# Any Way To Find Out How Much Cheney's Medical Care Has Cost Taxpayers? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2012, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829 "2012-03-26T10:07:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/1 "2012-03-26T10:07:28Z")
Seriously. He just got a heart transplant. And I remember when he shot that guy in the face, it was reported that the victim (who later apologized) was taken to the hospital in Cheney’s ambulance, which implied that he has one standing by wherever he goes, 24 hours a day. Must be in the tens of millions by now, but is there any way to find out exactly how much? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/2 "2012-03-26T11:36:09Z")
[http://www.transplantliving.org/beforethetransplant/finance/costs.aspx](http://www.transplantliving.org/beforethetransplant/finance/costs.aspx) which links to [http://publications.milliman.com/research/health-rr/pdfs/2008-us-organ-tisse-RR4-1-08.pdf](http://publications.milliman.com/research/health-rr/pdfs/2008-us-organ-tisse-RR4-1-08.pdf) Indicates that a heart transplant alone costs ~1 million for what I’m interpreting as the 30 days before and 180 days after transplant. Of course there must be cost for the life time of drugs and treatment after. Since Cheney had TWO heart operations. The mechanical heart, and now this transplanted heart. That would put his tab at 2 million at least so far. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/3 "2012-03-26T11:58:21Z")
Almost as much as Michell Obama’s 16 vacations. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/4 "2012-03-26T12:17:40Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Almost as much as Michell Obama’s 16 vacations. True, it would have been cheaper if she’d just taken one long one like Bush. And let’s not forget that Clinton’s blowjob cost about $60million. All of which are extremely relevant to the OP’s question and not at all partisan hijacks to distract from the fact that Cheney has received a lot of expensive healthcare at taxpayer expense. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/5 "2012-03-26T14:09:11Z")
How do we know his care is “at taxpayer’s expense”? Does the ex-VP automatically get covered, or are we assuming he’s on MediCare, or… what? Maybe be has private insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Harmonix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonix)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/6 "2012-03-26T14:36:34Z")
Relevant links > **[U.S. Senate: 404 Error Page](https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/general/one_item_and_teasers/file_not_found.htm)** > > 404 Error Page [http://mcmorris.house.gov/upload/August2009HealthCareBenefitsforMembersofCongress.PDF](http://mcmorris.house.gov/upload/August2009HealthCareBenefitsforMembersofCongress.PDF) > **[Health Care for Members of Congress? - FactCheck.org](https://www.factcheck.org/2009/08/health-care-for-members-of-congress/)** > > Q: What type of health insurance do members of Congress receive? Is it a single-payer, government-run system? A: Until 2014, members of Congress were covered by private insurance under the same system that covers all federal workers. FULL ANSWER... Based on the [factcheck.org](http://factcheck.org) and the former president benefits link. I believe that It’s possible that tax payers are picking up the check, that is if Cheny chose the government as an insurance provider as opposed to the private health insurance companies he could choose from. But really, that would be no different then any other federal employee. Except that it’s possible the ex-VP is getting his surgery and other treatments at military hospitals. But I kinda doubt that. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/7 "2012-03-26T15:26:29Z")
> [@Harmonix](#): > > [UNOS Transplant Patient Resources for Organ Transplantation](http://www.transplantliving.org/beforethetransplant/finance/costs.aspx) > which links to > [http://publications.milliman.com/research/health-rr/pdfs/2008-us-organ-tisse-RR4-1-08.pdf](http://publications.milliman.com/research/health-rr/pdfs/2008-us-organ-tisse-RR4-1-08.pdf) > > Indicates that a heart transplant alone costs ~1 million for what I’m interpreting as the 30 days before and 180 days after transplant. Of course there must be cost for the life time of drugs and treatment after. > > Since Cheney had TWO heart operations. The mechanical heart, and now this transplanted heart. > > That would put his tab at 2 million at least so far. Note that those sources are reporting billed charges, not what actually gets paid. For instance, if I’m interpreting this [source](http://www.findacode.com/drg/001-heart-transplant-implant-heart-assist-drg-code.html) correctly, Medicare will pay approximately $135,000 for a heart transplant. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/8 "2012-03-26T15:58:56Z")
Perhaps I’m reading too much into the OP, but it seems like whatever the answer it will be: Too Damn Much. I thought we learned in the contraception threads that healthcare is compensation for the work he performed as VP and not some kind of taxpayer handout? ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/9 "2012-03-26T16:42:54Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > that healthcare is compensation for the work he performed as VP and not some kind of taxpayer handout? WHAT work? Breathing? Making snotty remarks? Raking in the bucks from Halliburton? Shooting people on a hunting trip? But the fact remains that Congressional leaders and Presidents and Veeps get free healthcare for LIFE even if only one term is served. And while they have healthcare tied up in a neat little package tucked into their back pockets, they are allowed to pontificate that universal heathcare is a bad, bad thing for the US. :rolleyes: ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/10 "2012-03-26T16:53:06Z")
Federal retirement healthcare benefits are set by law, and in most cases deserved. At 65, Medicare kicks in. For retired military (which he isn’t), Tri-Care is a secondary coverage to Medicare. Cheney is well past age 65, and unless executive healthcare is different from other federal healthcare, he’s under Medicare. He could have used his own money to put himself on additional waiting lists, but since it took 20 months it doesn’t seem likely. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/11 "2012-03-26T16:59:41Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > WHAT work? Breathing? Making snotty remarks? Raking in the bucks from Halliburton? Shooting people on a hunting trip? > > But the fact remains that Congressional leaders and Presidents and Veeps get free healthcare for LIFE even if only one term is served. > > And while they have healthcare tied up in a neat little package tucked into their back pockets, they are allowed to pontificate that universal heathcare is a bad, bad thing for the US. > > :rolleyes: > ~VOW It doesn’t matter what he did or didn’t do for 8 years, so long as he didn’t get himself impeached and convicted. The fact is that Congress sets the VP’s salary at $XXX/yr + healthcare+ retirement+ other perks. You don’t need to have a positive approval rating when you leave office to collect. ---
**Author:** ![Philliam](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/philliam/32/3011_2.png) [@Philliam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philliam)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/12 "2012-03-26T17:32:31Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Almost as much as Michell Obama’s 16 vacations. …Thanks, **ralph124c** , you get a T-Ball trophy just for participating!😃 ---
**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/13 "2012-03-26T18:37:28Z")
As to the original question (pardon the sarcasm, but I can’t resist)…a hell of a lot less than Obamacare. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/14 "2012-03-26T19:19:02Z")
There should be a popcorn smiley for watching liberals foam at the mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/15 "2012-03-26T19:59:34Z")
> [@Shmendrik](#): > > There should be a popcorn smiley for watching liberals foam at the mouth. It’s true. If only we could maintain the serene calm of a Beck, O’Reilly or Limbaugh in political discussions. Actually I don’t care about Cheney’s healthcare costs since they are, for better or worse, perks of the job regardless of the officeholder. I was just amazed at the speed with which the Tu Quoque Machine sprang into action. “Oh no - someone said something bad about Cheney! Quick - hijack that thread!” > [@SanDiegoTim](#): > > As to the original question (pardon the sarcasm, but I can’t resist)…a hell of a lot less than Obamacare. You do know that’s not actually sarcasm, right? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/16 "2012-03-26T20:09:03Z")
My valve repair would have been $260k without insurance. My insurer paid in full about $24k. Figure a team of three surgeons and a few nurses in an OR for 10 hours minimum for a transplant. My surgeons also do a lot of transplants, but they are paid flat salaries at a public hospital (UCSF). Actual cost is a lot less than $1M at such a facility. ---
**Author:** ![Shmendrik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Shmendrik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shmendrik)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/17 "2012-03-26T20:15:01Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > It’s true. If only we could maintain the serene calm of a Beck, O’Reilly or Limbaugh in political discussions. Haven’t seen them on the SDMB lately. I’m just enjoying the entirely predictable course of this thread. ---
**Author:** ![Arkcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@Arkcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arkcon)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/18 "2012-03-26T20:27:01Z")
I do hope the Mods will leave this thread up for a little while, the massive volume of partisan snark has to be cathartic for everyone else – I’m sitting in the public library chewing my tongue to not laugh out loud. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_Charles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Greg\_Charles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greg_Charles)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/19 "2012-03-26T21:51:39Z")
I was surprised Cheney’s only 71. I would have guessed 106, or at least 90. He was only 60 when he became vice president, and only 48 when he became secretary of defense. He’s really looked like an old man for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2012, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829/20 "2012-03-26T21:53:52Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > WHAT work? Breathing? Making snotty remarks? Raking in the bucks from Halliburton? Shooting people on a hunting trip? > > But the fact remains that Congressional leaders and Presidents and Veeps get free healthcare for LIFE even if only one term is served. > > And while they have healthcare tied up in a neat little package tucked into their back pockets, they are allowed to pontificate that universal heathcare is a bad, bad thing for the US. > > :rolleyes: > > ~VOW Please tell us that you’re not one of those persons who actively passes on emails about how Congress doesn’t pay Social Security and gets free health care for life??😕 Since 1984, Congress has the same health care options as a lowly GS-5 clerk. Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Mailhandler’s Benefit plan, and Aetna are three of the biggest ones. The individuals, clerk or Senator, pay about 1/3 the premium and the government picks up the other 2/3. Premiums and elected coverages are the same for both persons. Benefits vest after 5 years employment meaning if you quit, retire, or get voted out (Congress); you may continue the coverage on your own dime. Over 65, it’s off to Medicare. There is not much info on the Vice Presidents benefits explicitly (quick search). In office, the P, VP and dependents get care at military hospitals - billed to the Executive. And yes, since 1984, congresscritters have paid into Social Security. I suspect, besides Medicare, Cheney has private insurance through his own payments or perhaps through Haliburton. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-way-to-find-out-how-much-cheneys-medical-care-has-cost-taxpayers/616829.md?page=2)