Revamping the VA - should retirees or injured veterans be awarded full medical coverage and their choice of hospital?

2016-08-12T16:37:14-04:00

As a country, shouldn't we award full medical coverage for retirees or injured veterans and allow them to use any medical facility they want? If you sacrifice your mental or physical health for your country, your country should take care of you. If we can afford to spend outrageously on over priced products, we should be able, as a country, to take care of our bravest. Thoughts?

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 12 at 2016 4:40 PM

2016-08-12T16:40:14-04:00

That's pretty much how the VA Choice program works. At least, that's how it is supposed to work.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 4:44 PM

2016-08-12T16:44:54-04:00

Healthcare choice and delivery is such a complex problem, it's hard to boil it down to a thread on a discussion board. This could be a upper level college or graduate level course.
1. what ailments should the government cover?
2. what if the vet received insurance from their job?
3. why shouldn't this extend to immediate family especially if a service related injury prevents the vet from providing for his family's needs?
4. what form of payment will the government use for reimbursement?
5. what to do about non-compliance with healthcare?
.... no, the government shouldn't provide a blanket health care cost for vets at their hospital of choice. This is sliding down the slope for a single payer system.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 4:55 PM

2016-08-12T16:55:03-04:00

As a Retiree have Tri-Care and it is fine, yes we have to pay some but nothing like civilians do.As for injured VETS I have mixed opinions on that. The VA is equipped to handle certain type of medical issues the civilian hospitals are not like TBI, Lost limbs and other combat or service training issues. I have both covered under VA as I am a combat vet over 50% and also my Tri-Care. I use the VA for TBI and some other combat issues that I have and everything else I use TR-Care. I had problems with my Tri-Care provider explaining some of my Military health issues. Bottom line we need to remember the VA is good a treating Military service caused problems and don't think the civilians would understand some of these issues and we need to think about it that way.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Aug 12 at 2016 6:53 PM

2016-08-12T18:53:31-04:00

Yes.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2016 7:36 PM

2016-08-12T19:36:30-04:00

I believe wholeheartedly that we should provide life-long medical/dental/spiritual support for our veterans. This approach would certainly address the access to care issue (e.g., reducing/eliminating waiting times and travel distance for appointments). I would be concerned, however, that without some oversight, that some veterans would still not get the care they need and, worse, there would be no tracking/accounting for them. This oversight component would be extremely hard (impossible?) to implement across multiple, independent, civilian/private health care providers/organizations.

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Aug 12 at 2016 10:25 PM

2016-08-12T22:25:04-04:00

Absolutely ENS Private RallyPoint Member!

Response by SFC George Smith made Aug 13 at 2016 12:00 AM

2016-08-13T00:00:42-04:00

You are Damn Right... YES !!!.
"You asked for it..."
The Difference between VA Hospitals are Like Night and Day.
The Service between Hospitals is also like Night and Day...
In the last 17 years I have dealt with 4 different hospitals and 2 out-laying Clinics.
Pittsburgh PA, Clarksburg WV, Durham NC and Raleigh Clinic, and Salisbury NC and Kernersville Clinic.
The Salisbury NC Hospital, and its Clinic in Kernersville, NC are nothing short of Fantastic!!!.
Personally I think the VA should Be a subordinate Organization of The DOD. The DAV Cards should be used as a Medical Insurance Cards around the country and the world, and accepted at all Medical Offices and Hospitals. (Pleas Note the period)
In this manor, The Vets could get Health Care in the Immediate areas closest to their Homes and First Rate care from local medical facilities with out the Damn Long waits they endure in many areas around the country or in Foreign Countries...
... By elimination of the many inefficient Hospitals and their operating costs and the costs of the Non medical Staff and the Costs of the Morons in DC running the VA, the cost of Funding The Veterans Hospitals and Facilities could converted to Maximum Payments and Support to the Veterans ... the Competent Medical staff could be assorted into the local areas Medical facilities and reduce the shortages they already Have ...
By going thru DOD and making VA a subordinate Organization would eliminate the Massive Ineffective Staff in The VA The amount of Funding would be Reduced to the Staff at the New DOD Department of Veterans Affairs...
The DOD Could almost instantly Confirm if the patient was truly a Veteran and not some well versed Bull Shit artist Impostor...
Think of all the Useless Civilian Admin Clowns that suck up massive amounts of the Funds Allocated for the VA that would be eliminated and along with Government Slugs and Non Funded Retirements they claim every Year also being eliminate...
By eliminating the Extensive out dated Facilities how much more $$$ could be saved and Used on the Treatment of The Veterans...

I am Thinking of saving Money and Spending where It is really needed ... ON The VETs... not the Government Slugs and Rooster Vacuums Who are really not That efficient...

(You Opened the Damn Big Box of worms ... never ask unless, you really want to Know... In My world This is a ..."STAND IN THE DOOR" Question...)

This is a sore Subject with Me I know several Vets who Died from the Poor and slow response from the damn VA...

Its Bed time and now I need a Drink...
take care out there Y'all
DOL...

Response by SPC James Gromley made Aug 13 at 2016 6:28 AM

2016-08-13T06:28:48-04:00

Other countries do why should not what is suppose to be the greatest nation on the planet do the same?

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Aug 15 at 2016 12:56 AM

2016-08-15T00:56:39-04:00

As an injured/partially disabled veteran, I don't think this is a good idea. Before, some of you go all ape mess, hear me out. I'm a Medic. I've worked on both sides of things. Hands-on medical care and the oh so fun 'legal, paperwork' stuff.
In our entire healthcare system there is one huge problem. The vast number of people who will need medical care from a doctor, surgeon, mental health, etc., at many points in their life. The number of licensed healthcare professionals who can treat/lay hands on people to treat them is a TINY fraction. The VA Healthcare isn't immune; it's part of this. You cannot force doctors, nurses, EMT's, & support personnel to work for them. I can't recall the number of veterans who need the VA at some point for care. Nothing is free. Somewhere along the line, someone/some entity is paying for the care we receive. Doctors outside if the VA can be contracted to work WITH, not for the military.
Last year, Vanderbilt Hospital graduated even less new doctors than in the last 5 years. Not because they failed out, but because less are applying for the program. I won't/can't get into the specifics b/c I don't have them. I don't work for the VA or any hospital. The VA isn't broken; they just have a small number of people that can treat the huge number of us that need care. Imagine how many of us need surgery. Not all surgeons can do EVERY surgery that is needed. This country is in a STUPID amount of debt. It sucks that we all suffer b/c some morons in the government failed their math courses in budgeting.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Dec 6 at 2018 3:02 PM

2018-12-06T15:02:45-05:00

https://www.moaa.org/Content/Publications-and-Media/News-Articles/2018-News-Articles/Advocacy/More-than-1-Million-Retirees-May-Lose-Dental-Coverage-on-Jan--1.aspx?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TMNsend&utm_content=NC+AFHR+1+ERet+L+NC

I just sent this in generally, I'd seen this thread, I thought I'd also send it in here, as well....

More-than-1-Million-Retirees-May-Lose-Dental-Coverage-on-Jan--1.aspx

Response by SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM made Aug 10 at 2019 7:22 PM

2019-08-10T19:22:01-04:00

Yes, I think this would help!

Response by SSG William Bowen made Feb 1 at 2020 9:34 AM

2020-02-01T09:34:52-05:00

There has to be a way to prevent abuse. Abuse is widespread, not just at the VA, but for just about anyone that does not have to pay even 1 cent for health care. Also, people in general need to take their own health into their own hands, not just expect medical providers to fix all their problems without a little personal responsibility. The veterans that deployed, got injured in the line of duty, suffer form PTSD and other mental health issues need care. But there also a great number that never deployed, didn't even make it through basic or advanced training and somehow they got processed out were deemed service connected and they come to the VA for everything, tying up the lines and creating long waits for those with legitimate needs. Nobody is supposed to say anything because you are thought of as disrespecting our service members, but if you work at a VA there is a high chance you have seen the abuse by the same ole people. Many doctors at the VA are scared they will lose their license if they miss something so they order tests for everything even when it is not needed. A civilian hospital has to justify certain tests if they want to be paid by insurances companies, but not so at the VA. You kicked your toe on the couch and it hurts and the swelling is obvious but a x-ray (yes, necessary), CAT scan, full lab workup, mental health consult, whole 9 yards. The the person gets discharged and comes back the next day because it still hurts and they don't think it should...yup another whole round of tests even though nothing is different. You would never see that on the outside. The costs are astronomical and the VA/federal government will not be able to continue spending like they do. My insurance costs me $125.00 if I go to an ER and don't get admitted, so I will weigh my options if I have a slight rash. I'll try Walgreen's and get some cream, maybe some cool water or ice, try some warm used t-bags...all the remedies before I go to the ER. By all means, chest pain, broken bone, hard time breathing, go to the ER. Many veterans just hop and visit the ER at the 1st sign of discomfort because they do not want to try anything on their own and they damn sure don't want to spend their own $3.00 on cream so to the ER they go which can costs thousands of tax payer dollars. This is not all veterans but there are a lot of frequent flyers. Literally, there are people that will come to the VA ER 3 or 4 times in one day; that is a lot of resources being used. I don't know what the answer is. If you go to the ER (just one aspect of the whole VA healthcare issue) more than 25 times a year, then you have to start paying something? I mean who on the civilian side goes to the ER that many times in a year?