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The VA performed free life saving surgery on me. Every American should get the same.

Earlier this month, I went to the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center to have a life saving surgery. Years ago, I was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm which was caused by a bicuspid heart valve. The VA found this aneurysm over 13 years ago, and I have been living with the thought that it could rupture at any time. When I asked if they could just fix it, I was told no. The surgery is so risky that they have to wait for the aneurysm to grow before they can rectify it. For reference, New York Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist had the same surgery which was featured in the Netflix documentary “Open Heart.”

The surgeons who came from UCLA’s medical school were second to none. The VA’s ICU nurses were incredible and caring. During the entire 10-day stay at the hospital I was visited by different departments from endocrinology, cardiology, social workers, and others to check in on me and see if they could offer assistance or advice. I had countless blood draws, x-rays, breathing treatments, and physical therapy sessions. What I didn’t have was a bill.

No one came into my hospital to discuss pricing. No one came to tell me to choose which aortic valve to implant due to cost. I didn’t talk to any insurance folks. I didn’t get an itemized bill detailing the work done. I didn’t have to worry once about how I was going to pay for all this. In fact, none of that even crossed my mind until the day I got home and saw two things. First was late actor James Van Der Beek’s family launching a GoFundMe because his cancer battle cost them so much. The second was catching up on my TV shows. HBO’s “The Pitt” has an episode where a family is dealing with how to pay for or get a discount on treatment for a sick family member.

Some people might think that since I am a war veteran it is OK for my health care to be free. Some might think that I should not get free health care in spite of being a war veteran. Some people might think that there should be limits to what care war veterans receive. But I have a different thought. Why shouldn’t your kids, parents or spouses get the same treatment I did?

A few years ago, I was having my water heater replaced and the guy doing the job saw my Marine Corps flag. He must have assumed I was very conservative because he started railing about communists and freebies. I noticed that he had a limp and was in pain and asked him what was wrong. Cancer in the hip. He had to work extra shifts so his family could afford cancer treatments. I asked him if it was anti-American if I thought that he shouldn’t have to spend a dime on cancer treatments. He said no. I don’t mean to shame him but it seems when it comes to health care, we love to think everyone should pull themselves up by the bootstraps except when it comes to our own health.

Like many Americans, I have seen Republicans scream that we can’t afford health care and then propose say … $1.5 trillion defense budgets. We have seen politicians continually cover tax cuts for the rich and tell us that it is rugged individualism to pay out the wazoo in health care costs. We have seen some Americans glorify Luigi Mangione because their own families suffered not just from disease and illnesses, but from dealing with insurance companies. We see Republicans caught between appeasing a president or answering their electorate when it comes to rising Affordable Care Act costs.

Look, I wish I could tell you which option is better than the current one. But most Americans think that it’s time for a better system and one that involves the government. A whopping 66 percent of Americans think the federal government should have responsibility when it comes to health care. On the progressive side of the Democratic Party, Medicare for All seems to be the darling of the moment. And in this age where affordability is a political hot potato, it would behoove politicians to quit kicking the can down the road.

What I do know is that I am very lucky in America. I didn’t have to wait to see what the cost of life saving surgery was before I could make a decision. I didn’t have to wonder if I would lose my house, car or savings. I didn’t have to stress about work.

In many ways, I feel like the beaten man in the Parable of the Good Samaritan. I woke up in an inn, with my bed paid for, my wounds bandaged, and my life saved. My question is why shouldn’t you, your parents, kids, or spouses get the same treatment? The money is there. We just have to demand it for ourselves instead of denying it for others.

Jos Joseph is a recipient of the Military Reporters and Editors award for Best Commentary / Opinion. A graduate of Harvard and Ohio State, he is a Marine veteran who served in Iraq. He currently lives in Anaheim, Calif.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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