How is it that the two civilian reporters are able to receive health care at military hospitals? I can understand why they were stabilized at Balad and then transfered to Landsthul. Both the National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center have closed enrollment to retired military beneficiaries using the managed care plan, TRICARE Prime, while TRICARE Standard plan holders are only seen and/or admitted on a space available basis. I hope someone can explain this to me as it seems quite unfair for veterans to be denied care but VIP civilians are taken in without question. This is not to deny the seriousness of either man's injuries. I do wish the best to both for a speedy and complete recovery

I asked the same question but can't find an answer. I have a friend that works at Walter Reed and intend on asking him as soon as I can. Two men who probably have amazing healthcare insurance are taking up space that could be used for some of the other injured soldiers that are on the plane traveling back to the US with them. If I find out why, I will post it.

I have a friend that works at Walter Reed and intend on asking him as soon as I can. i have a question if you could ask your friend at walter reed. do any soldiers who have been wounded in iraq succumb to their wounds in hospital, have any soldiers died stateside? it would be unfortunate if they did but i am wondering if they are counted as casualties of war if they die on american soil. thanks

"I asked the same question but can't find an answer. I have a friend that works at Walter Reed and intend on asking him as soon as I can. Two men who probably have amazing healthcare insurance are taking up space that could be used for some of the other injured soldiers that are on the plane traveling back to the US with them. If I find out why, I will post it." ========================================================= Turbiay--FYI, many times Ex Generals, Presidents, enators ect go these military hospitals, VA Med ctrs ect and their Private Insurances are being charged! This is the case of the VA Medical Center nationwide! These Fedral agencies are means testing their patients and if you have Great Insurance, they are putting in a claim, bet the bank on this one! In the same Vein of your comment, a few weeks ago Dick Cheny was admitted to a well known federal/military type medical facility===Now as we all know, he is super wealthy, being ex-ceo of Haliburton, With all his Wealth why should he get Free medical care when many taxpayers who subsidize his medical care cannot afford health insurance thenselves yet have to foot the bill for some Wealthy person like Cheny who has Millions????. Meanwhile Millions of Military Vets were kicked out of the VA system 2 years ago because they made a few dollars too much to qualify for VA Care! Fair, I don't think so!

The last time VP Cheney was admitted to a hospital it George Washington University Hospital which is not a military hospital. He was there because of shortness of breath, admitted around 3am and was discharged around 7:30. I understand the problems with the Veterans Healthcare. The Department of Veterans Affairs is swamped by the veterans from the War on Terror. Bush gave them a 1% increase in health care funding for FY06. The problem is they need 12% more just to stay afloat. Yes, there is a major problem with the health care system and I think it is wrong. I find it incredible that we send people to war and then can't pay for the wounds they come home with. You don't have to attack me b/c it seems we are on the same side. Something needs to be done about this and now!

"How is it that the two civilian reporters are able to receive health care at military hospitals? I can understand why they were stabilized at Balad and then transfered to Landsthul. Both the National Naval Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center have closed enrollment to retired military beneficiaries using the managed care plan, TRICARE Prime, while TRICARE Standard plan holders are only seen and/or admitted on a space available basis. I hope someone can explain this to me as it seems quite unfair for veterans to be denied care but VIP civilians are taken in without question". This is not to deny the seriousness of either man's injuries. I do wish the best to both for a speedy and complete recovery" ======================================================= Who do you think pays, by way of their Federal Income taxes,for thse Military Hospitals?? BTW, I am a Veteran !! These two guys pay a Ton of taxes(federal) why shouldn't they be entitled to the same Medical care as Generals, Senators, VP Prez ect?? They pay the Bills! Ley 'em receive the care!!! Godspeed the recovery of thse TWO BRAVE Americans for placing themselves in Harm's Way to portray the news to us in an unbiased manner! Thanks Guys!

Following your logic, anyone that pays taxes or has health insurance should be allowed health care at military facilities. I'm a veteran, too and can't go to Walter Reed or Navy Bethesda because they have closed enrollment to retirees, even if they are 90% disabled. Thanks to the other responders who will ask around. I will be very interested in reading what those who know about these things have to say.

It's a MILITARY hospital that's exactly the reason why they SHOULDN'T be entitled to care there!!!!! You asked who pays, by the way of their federal income taxes for military hospitals.... Last time I checked my husband, who is active duty, pays taxes just like any other American does. I understand the care these two men received in the field, and in Germany....but stateside, come on!!! They are civilians.... I would love to hear how it is they are being treated by the military, versus a civilian hospital.

THANK YOU!!! SOMEONE ELSE HAS A CLUE!!!! CICILIANS = CIVILIAN HOSPITAL MILITARY = MILITARY HOSPITAL. WHO CHECKED THEIR ID CARD AND LET THEM IN?!!!!

Just a thought. Those 2 persons received war wounds. Just how many surgeons in a civilian hospitals have experience with these types of surgery? Why not take a breather ... and lower the rhetoric; but again it is just a though. I hope they (all the people wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan) get better. Take care.

Yes I do agree with the fact that not many surgeons in civilian hospitals may be equipped, nor experienced to handle those types of serious injuries... absolutely. It's not rhetoric on my part by any means. You have no idea how difficult it is to sometimes even get an appointment for my children or myself at our local Navy Hospital and we're entitled to care at that facility. Several times I've had sick kids, non-emergency type illness, and only given the option to take them to the ER because appointments were 1-2 weeks out.... This is a FACT... I am by no means saying Mr. Woodruff and Mr. Vogt are not entitled to the best care that is available. I'm not an insensitive person by no means, and do wish them a very speedy and FULL recovery. I also feel that it is horrible what happened to them. However, I would still like to know why it is that they are receiving care at a facility that is even diificult for our deserving Veterans to be seen at???? If it's the fact that theres not ONE civilian hospital in this country that has the experience to handle and properly treat them and their injuries ~ then I'm Ok with that..... I'm not trying to be ugly about it, I would just to to know.

sadly there is a higher form of payment due. I was treated at Walter Reed, the payment requires BLOOD. I for one do NOT agree that the Senators, VP or Pres. should be treated there, except in the case of assasination attemts etc.. Soldiers, Grunts, Sailors, and Airmen ONLY. Period. No exception. The end. You don't bleed in the service of the country? NO ADMITTANCE!!!! we dont want you there, there are plenty of other hospitals go find one. leave us alone.

I hope B.Woodruff recovers soon and completely. That said, I think sending journalists to the Bethesda facility is extreme "embedding". How can ABC attempt to cover the govt's "war" in Iraq in any impartial fashion when their star anchor is dependent upon their care? SHAME on ABC! No wonder the credibility of US journalism is at an all time low....

As the parent of a soldier who is currently at Walter Reed, I can make an educated guess as to why stipulations are being made as to which veterans may go to Walter Reed. There's just too many injured..and they come first. Go to Walter Reed on any given day. The pharmacy line is unbelievable; the clinics have full waiting rooms, and the parking is at a premium. When my son was first injured in September of 2004, we stayed at the Mologne House on the premises. As time went on, we had to get hotel rooms in nearby Silver Springs, because Mologne House rooms were given to outpatient OIF/OEF soldiers. My son is now among the outpatient soldiers who need to stay there, but don't need to be in the hospital. When they are at the Mologne House, they have roommates. On the occasions when he doesn't have a roommate, we can stay with him in his room. Such was the case a month ago, when his brother was able to be with him for an outpatient surgical procedure. All this being said, I don't begrudge Woodruff being treated at a military hospital. It is my hope that the presence of a newscaster at one of these facilities will emphasize the overwhelming amount of seriously injured soldiers whose numbers are infrequently emphasized. Add the figure to the casualties incurred in Iraq and Afghanistan for the complete picture on how things are really going.

Having done my time at Walter Reed what you state is ABSOLUTELY true. The place is packed. We dont have room there for treating civilians, and even reporters are just civilians. yes, JUST civilians. I dont mind them getting treated at a hospital and having been wounded i will keep them in my prayers, especially their families. but, MOVE them. the last thing i would want is to be sitting in the physical therapy ward next to one of them and wondering if they are just chatting or doing an interview for their next By-line. GET THEM OUT!

Maybe they are secretly working for CODE PINK! Ok, that was probably uncalled for.... I'm not trying to make light of their situation, but I couldn't agree with what you said more. That would probably be a question that crosses one's mind...are they being sincere when having a conversation with our injured service members? However, then one also has to wonder if this will shed new light on their views of our brave service members.... Will they leave that facility having a new found repsect for those who serve this country? The military doctors.... The soldiers on the ground that treated them like one of their own??? If so, I would surely hope they would share those experiences with the Americans who watch thir nightly news broadcasts. All too often we hear how these journalists are going to a war zone so that we Americans can see the "truth." All too often that is not the case, it's is the complete opposite that I see on my local and nightly news every single night. Only the bad, that's all I see on my news. I've said it so many times, yes let's always remember the injured and the fallen who so bravely fight for freedom everywhere! At the same time, those who have been injured and killed, I'm sure would also like for us to remember their brothers in arms who remain in a war zone..... From my little brother and several of our friends who have and are in Iraq all say the same thing ~ they have a difficult time watching the news in this country because of the media only and always showing us the bad! Either way...... it certainly doesn't mean that I am not pryaing for Mr. Woodruff's and Mr. Vogt's speedy recovery. It just means that as a whole we need to demand more of the truth from our media outlets and until we do so we will continue to get one-sided news pouring into our living rooms every day.

I was watching Good Morning America this morning and hear that ABC is paying for their care at the Naval Hospital. I found it very interesting that the reporter made this a key point in his report. I just thought I would share this information with everyone.

Good points by all and thanks for taking the time to clarify things for me. I'm delighted that ABC is paying for the two reporter's care. However, it still chaps me that civilians are given priority over service beneficiaries. This is especially in view of the fact that access to health care is being increasingly restricted at military hospitals as well as the Veteran's Administration and the civilian sector cannot be bothered with the military health insurance because the reimbursement levels are lower than Medicare. This is a big thank you to all veterans and beneficiaries that are eligible for care (they promised us lifetime health care when we signed on the dotted line) that all of the yellow ribbon car decals that are made in China can't mitigate.