Va Care Vs Private Care

[boomer2]

Here's the question...if you are say 60% SC'd for whatever conditions are you required to go to the VA and can they stop your compensation for not going to them. I am asking this question for a friend who recently was in a VA hospital and was being treated for a SC'd condition and was given a shot by a nurse and it almost killed him, in fact if his family had not moved him to a private hospital it may have. He has private med ins. and has told me he won't go back to that hospital. NO!! I am not going to name the hospital as he does have an atty.

[Chuck75]

Compensation (in general) is divorced from VA treatment. There are "legalities" involved in changing or stopping compensation payment.

A veteran can certainly use insurance paid (Medicare, private insurance,etc), or personally paid medical care.

A problem can arise when the VA wants to do periodic exams to continue compensation. In the case you mentioned, the a copy of the VA medical records should be requested before any legal actions are started. Getting them after action starts can be a problem. PTSD, etc. seems to be a special case at the moment, and, due to recent VA regulation and other ongoing changes, may end up being an exception to the general case.

There is a statement you can place in VA medical records that states that the VA is not your primary care provider, or provider for medical conditions that require a specialist. Further, you can take a prescription from an outside doctor to the VA, and ask them to provide the drugs. As long as the drugs are on the VA's list, the "veteran's drug act" allows them to provide the drugs. A VA PCP will normally sign off on such a "request". If a VA PCP declines, you can always ask for a written statement/note as to why. Remember that it can be difficult to get the VA to do things in a timely and appropriate manner.

[Teac]

To my understanding there is nothing in law that requires a veteran to use the VA Medical center for service connected medical care. In fact, there is nothing in law that even requires a veteran to seek any medical care to retain compensation.

Quite the contary the BVA has ruled ( in many cases) that continuation of documented treatment is not a valid reason to deny or reduce compensation. In reality there are many conditons that treatment has little or no effect, allergic rhinitis, or sinusitis come to mind but there are others.

I use VA Medical care, BAMC, and Private care depending on the avaliability of care and the length of time it takes to get care.

In my opinion, it makes sense for a veteran to get care from the va for his service connected conditions if for no other reason but to avoid any problems in the future.

Edited March 8, 2012 by Teac

[Pete53]

For reasons of my own that are personal I am considering using my HMO Medicare and to stop going to VA. I think every Veteran has that right.

I will still get my prescriptions from the VA

[boomer2]

Thanks for the info I'll pass it along.

[john999]

I get some of my care at the VA. It makes sense to get seen for SC conditions. However, since I have pretty good insurance I will go to the best doctors I can afford or access. I got hurt by a private doctor so the VA does not have a lock on questionable care. I find that getting fast and quality care just does not go together at the VA. I was out there today to get some dental and see my shrink. I was supposed to drop by x-ray to get a picture of my hip since it was hurting. When I finished up all my other stuff it was about 3pm and I went to x-ray. They had a 2 hour wait to get an x-ray. That pissed me off since I can go to a local private clinic and get it done in 15 minutes from the time I sign in until I leave the building. I have a big problem with parking at my VAMC. Dental did not want to do a crown or an implant for two teeth. This pissed me off since I believe they are just avoiding treatment to save a buck. I paid myself but it cost me a couple of grand. When I think they are avoiding treatment just to save money at the veteran's expense I find that repulsive. So the VA is a mixed bag. If you are 70% to 100% vet they must provide nursing home care. However, they choose the nursing home and it could be 100 miles from your loved ones. It is all about money with the VA. It is take it or leave it and in many cases I leave it even if it costs me. The private doctors and hospitals can kill you as well, but if I am going to have triple by-pass heart surgery I am not going to the VA to get it. My prejudice.

John

[Gulfvet45]

No you do not have to use the VA. If the call you for a C&P you better go.

Here's the question...if you are say 60% SC'd for whatever conditions are you required to go to the VA and can they stop your compensation for not going to them. I am asking this question for a friend who recently was in a VA hospital and was being treated for a SC'd condition and was given a shot by a nurse and it almost killed him, in fact if his family had not moved him to a private hospital it may have. He has private med ins. and has told me he won't go back to that hospital. NO!! I am not going to name the hospital as he does have an atty.