World Class Medical Class

[Pete53]

The VA brags about providing world class health care. I am beginning to wonder. In 2008 I had a stent placed in an anterior artery. I have asked to see a VA Cardiologist for three years and yet even though my PCP puts in a consult the VA Cardiologist will not see me. I have asked to see a urologist and no appointment. They will only check my eyes every two years when they are supposed to do it every year for a diabetic. They keep changing my meds with nothing but a new one showing up and the old not refillable. Forget about seeing a podiatrist either.

The VA is very high handed the way they treat Vets. As with every new Secretary of VA going back to Brown I hoped that things would change but its the same o same o as when I started 21 years ago although I do get a check now and the VA has done some nice things for me.

Yesterday I caught a news show that said a Veteran was committing suicide every 80 minutes. This hits home cause I know that the VA sucks the hope out of Veterans with their constant delays and bad medicine.

My wife has Medicare and ChampVA she can make appointments in less than a week and within 24 hours if emergency. Her prescriptions are filled beofre we can drive to pharmacy. She can see specialists when she wants to or Doc thinks she needs to do that. And even more depressing I already see that when Health Care comes to everyone Veterans will be stuck with VA.

If the VA would let me opt out for taking ChampVA it would make me very happy.

[71M10]

Don't worry, after we dump all the new people with government paid insurance into the system the VA may have the better waiting times.

How do you fix an expensive health care system? The government's solution is to increase demand by forcing people to buy insurance (if they pay for it they are more apt to use services) and we will provide insurance to millions more who didn't have it. Every good economist knows that higher demand for a limited product(not enough doctors) will bring down prices right????

We thought health care in America was screwed up before? It is going to get a whole lot more expensive, and a whole lot less effective.

Best regards,

[Philip Rogers]

Pete, you should have Medicare. I do and I use it. This yr I added the extra insurances, for prescriptions and copays and am using my COLA to pay for it. I see the VA a couple times a yr, to renew prescriptions, etc.. I recently had an oximetry(sp) test and am now on oxygen when on my CPAP, at night. The VA would have never checked me for that. Just as w/your claims, you must be proactive w/your health care. It costs me a few dollars outta my monthly check but I feel my life is well worth it.

I know it shouldn't be this way but it is. I still consider "us" very lucky for the VA retirement package we have! Yes, I wish it were better but bitching won't help me, either. Without my VA comp, I'd be living just under $1k a month. I'm still glad I was born in America and served my country. Would I do it again . . . probably not, knowing now how they treat us and avoid honoring their "contract" w/us. Every day I awaken, joyful to have another day or hr or minute. So far, Friday the 13th, hasn't quite blessed me but it could be worse!

Stay well, my friend!!!

pr

[Pete53]

PR

Yes I do have Medicare HMO and even they have found new ways not to pay. I have been thinking about adding dental for 39 a month my VA pretty much sucks except when they let me get fee service to fix some of my problems.

I thank God every day for the fact that VA did honor their deal to take care of me if my service caused me to get sick or hurt. My VA disability and SS have made our lives much better than many others I know one of my good high school friends was just kicked out of house and scrambling to find something to do in Central Mexico.

I will look into getting oxygen on my CPAP I have felt that is something that might help me since I spent nite in Hospital and I took my CPAP and they hooked me up for 12 hours or so.

It not as much about the money I can afford copays and a little out of pocket it is the constant bragging the VA does and its all lies. Well most of it anyway.

Sorry for my rant I have lost 2 roofs in 11 months and out 3500 each time for deductible and I just see money going out fast and only trickling in.

[john999]

Pete

What kind of dental insurance are you thinking about getting? Most of it is pretty lame.

[Stretch]

I am amazed that science can tell you how a dinosaur lived and what he ate 40000 years ago, how he died, and many more things.

[Philip Rogers]

PR

Yes I do have Medicare HMO and even they have found new ways not to pay. I have been thinking about adding dental for 39 a month my VA pretty much sucks except when they let me get fee service to fix some of my problems.

I thank God every day for the fact that VA did honor their deal to take care of me if my service caused me to get sick or hurt. My VA disability and SS have made our lives much better than many others I know one of my good high school friends was just kicked out of house and scrambling to find something to do in Central Mexico.

I will look into getting oxygen on my CPAP I have felt that is something that might help me since I spent nite in Hospital and I took my CPAP and they hooked me up for 12 hours or so.

It not as much about the money I can afford copays and a little out of pocket it is the constant bragging the VA does and its all lies. Well most of it anyway.

Sorry for my rant I have lost 2 roofs in 11 months and out 3500 each time for deductible and I just see money going out fast and only trickling in.

Pete - I knew you were sorta venting and agree. Sorry about your roofs, or is it rooves! ;-) Ya might try lowering your deductible. I just had a 2' diameter tree land on my roof. Luckily I discovered I only have a $250 deductible. Not much damage but still have the tree there awaiting their adjuster. Stay we[[!

pr