankfully had the resources to be able to pursue in-vitro, and it was about $15,000," said Sarah Halsted.
The Kennedys don't have the same luxury.
"Right now, there's no way we can pay out of pocket," said Margeaux Kennedy.
And so without VA assistance, they'll remain a child-free couple, which Niall Kennedy believes is wrong for service people who sacrifice everything for their country.s
"Then the government will be executing a policy akin to a de facto enforced sterilization," he said.
Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., have bills in Congress that aim to change that.
"I decided it's time for America to do the right thing for these men and women," Murray said.
Murray says there are about 1,800 service people and veterans with these kinds of injuries. And with so many foot patrols in Afghanistan running across roadside bombs, she expects that number to climb.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., calls the policy a disgrace, and is working to change that.
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Murray is OUT OF TOUCH. WE ARE BROKE!
Just can't get behind this one... don't think insurance in general should have to pay for in-vitro... let them adopt for crying out loud.
Politicians in DC lookgin to get more votes are pledging to change this policy when they re-convine... honestly we are you telling me we dont' hqve bigger problems tot ake care of over a single couple having kids or not... gimmie a break... just look for them to stuff this 'change' they are workign on with a lot more BS. Typical DC games at its best... cannot wait until elections are over so they don't have excuses to slack off!
I completely disagree with this. If you want in-vitro, pay for it out of your own pocket book!!! Â The benefits to vets today has gotten crazy. Case in point, when I served in the military we got a GI Bill that was about $10,000. Now vets get a GI Bill that is anywhere from approximately $50,000 to 75,000. That is crazy and we can't afford it. Â And if you retire from active duty or the reserves, you get tons of benefits.Â
The volunteer army treats service like a job at recruitment time - salary, benefits, school assistance, retirement. But I think some people forget that ultimately it's about serving your country, and sometimes that means sacrifice. I applaud the sacrifice of our service men and women. Unfortunately in this case it means great sacrifice. He has paid a great sacrifice and is a hero. Her, not so much.
I mean no offense and I can understand the needs & wants of the serviceman's or servicewoman's family, but why doesn't congress just work on saving what benefits the Veteran Administration still provide and keep those available for the veteran.
"I have the ER doctors looking at me, (saying,) 'We're just trying to keep your husband alive.' And I'm like, 'Oh, he'll be fine, but I need to make sure that I can be a mom one day, like this is my dream."
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What an unbelievably selfish comment..............
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I thought so to.
It would be much less expensive if deployed servicemen simply left deposits at the local sperm bank prior to shipping overseas. Â Maybe that should be something all married couples do when they are postponing parenthood.
 @Doracee The issue here is the cost of taking that sperm and implanting it in the wife his team is ready to play but they cannot get to the game...though i am not sure why the VA should help pay for the procedure as this is a Service injury but not something I would think they should be on thr hook forif they cannot pay the $15,000 for the procedure what is to say they will be able to pay for all the extra costs associated with pregnancy... they could always adopt!
you do realize one can become parents through adoption, right?
How about working on fixing the problems with the VA instead of making more. Â It is pretty bad when you have an appointment at the VA and still have to wait 4 hours after the appointment time to get seen. Â And then when the VA screw up the paperwork you have to pay out of your own pocket for the Physical therapy bills. Â And If you want to get reimbursement you pretty much need a lawyer because you won't get anywhere with the VA.
Does an editor read these stories? SMH
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"Under its current policy, the Veterans' Administration does not assisting military families with in-vitro fertilization."
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@Melissa Angevine Yeah, that's kind of an ugly typo.
An emotional issue to gain support. Â How about we treat vets for PTSD first. Â Those with children will become more stable parents and those without can consider starting families through several methods.
I'm all for help these Vet's out 100%.But Murray and Larsen who are pro-choice (ABORTION) have something up there Liberal sleeves.Â
 @Tacobender 49 Pro Choice doesn't mean you don't want anyone to ever have children. All it means is wanting women to have control over their own bodies.
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I'm really unsure of what sort of twisted conspiracy theory you''re concocting.
 @quidproquo  @Tacobender 49 You can twist the definition of Pro-choice all you want, but part of the definition of Pro-choice is ABORTION.Do I kill or not Kill, plain and simply.
Murray the mouth-breathing dolt?
Wish I were shocked.
Having worked in both a fertility clinic and the Veterans' Hospital, I must say that this is the most ridiculous political ploy yet. First, I have only seen one insurance plan ever pay for this procedure and I'm pretty sure it was from a rich, self insured employer plan. Second, when vets with missing limbs get some crappy prosthetic from the land that time forgot and PTSD afflicted soldiers have an outrageously high suicide rate, it's clear that the system has more to do with its money than offer a procedure that has NO guarantee of working. Shame on these politicians. Get your priorities straight!!!
Lets try treating the wounded that really need it first since their have a difficult time with that all ready...
There are a lot more things the VA is not covering that are NOT elective procedures. Politicians focusing on this topic are just trying to get votes through playing people's heart strings. The VA needs to get its act together and treat our veterans who have more pressing issues - something that is still not happening adequately.
I'm a Veteran too, 14 years in service with three deployments and I am very sorry that these two can't have children but I do not believe that the tax payers should pay for this procedure. Maybe they could look into adoption?
I am torn on this one. While I think we need to do everything for these heroes were do we as a society draw the line as to what is and what is not covered? I think in-vitro is over the line as to what should be covered. They gave all without much thought to the future and now they feel they have now. Hard to make this call. Murray and Larson are behind in the poles so we know why they are running with this. More buying votes with other peopleâs money⦠Bad formâ¦.
Ahh...must be getting close to election time. Murray and Larsen trying to get their names in the news. 

Sorry, Dude and dudette! But, your equipment not working is not my problem. Your inability to get your equipment working is not my problem. Maybe you're doing it wrong. Of course, Larsen and Murray want to reward you for your failure to "perform your duty". Get lost.
I served more than my time (12 years) and never even got a handshake from these ungrateful slobs - I grew up and realized which way the wind blew. I have experienced combat ('89 and '91). I haven't heard from the VA except the occassional notice that they shared my SSN with other unsavory folks (a recurring event). Larsen and Murray never gave a crap about vets except come election time.
 @nkroadcaptain "But, your equipment not working is not my problem. Your inability to get your equipment working is not my problem......"Maybe you're doing it wrong".....You, nkroadcaptain, are an ignorant, narcissist idiot who has nothing but a selfish and judgmental reply that demonstrates your ignorance of what a spinal cord injury does to the human body. So, just to educate and placate you, there is no ability for a male or female who has experienced such an injury, to have ANY neurological, physical, nor sensual sensation for normal sexual relations, below their waist.The very injury has irradicated that.
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Think of yourself in that condition, then shut up with your judgments.These veterans who VOLUNTARILY SERVE OUR COUNTRY, though they may be PHYSICALLY disabled, ARE NOT EMOTIONALLY DISABLED, AND THUS, are bale to be a strong, viable husband and parent.
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Shame on you for deeming YOUR male "equipment" more vital and effective than that of one injured in service to our country. Perhaps YOU will find yourself impotent or sterile.....think about it, if it ever happens to YOU ! ! !
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Paralyzed from the waist-down, is a neurological condition, not a spermicidal condition. I really feel that a military - combat condition that has robbed a veteran of his or her ability to reproduce an offspring, should be supported.
Going to have to go with no on this one.I do feel bad for them but like anyone else that is an elective procedure. The military has done damage to allot of bodies but it doesn't have the money to take care of all of us and fix all the injuries we have incurred during our service.
If it is a service connected injury that is preventing a vet from becoming a parent, then the VA should do whatever is reasonably possible to help them medically. It's just right.
 @Magic 8 Ball Nothing is preventing them from becoming parents, they can adopt just like all the other couples who aren't able to have biological children. It may not be the way they had hoped to become parents but it is a choice available to them. The VA has far more pressing health issues to treat than an elective choice like fertility treatments.
Patty and Rick... Is there no pocket you won't pick?
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Why don't ya move some more money from the lottery to yer pet projects. Then ya can hold the masses even MORE accountable when ya hold the gun to their heads.
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Is there NOTHING that the taxpayers can't be held accountable for? I'm responsible for my own choices and rightfully so.
When are ya gonna cut me a break for that?
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Why is it ALWAYS the burden of the masses to pay for the few that complain about their own choices?
 Yea more free stuff.
@CrankyPanky Wait a minute, CP. Veterans do not get 'free stuff'. Veterans have paid, in spades, for what they get. You cannot tell me that helping a veteran who's just served a deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan is a government handout. Troops EARN every nickel they get from the government, be it a home loan, their school benefits or their health benefits.
Look, I do not support Sen. Cantwell and Murray's proposal here, but for financial and practical reasons. VA has enough on it's plate with mental health, addiction, and physical health concerns to worry about whether or not a couple can conceive a child. The VA doesn't do other purely elective procedures like facelifts or breast augmentations either.
But to imply that the care that veterans get from VA is some sort of 'freebie' proves to me that you've never served or known someone who has. If you had, you know better.
Uh, WHAT???Why would the VA be involved with in-vitro at all? Look, I understand that folks with fertility issues have struggles. I really do. HOWEVER, VA is not like Group Health or Blue Cross. It's primary mission is to cover the health of returning veterans, not expensive elective procedures or surgeries. You cannot, for example, go to VA and get elective  breast augmentation.I'm sorry for the couples that desire children and cannot have them naturally, but there are hoards of kids right here in the US that need the love and acceptance of adoptive parents, foster homes, and/or the various mentorship programs that are available [Big Brothers/Sisters, the Scouting programs etc] for those that want or need children in their life.
I myself am a veteran and I go to VA every week for PTSD and addiction issues. I know just how much pressure there is on the VA system now that we've sent almost 3% of our gross population into war zones this last decade. An entire generation of young Americans have been sent to war. And as sure as Christ made little green apples, somebody in government will discuss cutting VA funding in the next 4 years. We simply cannot afford this program.
I'm sorry that they can't have kids of their own through natural methods, but I don't think the tax payers should be forced to foot the bill so they can have invitro which doesn't always work, or worse yet has higher odds of having a huge multiple birth which can lead to severe birth defects. Â My husband and I aren't able to conceive either, but it doesn't mean that we should expect someone else to foot the bill for us, so we can have children of our own. What most people don't know is that military families get huge payments from the military for adopting special needs kids and then get all the care paid for at tax payer expense for life if the military parent retires or is 100% disabled through the military.