THE SEAN HANNITY SHOW

Many Insured Americans Can't Afford Health Care In a report released this week by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that conducts independent research on health and social issues, finds that even though more Americans now have health insurance, many still avoid seeing doctors because of high out-of-pocket expenses. Because of high health insurance deductibles, about 23 percent of Americans ages 19 to 64 were considered under-insured. This amounts to 31 million people who chose not to fill essential prescriptions, undergo necessary diagnostic tests or see specialists out of fear that doing so would leave them in a financial ruin. The authors of the report say their findings highlight the need to create policies that encourage patients to seek out preventive care. "These could include innovations in benefit design that slow growth in deductibles and emphasize incentives that encourage people to utilize, rather than delay, timely health care," the authors write in the conclusion of the report. Source: The Commonwealth Fund Remembering a Legend this Memorial Day A remarkable battle in Vietnam fought by Sgt. Roy Benavidez has been declassified and transformed into a riveting tale by author, Eric Blehm in his new book, LEGEND.  Via Penguin Random House:   On May 2, 1968, Sergeant Benavidez was on his way to breakfast at Loc Ninh Special Forces Camp, where his unit was stationed in South Vietnam, when he saw badly damaged helicopters returning from the north, the crews describing ground fire like nothing they had seen before. After one wounded crewman died in Roy’s arms, and overhearing urgent pleas and muffled explosions coming in on a nearby radio, Roy volunteered to join the rescue effort. Without hesitation, he jumped into a departing helicopter, carrying only a medical bag, an eight-inch knife, and a bottle of Tabasco sauce. What followed would become legend in the Special Operations community, earning Roy that very moniker. Flown into the foray of battle by the courageous pilots and crew of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, Roy jumped from the hovering aircraft and ran nearly 100 yards through withering enemy fire. Despite being immediately and severely wounded, he reached the perimeter of the decimated team, provided medical care and encouragement, and proceeded to organize an extraordinary defense and rescue. During the hours-long battle, he was shot and hit by grenade shrapnel dozens of times, yet he refused to abandon his efforts until every survivor was out of harm’s way. Carrying the last wounded man to the helicopter for evacuation, Roy was attacked one last time, by an NVA soldier wielding a bayonet. Intestines spilling out, Roy was pulled aboard the chopper, still firing his weapon. He’d saved the lives of eight men, but ended the day laid out with the dead on the landing pad at Loc Ninh. Roy was being zipped up in a body bag when a friend encouraged a medic to double check that the torn up and bloody Benavidez was indeed dead. This shocking moment in the story is just one of many twists and turns in a masterfully-crafted re-creation of a defining battle from the war in Southeast Asia. Benavidez endured more than thirty bullet, bayonet and shrapnel wounds to rescue his fellow soldiers, and was eventually awarded the Medal of Honor by President Reagan in 1981. On November 29, 1998 Benavidez died at the age of 63. Two weeks ago, Blehm traveled to Fort Sam Houston cemetery and placed a copy of his book at Benavidez’s grave. He signed the book, “Sir, in honor of your life of service and the lives of your brethren who fought and died in Vietnam. I hope I’ve honored them and you with this book.” To purchase a copy of LEGEND, click here.