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VA wrongfully denied $53M in vets’ medical claims in 6-month period
nbcnews.com ^ | 8/14/2019 | Courtney Kube, Adiel Kaplan, Mosheh Gains and Carol Eggers

Posted on 08/18/2019 10:43:57 AM PDT by rktman

When former Coast Guardsman Amanda Wolfe went to the emergency room because her appendix was about to burst in September 2016, she figured her insurance would cover the cost. She had two kinds of insurance — a private plan she paid for and her Veterans Affairs benefits.

The emergency appendectomy went well and Wolfe made a speedy recovery. Her private insurance covered most of the more than $20,000 bill for her hospital stay. But six months later, the VA denied her claim for the roughly $2,500 that remained, putting her in an unexpected financial bind. She has been appealing ever since.

"It's one of those things where you thought that they would be there and they're not," said Wolfe, who adopted her nephew soon after the surgery and has been watching her budget to care for him.

Wolfe thought she was living in her own private insurance hell, until a report from the VA's internal watchdog revealed problems in the way the VA reimburses veterans for emergency care at non-VA facilities.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Reference
KEYWORDS: 2020election; adielkaplan; caroleggers; courtneykube; dnctalkingpoint; dnctalkingpoints; election2020; mediawingofthednc; medical; moshehgains; nbc; nobrainscollectively; partisanmediashills; presstitutes; smearmachine; va; vamedical; vamedicalclaims
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Yeah, they can be a problem. I had a pre-approved(Choice Program) surgery on my neck Nov 8, 2017. Four times I have gotten a denial letter from the VA for the "emergency" surgery on that date. They have gotten a letter from me with copies of all authorizing documents 4 times now trying to make them comprehend that there was NO EMERGENCY surgery performed. Then they toss in that I had other insurance. Yeah, so they should contact the other carrier, not me. I also have a letter from them verifying that all parties have been paid. When my dad swore me in 50+ years ago, I don't believe I was allowed to opt out of something on a whim. Now they want to opt out of care. Yawn. Oh well. I have, in the last two letters apprised them that I now consider there contact to be harassment and I will be in touch with my CONgress critter shortly.
1 posted on 08/18/2019 10:43:57 AM PDT by rktman
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To: rktman
There ya go. And every FredocRAT running for President wants to turn over our entire health care system over to the inept bureaucrats administering inept bureaucracies like The VA.

How about we abolish The VA and use the money to pay for vouchers for Veterans to see civilian doctors?

2 posted on 08/18/2019 10:48:45 AM PDT by Texas Eagle (If it wasn't for double-standards, Liberals would have no standards at all -- Tethingxas Eagle)
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To: rktman

No, no, no.....you don’t deserve that help from the government. Only illegal aliens and refugees deserve that help. Free of charge from the US taxpayer. /sarc


3 posted on 08/18/2019 10:49:30 AM PDT by qaz123
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To: rktman

“The report said that between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2017, veterans who got emergency care at non-VA facilities were forced to pay $53.3 million in medical bills they never should have had to pay.”

Left over of Obama’s legacy. And he is worried Biden will screw that up. His legacy is “The worst President in America’s history and he is desperately trying to hold on to that.


4 posted on 08/18/2019 10:53:14 AM PDT by antidemoncrat
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To: Texas Eagle

Wasn’t that an idea that the President floated during the campaign? Figure you could put a dent into some of the doctor and nursing shortages around the country if you got rid of the hospitals.


5 posted on 08/18/2019 10:55:05 AM PDT by qaz123
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To: qaz123
😮 SS, VA etc, can't find the money💸. Intruders and welfare, bottomless bucket of 💰💰💰💰💵💵💵💵💵
6 posted on 08/18/2019 10:55:34 AM PDT by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: rktman
not positive, but i don't think CHAMPVA/TriCare(if that is what you have) is a secondary payer, meaning if you have primary insurance they won't cover what it doesn't pay
7 posted on 08/18/2019 11:08:34 AM PDT by Chode (Send bachelors, and come heavily armed!)
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To: Texas Eagle

How about we abolish The VA and use the money to pay for vouchers for Veterans to see civilian doctors?


I agree. The VA is a boondoggle.


8 posted on 08/18/2019 11:10:01 AM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: rktman

Yup .....

I would just like to try an experiment. Go to the districts of The Squad and tell all residents that voted for them that they will now take part in a social experiment. Their wages will be taxes at the appropriate rate needed to support their socialist fantasies. If they have health insurance through their job, they will now lose it and go on Medicaid For All. Let them live the complete socialist life. When they realize that they can’t afford their rent and get evicted, they get to move into Section 8 housing. Force them to live that life for a year. Let them live their socialist life where they can’t afford a Vespa or drink the latest craft beer down the street because they have no money.


9 posted on 08/18/2019 11:17:31 AM PDT by qaz123
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To: Chode

Nope. Not ‘retired’ military so Medicare supplemental ins. And the VA has/had them in my file. All I know is everybody got paid. So, knot my prolem man.


10 posted on 08/18/2019 11:27:13 AM PDT by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: rktman
VA_benifits_applying
11 posted on 08/18/2019 11:33:56 AM PDT by SkyDancer ( ~ Just Consider Me A Random Fact Generator ~ Eat Sleep Fly Repeat ~)
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To: Chode
not positive, but i don't think CHAMPVA/TriCare(if that is what you have) is a secondary payer, meaning if you have primary insurance they won't cover what it doesn't pay

Yeah they do and they are suppose to.

When my husband had to have an emergency appendectomy my insurance paid first and Tricare picked up the rest. This was back in 2008 or 2009.

12 posted on 08/18/2019 11:47:00 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Human beings don't behave rationally. We rationalize our behavior.)
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To: SkyDancer
And still get denied! 😵 I'm barely in the system.
13 posted on 08/18/2019 11:51:39 AM PDT by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

thx... do you know if he has TriCare or CHAMVA?


14 posted on 08/18/2019 12:08:11 PM PDT by Chode (Send bachelors, and come heavily armed!)
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To: rktman

What percentage is you VA disability? It matters.

Also, was the surgery on your neck outpatient, something that could be done by a clinic rather than a hospital emergency room?

I ask because I have never received anything but Platinum level care from the VA, and it never cost me a single penny. They have sent me to several private medical enterprises...still never a penny.

Hell, it’s better than platinum level care, it’s Presidential level.


15 posted on 08/18/2019 12:08:12 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

belay that, i see TRiCare, do you know if CHAMPVA does as well?


16 posted on 08/18/2019 12:09:09 PM PDT by Chode (Send bachelors, and come heavily armed!)
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To: Texas Eagle; All

“How about we abolish The VA and use the money to pay for vouchers for Veterans to see civilian doctors? “

Because Disabled Veterans who RELY on the VA prefer the VA.

If you’re 50%+ Service connected disability, you’re treated like a king usually.

Would you deny them?


17 posted on 08/18/2019 12:10:52 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: sparklite2

“I agree. The VA is a boondoggle.”

Have you received VA care?

It’s the best in the world at any price.


18 posted on 08/18/2019 12:12:33 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner

I’m a veteran who managed to avoid the need for the VA. However, acquaintances who have done so have nothing but horror stories to tell.


19 posted on 08/18/2019 12:15:15 PM PDT by sparklite2 (Don't mind me. I'm just a contrarian.)
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To: Mariner

Disability denied due to there being no records after the fire at the record center. Basically just the DD214 notes. They even said that I didn’t do the job that would have caused my issue based on the rate I had when I got out. Oh well. The surgery included a laminectomy and putting in hardware at C-2/C-7 so no, no ER/clinic op. But, I didn’t pay a penny either. A mess to be sure. Thanks for your service.


20 posted on 08/18/2019 12:25:05 PM PDT by rktman ( #My2ndAmend! ----- Enlisted in the Navy in '67 to protect folks rights to strip my rights. WTH?)
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