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Story
April 8, 1956
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
House committee charges that wealthy veterans with assets up to $500,000 received free government hospital care by falsely claiming inability to pay, as revealed by GAO probe. Examples include a Spanish-American War vet worth $507,670 and a WWII vet with $46,601 in assets.
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Charge Wealthy Vets Get Free Hospital Aid
BY RAYMOND WILCOVE
WASHINGTON - (INS) - A house committee charged today that wealthy veterans, some with assets of $100,000 to $500,000, have received free hospital treatment from the government.
SIX FIGURES
The GAO disclosed that among them are veterans whose assets run into five and six figures. It reported that under the law veterans must be given free treatment, regardless of their financial standing when they take an oath they are unable to pay. Some of them admitted to the GAO investigators that they could have paid.
Here are some of the things the investigation revealed:
1. Spanish-American War Veteran, a retired construction engineer, received 25 days of free treatment although he had net assets of $507,670. He told the VA he had liquid assets, such as cash, stocks, bonds, etc., Of $10,000, but investigation revealed the total was $487,670. When asked by an investigator whether he could have paid his $473 bill, he made no answer. This veteran receives a $101 monthly pension.
MONTHLY INCOME
2. A World War I Chaplain who spent 22 days in a Veteran Hospital reported liquid assets of $1,000 but investigation showed they totaled $81,967. He gave his monthly income as $395, but an investigator said it was actually $751.
3. A retired customs inspector, also a World War I Veteran, who spent 35 days in a hospital, reported no liquid assets, it disclosed hat he had personal property valued at $35,780 and was worth $89,713.
4. A supply clerk, who served from 1918 to 1921 and who spent 32 days in a hospital, reported he had no monthly income. The investigators said he made $100 a month and was worth $4,607. He and the retired customs inspector told investigators they couldn't pay their bills.
5. A World War II Veteran who served in 1942 told the Veterans Administration he was unemployed had liquid assets of $300 and no income. An investigator reported he had liquid assets of $15,101, plus $31,500 in real property, and an annual income of $7,683. When asked by an investigator whether he could have paid his hospital bill, he first replied "yes," but then changed his answer. He spent 81 days in a hospital.
6. A merchant, who served from 1918 to 1919, reported assets of $16,500. but an investigation revealed he was worth $156,232. He told an investigator he believed he was entitled to VA Hospitalization.
BY RAYMOND WILCOVE
WASHINGTON - (INS) - A house committee charged today that wealthy veterans, some with assets of $100,000 to $500,000, have received free hospital treatment from the government.
SIX FIGURES
The GAO disclosed that among them are veterans whose assets run into five and six figures. It reported that under the law veterans must be given free treatment, regardless of their financial standing when they take an oath they are unable to pay. Some of them admitted to the GAO investigators that they could have paid.
Here are some of the things the investigation revealed:
1. Spanish-American War Veteran, a retired construction engineer, received 25 days of free treatment although he had net assets of $507,670. He told the VA he had liquid assets, such as cash, stocks, bonds, etc., Of $10,000, but investigation revealed the total was $487,670. When asked by an investigator whether he could have paid his $473 bill, he made no answer. This veteran receives a $101 monthly pension.
MONTHLY INCOME
2. A World War I Chaplain who spent 22 days in a Veteran Hospital reported liquid assets of $1,000 but investigation showed they totaled $81,967. He gave his monthly income as $395, but an investigator said it was actually $751.
3. A retired customs inspector, also a World War I Veteran, who spent 35 days in a hospital, reported no liquid assets, it disclosed hat he had personal property valued at $35,780 and was worth $89,713.
4. A supply clerk, who served from 1918 to 1921 and who spent 32 days in a hospital, reported he had no monthly income. The investigators said he made $100 a month and was worth $4,607. He and the retired customs inspector told investigators they couldn't pay their bills.
5. A World War II Veteran who served in 1942 told the Veterans Administration he was unemployed had liquid assets of $300 and no income. An investigator reported he had liquid assets of $15,101, plus $31,500 in real property, and an annual income of $7,683. When asked by an investigator whether he could have paid his hospital bill, he first replied "yes," but then changed his answer. He spent 81 days in a hospital.
6. A merchant, who served from 1918 to 1919, reported assets of $16,500. but an investigation revealed he was worth $156,232. He told an investigator he believed he was entitled to VA Hospitalization.
What sub-type of article is it?
Deception Fraud
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Justice
Crime Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Veterans Fraud
Hospital Benefits
Gao Investigation
Wealthy Veterans
Free Treatment
Where did it happen?
Washington
Story Details
Location
Washington
Event Date
Today
Story Details
A House committee investigation by the GAO uncovers that wealthy veterans, including those with assets from $4,607 to $507,670, have received free hospital treatment by underreporting their financial status to the VA, despite being able to pay.