You are correct. As long as I was a military dependent, DOB to 17 and into my enlistment, I knew the VA was trouble. My dad refused to go there even when he was diagnosed with cancer related to Agent Orange exposure while at Cam Ranh Bay.
Never went there, never will even now as I am without health insurance. I can figure it out myself.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3157571/posts?page=3#3
I’m a military retiree and I’ve never used the VA. My service was during the post-Vietnam era (1981-2001), so I’m rated as category eight, the last group they’ll treat before they start rounding up civilians on the street.
Between TriCare and my state employee health program, I have very good medical coverage and I’m also enrolled in the federal long-term care plan. However, the VA needs to be fixed for the millions of vets who have earned the benefit and want to use that system. But the best solution may be some sort of voucher system that vets can use in the private market. With that sort of option, many of the veterans who died waiting for care in Phoenix—and elsewhere—would still be with us.
One more thing: I think the VA needs some sort of means testing. I have a former co-worker who’s a retired O-5 (spent 27 years on active duty), so he’s covered by TriCare. Additionally, he spent 27 years as federal employee, so he has that benefit as well, along with Medicare. But for any type of exam or procedure, he runs down to the VA because it’s “free.” And as a Vietnam-era vet who was on the same base with agent orange aircraft (but played no role in that operation), he is priority one for VA care.
Obviously, my former co-worker has multiple healthcare options. Getting guys like him out of the system would open up more space for vets who have no other alternatives.
One more note: at some point, the VA (and Congress) are going to have to deal with the rash of phony PTSD claims that are now flodding the system. I spoke with a recently-retired Army officer and he estimates 70-80% of retiring/separating service members are filing a PTSD claim because it’s “free money.” Sadly, a lot of the phonies get approved while vets who actually suffer from PTSD wait months or even years for a ruling on their claim.
I have another former colleague with a 70% disability rating based on broken leg he suffered in jump training and PTSD, despite the fact he spent 2/3 of his career as a recruiter. These are the types of “cases” that are clogging the system; couple those with an incompetent/corrupt VA staff, and you’ve got the breeding ground for the current crisis.