Posted on Nov 19, 2024
Why would the VA push back my surgery by roughly half a year?
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Responses: 8
Did they tell you they'd likely get to you during Jan/Feb back in August, or did they just tell you that (which means they will get to you in 2-3 months)? Could be many reasons. They want you to have adequate recovery time from your first surgery. It could be that they have a backlog that is causing delays. It could be that they are short surgeons and/or OR staff. Without being an insider within the surgery department, and/or knowing your medical history, nobody here can definitively answer your question.
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CPL Michael E. R.
Well Sir thank you for responding and the answer is I have not had any surgery at all for the hernia. all I had was a CTscan and they told me I had a hernia (duh) and by the way we also saw a black nodule on your bottom left lung so we will wait a year and see what develops * scheduled for May 28th I believe for another CTscan. Thank you Sir for caring enough to respond
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LTC Kevin B.
CPL Michael E. R. - Thanks for the clarification; apparently I misread your initial comments. I thought you said you had a surgery back in Aug, and was waiting for another surgery. My guess would be the later surgery window is due to a mix of excess surgical demand and a shortage of surgeons and/or OR support staff (thereby causing a backlog). I'll defer to others on the coverage issue. I suspect that may be to the VA not deeming it urgent, but that's just speculation on my part. Hope this is resolved quickly for you.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
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With regards to them not "covering it", VA Healthcare is NOT insurance. Unless and until they set you up with community care for your surgery, they have no obligation to cover it.
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CPL Michael E. R.
That is not what my contract stated , but hey ! would not be the first time I been lied to.
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LTC Kevin B.
CPL Michael E. R. - This response from SP5 Peter Keane makes a lot of sense about the coverage issue. The VA covers service-connected injuries, but they don't provide coverage for most other health needs unless they have space available for you. That may explain the delay (service-connected surgeries are ahead of you) and them telling you they won't cover it if you go outside the VA (they don't cover care that's not for service-connected injuries).
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I've had a similar surgery pushed within the VA as well, based on the fact it is still considered an elective surgery (regardless of whether it is highly recommended). Unless the hernia is causing significant critical medical issues, they will not prioritize it over other surgeries already scheduled or those with a higher need. Bottom line, they likely have a backlog, only so many resources to perform the surgery, and your issue is not as critical as those taking priority. Ultimately, I got the surgery, and I found it almost humorous that they took their time to release me from post-surgery care. I will say they took very good care of me.
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CPL Michael E. R.
Thank you for responding and Sir , If yours was like this one then I truly am sorry you had to wait to have it corrected. My tear is 2 inches north of Richard and an airborne shuffle step east for approximately a 3 cadance. Since I won the immortality race with my family and pack and am last man standing , So like they say if I don't do it, it don't get done. just damn bad timing. But I have to remind myself that I have 11 mouths *chosen family* coming for Thanksgiving and 3 fur faces. So there is that.
Happy Thanks giving to you and yours Sir.
Happy Thanks giving to you and yours Sir.
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