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Afghan National Police officers, Afghan National Army soldiers and U.S. Army 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment Soldiers patrol on foot July 27 to speak with village leaders in Deh Chopan district, Zabul province.

Tens of thousands of civilian contractors have aided U.S. war efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Civilian contractors perform such indispensable tasks as “delivering fuel to frontline troops, guarding U.S. diplomats and translating for soldiers during dangerous raids.” In the process, many of these contractors have suffered devastating and physical and psychological injuries. However, ProPublica reports as these civilian fighters return home, insurance companies are refusing them medical care, psychological counseling and other health services. The insurers who are responsible for covering civilian contractors, namely AIG, have racked up $1.5 billion in tax payer premiums while denying thousands of insurance claims. Despite AIG’s recent collapse, congressional investigators estimate insurance companies have made a $600 million profit in their coverage of civilian contractors.

ProPublica’s investigation reveals insurers disputed nearly half the cases that caused a contractor to miss at least four days of work. When a contractor died, the company protested over a third of filed claims. In addition, insurance companies denied 44% of claims regarding psychological injury or Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. If these denied individuals can’t afford to pay their medical bills, their only option is to fight their insurers in prolonged and costly court battles. Contractors have seen relatively high success rates in court and have defeated insurance companies in 75% of court battles. However, by the time the case is resolved, proper medical care is often compromised and psychological injury is compounded.

The media has given significant attention to” injured military men and women fighting to get proper health care, but has largely overlooked the struggle of civilian fighters.”  Tim Newman, a sheriff’s deputy from South Carolina had his leg amputated after a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad. He fought his insurer for a full year before they agreed to cover his prosthetic leg. “It’s almost like we’re this invisible, discardable military,” Newman explained, “once we’ve done our jobs, they can sidetrack us and not worry about us anymore.”

Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Alfredo De, X2 microprocessor knee prosthetic, Walter Reed Army Medical Center on Dec. 8, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class William Selby.

Kevin Smith, a truck driver from Texas, has also battled AIG in court for years without getting proper coverage. Smith experienced severe nightmares and flashbacks after enemy fire shattered his leg. Once back at home, an expert diagnosed him with post-traumatic stress disorder. Soon after his diagnosis, AIG stopped paying all of his disability and medical bills, insisting his “recovery was complete.” It wasn’t until four and a half years after his initial injury that a judge for the Department of Labor ordered AIG to reinstitute Smith’s coverage. AIG appealed the ruling, and, to this day, has refused to pay for Smith’s medical bills. “Anybody, anybody that goes into a war situation and does something for their country deserves some kind of honor, some kind of dignity,” said Smith of his demoralizing struggle to pay for his medical care.

In addition to denying medical claims of thousands of injured contractors, insurance companies have failed to notify individuals who are eligible for benefits. Rita Richardson lost her husband in Iraq last year and had no idea she qualified for compensation. After a year a legal disputes with her husband’s insurer and the Department of Labor, Richardson only recently received her rightful compensation. Richardson bemoans the difficulties civilian contractors face in getting proper medical coverage and benefits: “My husband’s blood is the same as anybody else’s. It didn’t matter that he didn’t have on a uniform. He died serving his country.” The U.S. Department of Labor is having a hard time keeping up with disputed claims and legal battles against insurers. A spokesperson explained the Labor Department is not an enforcement agency: “they can’t tell an insurer you must pay,” he said. “All they can do is try to encourage people to do the right thing.” It would be hard to argue AIG and other insurance companies have done anything resembling the right thing.

By Leah Weiss, Featured Contributor, FICRY.com

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