Posted on 06/01/2014 4:46:03 PM PDT by yetidog
Whose is eligible for VA health benefits and why would anyone who is want them?
I like my free glasses, hearing ads, and at a time that all are concerned with the rising cost of ObamaCare, my healthcare is free.
” I’ve saved hundreds of thousands of dollars using the VA for free medical care and prescriptions.”
You’re full of crap. No one in private medical pays that much out of pocket. You sound like one of those liberals that claim only government can do health care because private health care sucks.
I have a VA facility within 35 miles, but refuse to go there. My FIL uses it and is not really happy with the treatment he is getting. I don't want to go there and seek a disability claim and HAVE to use it as a primary care facility in the future.
Corpsman during Vietnam, MD (shrink) now: Never signed up nor took part in any VA health care after the dismal view I got of it during medical school and residency, and I never would after I saw what they did to my brother, and after I started picking up the pieces of the “care” they gave to patients who later came to me, and after trying to interact meaningfully on behalf of my patients who were still involved in getting meds and labs and care in other specialties there.
I’ve essentially told vets who come to me that they can either have my care - as a civilian - or the VA care, because I cannot coordinate care with them.
I’ve written letters to all concerned in and out of government that vouchers were the only sensible idea. They don’t make the vets go to VA universities, nor live in VA housing - they give them, essentially, a voucher.
Government bureaucracies never concern themselves, ultimately, with the mission they were designed for - they concern themselves with preservation of funding and perks and such. No federal bureaucracy is any different, and few are substantially better. They are incapable of doing better, and the calls for more funding, changes in leadership, and new laws for “accountability” are just more of the BS we’ve come to expect (and pay for!) from Big Gov. Not gonna change. Not capable of change.
Problem, though, with the voucher solution is that ObamaCare will turn the entire system into a Federal bureaucracy in a few years, probably worse than the VA, and then the vouchers will also be meaningless: especially since most of the good docs are planning to head for the hills as the monstrosity really takes effect in the next few years.
“You’re full of crap. No one in private medical pays that much out of pocket.”
There are some very expensive medications out there that private insurance / supplemental won’t even touch.
V A ping.
Many years ago they decided if you were there 180 days, you were stationed there.
You are wrong you can only draw 100% total! it can be split 50-50, 60-40, etc. this has been Law since at least the 1880”s.
Spouses are never allowed to use the VS for health care. They do receive a few benefits, but not health care.
This is wrong, I work for the VA and can use VA health care, they just bill my insurance.
My brother did 2 179 day tours in Iraq,, they discharged him for 1 day in between the 2 tours.
To get VA health benefits you have to have a “service related” medical condition. This is determined before you are discharge. You do not have to be medically discharged. Based on your condition they will assign a percentage of your medical disability. This will be determined prior to your discharge.
I was diagnosed for epilepsy. I received 10 % disability. I can go there and get free neurology assistance and required medications. I was also assign a primary care physician. This is free as well.
I provide the VA with my private insurance card, if I have one (I do)Any service I received them that is not deemed service related or preventive, they will bill my private insurance. If my insurance rejects it, or I have to pay for my deductible, the VA expects no further payment than what they received from my insurance plan.
I can essential go in there as an out patient and get a knee replaced, and I will never have to pay one cent.
It is not always the case that a 10% will receive no bill. It depends on how they classify you when you are discharge. Some will only get covered for only their service related disability. I know it is confusing.
I will add, that I never had one problem with the VA. However, other than my epilepsy, I am in very good health.
It has nothing to do with my financial situation. Both my wife and I make very good money. I have a family medical plan that covers her and my children.
If I ever find myself on a waiting list of some sort, I will check out my private option.
I was wounded in 71 and discharged early 72, while my wounds were serious at the time I made a 100% recovery. While I could go to the VA I’ve chosen not to. For me it just never felt right. The VA was put in place for Vet’s like your son not for the drunks and addicts that seem to swarm that place now. My brother in-law was the Director at the VA here my ex wife was a nurse so I get my information from some fairly reliable sources. The majority of the patients there now are there for non service related problems. It’s ripe with abuse by patients and by employee’s.
You sound like one of those liberals that claim only government can do health care because private health care sucks.
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OK, I worded it wrong; but not intentionally. Let me put it this way. I’ve had hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of health coverage through the VA at no “out of pocket” expense to me. Let’s say that compensates for the 10 1/2 months I spent in the jungles of Vietnam. I am not a Liberal (I’m a Ronald Reagan-style Republican) and I am not for Government run health care. But, why do you have such a problem with the Government taking care of it’s Veterans? You sound like one of those faggots who never served their country because they were too busy smoking dope and marching for Gay Rights in the ‘60s and 70s and now they want all the Government money to pay for their AIDS medications.
Any Veteran can use the VA system, and it has been a help to many vets without resources.
Is it possible to run the medical side of the VA more efficiently by tapping into civilian care via some kind of voucher? That strikes me as a workable idea.
Is there a benefit in providing an extension of the military medical system beyond one’s time in the military? I imagine there are injuries and diseases common (or unique) to military service that such a system could focus on and be expert in that one wouldn’t so readily find in the average civilian medical system.
So, I can see a role for an extended military medical system. Bureaucracy, though, is more than willing to lose sight of its mission in order to preserve the bureaucracy at all costs, and even to extend it and bloat it.
How do you prevent bureaucracy in a governmental program? No one has ever solved that one to my knowledge.
“marching for Gay Rights in the ‘60s and 70s”
I don’t remember anybody marching for gay rights during that period.
“I’ve had hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of health coverage through the VA at no “out of pocket” expense to me.”
You must have had some serious service related injury’s.
You are wrong, ANY Vet can go to the VA for health care!!!
Once you qualify for treatment for a disability, you get all medical problems treated whether they are “Service Connected” or not. I’ve had a couple of heart arteriograms and a stent installed.
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