This is an issue that has been big in the veterans community though the Democrats kept denying that there intent was to eventually roll veterans health care into a nationalized program.  Up until now the Democrats have refused to specify anything in the health care bill that would stop the government in the future from forcing veterans into a nationalized program:

We’re still sorting through the health-care deal Henry Waxman struck with Blue Dog Democrats recently, but one 11th-hour revision stands out. Namely, veterans will now be “exempt from the requirements of the legislation.”

That’s how Mr. Waxman’s staff put it in a memo to reporters earlier this month, announcing amendments that the House Energy and Commerce Committee included before passing the bill 31 to 28. These changes were designed to assuage the “grave concerns” of the American Legion, Amvets and others about how their members could be penalized by new taxes and insurance regulations.

We’re delighted service members will be let off this particular hook, but why doesn’t everyone else warrant the same dispensation? Or to put it another way, Mr. Waxman is conceding that his plan will interfere with all insurance arrangements that aren’t exempted, including private options that are working well.  [Wall Street Journal]

You can read more from This Ain’t Hell about the efforts veterans groups and the Blue Dog Democrats have gone to keep veterans health care in place.