Posted on 06/09/2014 12:00:58 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
(VIDEO-AT-LINK)
More than 57,000 veterans have been waiting 90 days or more for medical appointments, the Veterans Affairs Department said in a wide-ranging audit released Monday. An additional 64,000 who enrolled for VA health care over the past decade have never been seen by a doctor, according to the audit.
The audit is the first nationwide look at the VA network in the uproar that began with reports two months ago of patients dying while awaiting appointments and of cover-ups at the Phoenix VA center. Examining 731 VA hospitals and large outpatient clinics, the audit found long wait times across the country for patients seeking their first appointments with both primary care doctors and specialists....
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I cannot wait until I am forced into a single payer national healthcare plan since the VA does it soooo awesome for the Vets!
Dismantle the entire system: sell off the assets, fire all of the employees, and contract for group policies to be provided to every eligible Vet gratis (perhaps with reasonable co-pays/deductibles). Make all medical personnel sign up with whoever buys their hospital or clinic.
Surely that would be tons cheaper and more effective than the current bureaucracy.
My Dad applied for benefits 6 months ago. Hasn’t heard a peep.
The caregiver who helped him apply, says they say they sent a package, but we haven’t received anything. She requested another package but we haven’t received it either.
I’m thinking I might have to get a law firm involved.
Perhaps, but then we’d be at the mercy of finding a doctor with a nearly worthless policy like many on Medicaid, Medicare and Obamacare. And do you really think they’d keep their promises? They haven’t so far for us or the retired military with Tricare. I’m Priority One now and they still treat me like a redheaded stepchild, I can’t imagine what Priority Eight people go through.
1-800-827-1000 or 1-877-222-8387
I also applied nearly a year ago and have yet to receive anything even after checking to make sure the VA received my application for health benefits.
Granted, but if I were doing it, I would do so via the private sector - using the pre-2009 rules. I would not want to simply move the vets from one stupid (government) system to another.
He’d want to shove us into Obamacare and most would eventually (within a few years) have to pay those onerous monthly payments, sky-high deductibles, ridiculous Rx rates and co-pays for terrible coverage. No thanks.
1-800-827-1000 or 1-877-222-8387
Oh, I know: see post 9.
In a “perfect” world, Ted Cruz and Sarah Palin would be in power, the constitution would be the law of the land, no one except truly disabled people would be on assistance, police & jails wouldn’t be needed and everyone would work hard.
After signing up for VA medical care it took 6-7 months before I was scheduled for my first visit.
So true.
Thanks 2nd Div, I’ve tried those numbers too. Next step will be to contact my Congressman’s office.
what is important is that our truly INJURED soldiers get care...them first.....and only them if the system is overwhelmed....
any vet is supposed to get "free Va care" but that is virtually IMPOSSIBLE.....and everybody knows it...
I know too many vets who served as little as 2 yrs depending now on getting their free care from the VA because they don't want to put out the bucks to buy insurance.....they are not injured nor sick from their military duties....just don't want to pay for health insurance.....
Private citizens wait over ten years and never get seen? Where, in Nigeria? No, “any” veteran does not get “free” health care. Here is the VA priority system, from one to eight.
Priority Groups Table
The number of Veterans who can be enrolled in the health care program is determined by the amount of money Congress gives VA each year. Since funds are limited, VA set up Priority Groups to make sure that certain groups of Veterans are able to be enrolled before others.
Once you apply for enrollment, your eligibility will be verified. Based on your specific eligibility status, you will be assigned a Priority Group. The Priority Groups range from 1-8 with 1 being the highest priority for enrollment. Some Veterans may have to agree to pay copay to be placed in certain Priority Groups.
You may be eligible for more than one Enrollment Priority Group. In that case, VA will always place you in the highest Priority Group that you are eligible for. Under the Medical Benefits Package, the same services are generally available to all enrolled Veterans.VA determines your eligibility for VA’s comprehensive medical benefits package through our patient enrollment system, which is based on Priority Groups from 1 through 8.
Priority Group 1
•Veterans with VA Service-connected disabilities rated 50% or more.
•Veterans assigned a total disability rating for compensation based on unemployability.
Priority Group 2
•Veterans with VA Service-connected disabilities rated 30% or 40%.
Priority Group 3
•Veterans who are former POWs.
•Veterans awarded the Purple Heart Medal.
•Veterans awarded the Medal of Honor.
•Veterans whose discharge was for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
•Veterans with VA Service-connected disabilities rated 10% or 20%.
•Veterans awarded special eligibility classification under Title 38, U.S.C., § 1151, “benefits for individuals disabled by treatment or vocational rehabilitation.”
Priority Group 4
•Veterans receiving increased compensation or pension based on their need for regular Aid and Attendance or by reason of being permanently Housebound.
•Veterans determined by VA to be catastrophically disabled.
Priority Group 5
•Nonservice-connected Veterans and noncompensable Service-connected Veterans rated 0%, whose annual income and/or net worth are not greater than the VA financial thresholds.
•Veterans receiving VA Pension benefits.
•Veterans eligible for Medicaid benefits.
Priority Group 6
•Compensable 0% Service-connected Veterans.
•Veterans exposed to ionizing radiation during atmospheric testing or during the occupation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
•Project 112/SHAD participants.
•Veterans who served in the Republic of Vietnam between January 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975.
•Veterans who served in the Southwest Asia theater of operations from August 2, 1990, through November 11, 1998.
•Veterans who served in a theater of combat operations after November 11, 1998, as follows: •Veterans discharged from active duty on or after January 28, 2003, for five years post discharge
Priority Group 7
•Veterans with incomes below the geographic means test (GMT) income thresholds and who agree to pay the applicable copayment.
Priority Group 8
•Veterans with gross household incomes above the VA national income threshold and the geographically-adjusted income threshold for their resident location and who agrees to pay copays
Veterans eligibility for enrollment: Noncompensable 0% service-connected and:
•Subpriority a: Enrolled as of January 16, 2003, and who have remained enrolled since that date and/ or placed in this subpriority due to changed eligibility status.
•Subpriority b: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income exceeds the current VA National Income Thresholds or VA National Geographic Income Thresholds by 10% or less
Veterans eligible for enrollment: Nonservice-connected and:
•Subpriority c: Enrolled as January 16, 2003, and who remained enrolled since that date and/ or placed in this subpriority due to changed eligibility status
•Subpriority d: Enrolled on or after June 15, 2009 whose income exceeds the current VA National Income Thresholds or VA National Geographic Income Thresholds by 10% or less
Veterans not eligible for enrollment: Veterans not meeting the criteria above:
•Subpriority e: Noncompensable 0% service-connected
•Subpriority g: Nonservice-connected
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