A local legislative activist supports the creation of a state task force that will work to provide veterans with better medical care for service-related ailments.
The legislation, which was approved by Gov. J.B. Pritzker earlier this month, “Provides that the Task Force shall review and make recommendations regarding veterans' service-related ailments that are not recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,” according to the Illinois General Assembly website. A report of the findings is due at the end of next year.
“Whatever they contracted during their time of service needs to be covered, it is just the right thing to do,” said Mecki Kosin, a local travel agency owner who also plays music at the Illinois Veterans Home at Quincy.
Mecki Kosin
The legislation has bipartisan support, including co-sponsoring by state Rep. Randy Frese (R-Quincy).
Kosin expressed concern with the federal department of Veterans Affairs, noting that long waiting lines and lack of access to appropriate health care has reached unacceptable levels.
“The system is broken,” Kosin said. “These men and women – they were either drafted or they signed up voluntarily to serve the country – and while in the service, they contracted some form of an ailment or they were injured, and now they need to be taken care of.”
Veterans should have freedom to choose their medical provider, Kosin added.
“They should be able to go to any doctor, and unlimited health care, absolutely, at any facility they choose,” Kosin said. “Or if somebody lives in the vicinity of a VA clinic, and they don’t want to go there, they should be able to go to their doctor.
“If they contracted something while they were serving our country, they need to be taken care of, it’s that simple,” Kosin said. “It should all be covered if it is service-related.”
Kosin, a longtime leader of the Quincy Tea Party, stressed that the new legislation bodes well for Illinois.
“We always seem to be in front when it’s bad news,” Kosin said. “We need to be in front when it’s good news. I hope we could be a leader in that.”
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