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[gadgetz]

This is the kind of news that keeps Vet's from going to the VA.


VA administrator used doll photos to mock veterans' mental problems in email


http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/03/09/indy-va-administrator-sent-email-mocking-veterans-mental-problems/?intcmp=latestnews

[r0de_runr]

That should have cost the employee her job.

But Vets not going to their VA for medical care because of this is like not sending your kids to school because a teacher raped a student in some other school.

Thank you for your post, but it has nothing to do with eligibility, nor with quality or availability of care.

[gadgetz]

That should have cost the employee her job.

But Vets not going to their VA for medical care because of this is like not sending your kids to school because a teacher raped a student in some other school.

Thank you for your post, but it has nothing to do with eligibility, nor with quality or availability of care.

Over a cold one I might disagree with the "quality" part but then there's no guarantee that we would receive quality care at any medical facility regardless of our Vet status.




I agree with you though, all Vet's need to use the benefits that are available to them; they've earned them.   

[resqdoc]

Thanks r0de_rnr,

That has been my experience as well.

In fact, I was so impressed as a patient, I went to work for the VA. Best decision I ever made. (I'm a physician).

[r0de_runr]

Thanks r0de_rnr,

That has been my experience as well.

In fact, I was so impressed as a patient, I went to work for the VA. Best decision I ever made. (I'm a physician).

Thank you for your service to our Veterans.

[resqdoc]

Thanks for that. Without sounding sappy, I love what I do. I look forward to going to work, I really do. I have the best patients in the world. A veteran helping veterans. My staff and colleagues are absolutely top notch. Do we have issues with Administration.  You bet, but day to day we stand side by side with our Vets and do what's right. I sleep VERY soundly at night knowing I'm in the right place, taking care of an incredible population. As a veteran, the relationship I have with my veteran patients is different from the instant I walk through the door. FWIW, I see mutual respect between my non-Veteran co-workers and the patients and families that is special in a different way.

I think many would be surprised at our patient population too. After 12+ years of GWOT, I see a much younger and more diverse population than one might imagine. This includes a lot of women. On the other hand, I have time to really set down with "my" veterans and spend quality time and the care WE deserve. (I work in the Emergency Room). What a pleasure to visit with WWII and Korean veterans. Shift gears with Vietnam Vets. Move right up through the service members coming home today.

I can't speak for every VA, I can only vouch for "mine." I'm a satisfied patient and proud to be part of the organization. 

To the veterans on this board who haven't signed up, I agree with r0ad_rnr. sign up!

The best things I got out of my military career were the education, experience, maturity and other percs only other vets will understand. My combat tours top that list, by the way. By far the best benefit for me is not commissary privileges, retirement or other money in the hand type things. It is the care I have been provided by the VA for both my service connected and other issues.

[2 ROSE]

Hey Resqdoc,
You are a breath of fresh air to me and I would think to all the vets you come in contact with. I know the feeling of having a job that you enjoy but mine pales to what you do...infact I am embarassed and humbled in comparison. Thank you for your continuing service.
Take Care...

[r0de_runr]

I just found out that the VA is eliminating the "net worth" analysis for eligibility for VA health care. 

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/18136/va-eliminates-net-worth-as-veteran-health-care-eligibility-factor/

[CVOJOE]

"In March 2014, VA eliminated the annual requirement for updated financial information. VA now uses information from the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration to automatically match individual Veterans’ income information which reduces the burden on Veterans to keep their healthcare eligibility up to date. That change better aligned VA’s health care financial assessment program with other federal health care organizations."

They're already getting the information from IRS and SSA systems. So, this gets around asking us for our financial info. Gotta love it that that "reduces the burden on Veterans to keep their healthcare eligibility up to date" Thanks VA!! 
Viet Vet with Service Connected so not a worry here, but what a shovel ready statement of policy!

[r0de_runr]

They used to want Net Worth...now just income. Category 8, non service connected and income above the line.

Service connected at 30% or more most likely will be cat 3 and receive care for whole person, not just the service connected.

[FLSTFI Dave]

I just found out that the VA is eliminating the "net worth" analysis for eligibility for VA health care. 

http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/18136/va-eliminates-net-worth-as-veteran-health-care-eligibility-factor/

That would be good.

So far I have had Zero luck or help from the VA.  I'm a 20 year retired Vet, with 10% disability.  My wife has also had zero luck or help from VA, she is 20 retired vet also, with 20% disability.  Hers is Hearing loss, was even wearing hearing aids last three years of Active duty.  VA provides Zero help for hearing aids, which cost 8500 the last time we got them two years ago.  We are not eligible, because I make to much money.  You ask me that is bull crap as I sure remember being poor enlisted people raising three kids on what I pay in Taxes now.

My enlisted service nor my wife's is any different than any one else who served, I should not be punished because I have worked hard to get where I am.

I am on two prescriptions I was on in the Navy, first 5 years I was out, I did not have private health care.  When I got much better job with good health care, obviously my insurance had to pay first.  Which was 20 a month less than tri-care was paying.  Tri-care then would only cover 10  a month.  They said thats the way it works.  So, I told them, their policy would cost them money.  They ask why, I told them I was going to cancel my private health care, as it cost me money to have it, and now my prescriptions also cost me more.  I could save lots by canceling my insurance.  They got the message, and made their payment so between the two it was not costing me more than if I was just on Tri-care.

So you could say I am less than happy with the whole system.

[CVOJOE]

So far I have had Zero luck or help from the VA

  Consider lawyering up? I know of some success stories after doing that to get their attention on denials. Costs a bit but depends upon how much you feel the need to get them to do their jobs. Also, Congressional inquiries start a different reaction from the VA.

[r0de_runr]

UPDATE:
I thought I would use this thread to give a synopsis of a recent visit to the emergency room.

A couple of months ago I replaced my lifters, and used a multi-tool knife blade to scrape away the old tappet cover gasket.  After I was finished, and as I was picking up my tools I cut myself pretty badly across the inside of my first joint of my left thumb. About an inch long and all the way to the bone.
I grabbed a rag and applied direct pressure, grabbed my wallet and my truck keys and drove about 4 miles to the nearest ER.
They were not busy and got me right in.  Numbed me up with a nerve block (that hurt) and cleaned it and put in 3 stitches.  I have a little nerve damage but think that will go away.  I was there about 3 hours, saw two nurses and one MD. No tests or xrays.
The bill:
Dr charges were $350 - TRICARE Prime allowed $44.02, DR had to eat $305.98.
Hospital charges were $588.00 - TRICARE Prime allowed $61.25 hospital had to eat $526.72.
I am TRICARE Prime so no deductible.  TRICARE paid a total of $105.30 against a $938.00 bill and I owe nothing. ($0 Deductible, Co-payment, or cost share.)
My cost for this plan is:
Effective October 1, 2015 - September 30, 2016

• Single: $282.60 per year
• Family: $565.20 per year

TRICARE meets the federal requirements for a health plan.
This is only the second time in 18 years I have used TRICARE Prime in an emergency room, and already saved more than 18 years worth of premiums.

YMMV

[FLH91]

I also have Tricare Prime and I just went to local VA clinic to get set up with them, "just in case".  It was a great experience, of course I now have more meds than I know what to do with.  But the best this that happened was I now get to use a local chiropractor and don't have to pay anything using the new VA CHOICE program.
  So my take from this is free drugs with no $12 office visit co-pay, and now free chiropractor care with Tricare Prime doesn't cover at all.
  While I'll keep Tricare Prime and use it when needed, the VA is great here and I might just start using them instead.