Sorry But I Have More ?'s

[TANKERJOE0]

I HOPE IM NOT DRIVING EVERYONE NUTS WITH ALL THESE ?'S

BUT I GET SO MUCH INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE ITS TOOO HARD NOT TO ASK.

MY QUESTION THIS TIME IS.

I AM SELF EMPLOYED SO I HAVE NO HEALTH BENEFITS FROM MY WORK.

MY WIFE WORKS FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRIC AS A PARA PROFESSIONAL MAKING PEANUTS TO

GET MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR OUR FAMILY ME WIFE AND 2 KIDS.

SHE BARELY BRINGS HOME A PAYCHECK AFTER THEY DEDUCT FOR OUR HEALTH INS.

IVE BEEN GOING TO THE VA FOR 6 MONTHS NOW AND GAVE THEM MY INSURANCE INFO.

I HAVE BEEN GETTING BILLS FROM BOTH THE VA FOR MY COPAYS AND ALSO FROM THE INS CO FOR ALL THE VISITS.

IT IS ADDING UP TO A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY.

MY ? IS SHOULD I HAVE MY WIFE DROP ME FROM HER COVERAGE.

WHICH WILL MAKE HER INS CHEAPER FROM WORK.

AND TELL THE VA I HAVE NO INS?

MY WIFE SAYS SHE WAS ADVISED NOT TO DO THAT BECAUSE IF I HAVE ANY MEDICAL EMERGENCY I WONT BE ABLE TO GO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND HAVE IT COVERED.

THEREFORE HAVING A SKY HIGH MEDICAL BILL?

AND ALSO IF I AM SICK AND HAVE JUST A SORE THROAT AND FEVER I CANT RUN TO MY FAMILY DR AROUND THE CORNER AS I WILL NOT HAVE HEALTH INS.

SHE SAYS OUR MEDICAL BILLS WILL BE THROUGH THE ROOF????

CAN ANYONE GIVE ME INPUT ON THIS??

THANKS

TANKERJOE0

[LarryJ]

What I would do, is I would wait until you are service connected (hopefully at a rate at least equal to 30%) thereby making all your health problems the responsibility of the VA, with no co-pays.

And, as far as the co-pays that the VA is now charging you, go to the office at the VA that takes care of the co-pay reimbursements (collections) at the VA Medical Center where you go for your care. Explain to them just what you have stated here. They are sympathetic and will, most likely, do away with any co-pays that your private insurance does not pay (that is, until you reach your 30% disability rate, when you will own no co-pays). If they don't act very co-operative, then go straight from their office to the patient advocate office.

I don't understand why you would be getting bills from your private insurance for office visits?

When I received my SSDI for my service-connected disability, then, after a couple of years, I became eligible for Medicare, so, with my Medicare and my VA healthcare, I'm probably better insured, health-wise, than I have EVER been. My wife was carrying me on her insurance at her workplace, and we started to add up what I have, coverage-wise, and just dropped me from her insurance plan. Saved a considerable amount by doing so. Then, when I received my Chapter 35 benefits, she became eligible for CHAMPVA, so now SHE is probably better insured, with her workbased health insurance and her CHAMPVA than SHE has ever been before. NICE.

Any of your gals/guys that are eligible for Medicare, I would advocate paying the little bit extra and getting in on one of the Medicare Advantage plans (mine is from AARP/Aetna but there are several large insurance companies out there that are offering these Advantage plans).

[TANKERJOE0]

THANKS LARRY!!!

TANKERJOE0

[Stretch]

TankerJoe0,

I was self employed and was on my wifes insurance for many years. Sometimes a year would be good, and I could cover the insurance. Most of the time we used her insurance.

You would be surprised how many disabled Vets hack-it in business alone for the long haul with no insurance. If Government contractors would live-up to their 3% Veterans set-aside business contracts requirements, by public law, most veterans would be more comfortable and work more years. We all think we are gonna make it all the way, but that hasn't happened for me.

Don't give up your wife's insurance until you are connected, as Larry has said.

Only you know your total condition. It is up to you if you gamble or not.

[john999]

The risks from being underinsured are so great I would not drop any insurance I had unless all my co-pays and deductibles were covered. I pay about half my federal employee disability check for BC/BS for me and my wife. She also has ChampVa. She was in the hospital for almost a week and we won't be paying a dime. I have medicare Part A&B as well. If you were in intensive care for a two weeks it could mean 100,000 bucks unless you are in the VA, and you might not want to be in the VA.

It is like homeowners insurance or flood insurance. You may only need it once, but that could cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars if you don't have it. I even have an umbrella policy for 1,000,000 bucks for liability.

[broncovet]

Tankerjoe

I used to be in the insurance business..I wont tell YOU what to do, but I tell you what I did. I dropped my insurance and use the VA exclusively. I dont think you will have any hundred grand copays..these "hundred grand stories," tho they do happen on occasion, are mostly marketing ploys by the insurance companies. Even if you had an 80/20 policy, and you had a million dollar health bill, you would still owe 200 grand..even with insurance! Even worse, many companies pay 80% of what THEY think the hospital bill SHOULD be, not necessarily what it actually is.

The other thing to remember is that all insurance has "weasel" clauses..wont pay for "experimental procedures", wont pay over a specified limit, often does not pay for things like weight loss surgery....the list goes on and on and will likely be several pages. Frankly most insurance companies are more interested in protecting their own profits than they are at protecting you and your family and will burn you to save them a claim, if they get half a chance.

The only catch 22 is usually your own "worry" factor..insurance is about eliminating that worry, and most people just figure something else to worry about even if they have Prudential, Metropolitan, Blue Cross, Medicaid and VA combined. Medical insurance wont let you "make" money on getting sick, so having multiple policies is not gonna help. The most it would save you is the deductable, which VA calls the Copay. You know your own familys health better than I do..but I dropped mine..its your call.

You are never going to have any REAL security with any insurance company. The danger, however is if you have assets to protect. If your net worth is under a hundred grand, then I am not sure you really need to "protect" something you dont even have. If you have the money, and if it makes you feel good, then buy insurance..just dont go without shoes or milk to pay for your insurance.

Edited January 2, 2009 by broncovet