During the campaign, President Barack Obama promised to boost veterans’ health care to fulfill the sacred trust often neglected between the government and those who have served.

His new budget follows through on that pledge in a major way that helps veterans returning from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and those who have fought in past conflicts. …

But that doesn’t mean we don’t have concerns.

The rumor mill says the administration may want to charge the private insurance companies of disabled vets for treatment of their service-connected injuries instead of the VA paying, which has always been the case.

The worry is veterans would be forced to pay premiums for care for which they already have “paid in blood and service,” said David Gorman, executive director of the Disabled American Veterans, according to Congressional Quarterly.

If really in the offing, it cannot be allowed to occur. …

That’s why we’ll be closely watching when the final budget is released in April to make certain all veterans receive the care they have earned.

– Florida Today, Melbourne, Fla.