Here's a modest proposal to fund a universal health care plan through the military budget, while maintaining oversight by a civilian panel.  
The proposal would create a military grade of highly trained medical responders whose purpose would be:1-Provide emergency response and maintenance care to U.S. military veterans.  Physical exams, prescriptions, physical therapy, etc.  In home care and in facility.2-Provide the same service to the general civilian public, at no charge, as available.  Stand-by Katrina type disaster response.  This would gradually become the main focus of the service.3-Veterans of this service, when retired, would receive full health care through the VA, which would have to be greatly expanded in size and responsibility. 4-The service would be limited to domestic duty only.
Funding would be through the armed services and/or Homeland Security.
That's phase one.  Phase two would create a second grade of service, one which would be open to all citizens regardless of age or physical ability.  This group would be required to develop some level of competence in dealing with medical emergencies, to the level they are capable.  They would be unpaid, but would receive full health care benefits for a small annual fee.  No-one could be denied entry into the service, or removed involuntarily.
A civilian panel would provide the real oversight, the military would basically be there just to provide the budget.
This could be a way for the democrats to get cover on the health care issue by proposing to raise the military budget, and campaigning on better health care for vets.  Eventually most citizens would volunteer as grade two members and provide valuable services to the community.