But that’s not trump’s proposal. And there’s good reason why not.
Participation by healthcare providers in Medicare is voluntary. Saying a veteran can go to any health care provider would be a little bit of an empty promise. What if the healthcare provider doesn’t want to take veterans and mess with reimbursement from the VA.
As well, healthcare is changing in the US. People are starting to “color outside the lines.” More doctors are going to some kind of cash basis. Or concierge medicine. Or hybrid practices.
My primary care physician is a good example. He takes my insurance, but I also pay him directly o n an annual basis to be in his practice. His practice is limited to 600 patients. But he spent two hours with me the first time I saw him, and he and his staff arrange when I need to see another specialist.
I doubt he would take VA patients at all. Would you force him?
No, I don’t believe in that. However, I would like the freedom to ask him and assure payment from the VA at the same time. In a situation such as yours, I think I’d pay the difference. The doc might or might not bite on that. That said, I’d like to know that my ‘VA credits” would go where I direct them and not where the bureaucracy says I should direct them.
It’s pretty much that way with the education credits. I was able to pick whichever college or career I wanted.