Option To Use Va And/or Private Providers For Sc Disease

[georgiapapa]

Hello,

I am a retired CSRS employee and have the same health insurance as active federal employees. I also served in the USMC from 1966 to 1970 including 1967 and 1968 on the ground in Vietnam. I have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma (Smoldering). Multiple Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer. I now go to my local oncologist for monthly blood tests and I also go for extensive diagnostic tests at the Myeloma Institute for Research & Therapy in Little Rock, Arkansas every three months.

After seeking advice from others, including some in these forums, I was preparing to file a claim with the VA for my Multiple Myeloma since this is one of the diseases presumed to have been caused by exposure to Agent Orange herbicide. After talking with different people at the Myeloma Institute, I am reluctant to file for VA benefits at this time. Some told me my federal health insurance will not pay any benefits for injuries or illnesses sustained during active military duty. I know this is usually true of private insurance plans but I am not sure if this is true of federal health insurance. Others told me if I was approved for VA benefits, I would have the option of using either the VA system or my private health care providers without incurring any problems with my current federal health insurance. Some told me my federal health insurance may require me to file for VA benefits so they would not have to pay any benefits for medical services related to my Multiple Myeloma. I do not know what to believe at this time. I do not want to contact my current health insurance company because they may decide to suspend any benefits for my Multiple Myeloma until they determine if they should pay for the benefits or the VA should pay. This could take months for them to make a decision.

I know the VA has some great doctors and treatment facilities but if possible I would prefer to keep using my current doctors and myeloma treatment center with the option of using the VA for my medications. I am looking for responses from anyone who could address my concerns, especially civilian federal retirees or active federal employees who are in a similar situation or know of someone else who could answer my questions. I would like to apply for VA Disability Compensation to help pay for my out of pocket expenses (medical, medications, travel & hotel expenses to Arkansas), etc. I also feel I need to file a VA claim at some point in time so my wife will be able to file a claim for DIC & CHAMPVA benefits after my death.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

Georgia Papa

[john999]

Everything you have been told is untrue. You can get file with the VA and get all your treatment via your insurance if you want. Do you have medicare? You can use the VA and use your medical insurance for private doctors. File the claim! I am retired federal worker. I have 100% SC for some AO stuff as well. I use my insurance and the VA. I have BC/BS and medicare and I use the VA as well. Your insurance is yours and you can use it for anything you want that is covered. Go where you get the best treatment. I can't believe the bad information you have gotten.

[jbasser]

To back up what John said you have been lied to. I also have federal BC abd BS. The VA even charges it.

Get your claims filed asap as your spouse (If married) will miss out on her DIC benefits after you pass. She will also wualify for Champ VA insurance.

J

[georgiapapa]

John,

Thanks for the info. Do you use your BC/BS for any of your SCN problems or do you use the VA for all of your SCN problems and your BC/BS for your non SCN problems? When I eventually go to the VA for my initial exam, I am sure they will probably run some of the same diagnostic tests as my private doctors. Do you think I might encounter any problems with BC/BS paying my private doctors stating I am receiving duplicate tests from the VA? I am 62 years old so I am not eligible for Medicare yet. I will get Medicare when I turn 65. Again, thank you for your advice.

Georgia Papa

Everything you have been told is untrue. You can get file with the VA and get all your treatment via your insurance if you want. Do you have medicare? You can use the VA and use your medical insurance for private doctors. File the claim! I am retired federal worker. I have 100% SC for some AO stuff as well. I use my insurance and the VA. I have BC/BS and medicare and I use the VA as well. Your insurance is yours and you can use it for anything you want that is covered. Go where you get the best treatment. I can't believe the bad information you have gotten.

[john999]

I used BC/BS for some of my SC problems. I think there is no chance that BC/BS will not pay valid claims on SC conditions. You don't have to use the VA for treatment of SC conditions. I use both my insurance for some things and the VA for others. You can get an MRI at the VA and what happens is the VA will try and bill your insurance if the condition is not service connected. Hell, they will bill your insurance for SC conditions if they can get away with it.