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Rustyt1953

Rustyt1953

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Before shuttering my business, I had great health insurance. Since then, I have been on Ruthie's plan which is through The Deaconess Hospital. It also is a great plan. I never opted to use the VA as I never needed it.

My question to you wizened vets is "should I sign up in case something should happen to Ruthie's job?"

From what I can gather, the Cincinnati VA is one of the better ones with few 'tales of woe'. I am not really worried for myself as God has already let me live past what the medieval barbers have prophesied. I am thinking about the added financial strain on her as my med list is quite long and I still need regular maintenance.

I profess that I never really researched this option until it was recommended by a few of my vet buddies.

So, should I sign up or dance wif dem whut brung me?
 
I tried to get VA dental. I did 8 years in the AF, and used the VA to buy my first house, so I figured I'd give it a try.

No dice. I didn't get a disability, and while I was deployed for Desert Storm, the area they deployed me to didn't count. And they said I made too much money. (I never heard that before)

It sure wouldn't hurt to apply and see if you qualify, and have it as a backup.
 
My thinking is...do it. Sign up. You can't be too careful. And with health care the way it is in this country right now, we don't know what could be coming at us in the months and years ahead.
 
It doesn't cost anything, the care is as good as I got from the troop medical clinic while active, and it covers you as an ACA (as long it stays in effect) qualified plan so you won't get hit with the penalty for anytime you are without coverage.
 
I have had very good experiences with VA medical care over the past 15 years or so. Prior to that there were some disappointing episodes.

Recommend that you apply for your benefits. Applicants are subjected to a number of rating barriers: former POW's and service-connected disabilities have highest priority, Purple Heart veterans also receive a higher priority, non service-connected matters are of lower priority, and "means testing" is applied (total assets, total incomes, etc), some co-pays may be applied for various treatments or prescriptions depending on category and ratings.

Once admitted to coverage the veteran must utilize VA medical services no less than once per year, otherwise enrollment may be discontinued. That once per year service can be an annual physical, or an occasional walk-in to a clinic to have something checked out or have some testing done. Not a big deal, but not something that should be overlooked. Get in at least once every year.

Once enrolled you will be assigned a primary care professional (physician or NP in most cases) who will coordinate most routine matters and make referrals to specialty clinics or hospitals for other conditions. In some locations turnover can be high, so you may not see the same primary care source for extended periods of time.

VA will encourage you to maintain private health insurance and/or Medicare, as appropriate. You may find that a good primary care provider is willing to coordinate with an outside doctor on treatments and/or prescriptions, or you may find that your assigned primary care provider is not interested in dealing with outside sources.

Depending on location and demand for services you may find that routine matters can require several weeks or months to result in an appointment for services. Emergencies can be dealt with by presenting your VA medical card at any hospital ER or urgent care facility, and I have not had any problems arise from legitimate emergencies requiring that I go outside the VA system. I suspect that abuses might result in serious consequences.

I'm over 65 with a VA medical card and a Medicare card in my wallet. I don't have much to worry about, other than the fact that Congress remains in session and can change anything anytime they want to.
 
What Lobo said ^^^^^^^^
Check to see if there is a veterans service officer in your area. Call your local government office. Here in MN there is one in every county. That is the place to start, if you have that opportunity. The service officer will help you get started, schedule your first visit, and help you get a card. The VA is there for those that served. Find out what they can offer you. The care provided at our area VA is outstanding.
Dave
SWCA #2778
 
VA

Yes if you have any service related health problems, hearing ,broken bones, joints . Ringing in the ears / hearing . Go to your county service officer ,make an appt walk ins don't work to well . As far as I know the only walk in and sign up is income related must make less than 27,500.00 a yr , and requires a yearly refresher & ck up as the boys said . OldSeabee
 
The VA has covered me for over 25 years and I have been satisfied. My problem is that I live more than two hours away form a VA medical facility. Three years ago I enrolled in the VA’s Veterans Choice Program that allows me to see any doctor in my local area. The only downside is that I have to call in advance of the doctor visit and get authorization, or it’s not covered. If you have on going medical problem that requires scheduled periodic clinic visits the program allows you to schedule multiple visits in advance.
 
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I applied and got coverage but have not yet used it. I think that since you served in RVN you should qualify. Definitely should go and apply I was pleasantly surprised with the process and I think the VA is trying to improve.
 
Old Seabee said:
Yes if you have any service related health problems, hearing ,broken bones, joints . Ringing in the ears / hearing . Go to your county service officer ,make an appt walk ins don't work to well . As far as I know the only walk in and sign up is income related must make less than 27,500.00 a yr , and requires a yearly refresher & ck up as the boys said . OldSeabee
Click to expand...


Unless you have at least 10% disability, the 27,500 will keep you out of the system.. Don't ask me how I know...

SEE NEXT POST>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

JIM................
 
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Be careful. Always get a second opinion, especially before any important decisions. Many years ago, I had a kidney stone that became a problem while I thought I was under the care of a competent VA facility. They made one error, which, in the natural course of things, came to light. No big deal. The indicated procedure, according to them, was surgery. As it happened, I was departing for the DC area soon, so it didn't happen. Instead, I ended up at Bethesda, where they had four or five competent urologists and equipment that was more or less up to date. My rather large kidney stone was removed by retrograde ureteroscopy, without any cutting. Those co******ers in Philadelphia would have cut me open when the city was full of people who would have done it properly.

Be very careful around the VA.
 
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Rustyt1953 said:
Before shuttering my business, I had great health insurance. Since then, I have been on Ruthie's plan which is through The Deaconess Hospital. It also is a great plan. I never opted to use the VA as I never needed it.

My question to you wizened vets is "should I sign up in case something should happen to Ruthie's job?"

From what I can gather, the Cincinnati VA is one of the better ones with few 'tales of woe'. I am not really worried for myself as God has already let me live past what the medieval barbers have prophesied. I am thinking about the added financial strain on her as my med list is quite long and I still need regular maintenance.

I profess that I never really researched this option until it was recommended by a few of my vet buddies.

So, should I sign up or dance wif dem whut brung me?
Click to expand...
You should sign up. It takes a while and yes the Cincinnati VA is good, as are most of them.

Go to DAV American Legion one of their service officers. They'll help you expedite your enrollment. You should also file for disability benefits. Even a minor service connected disability that we all have from the aging process (hearing loss, diabetes if you were in Vietnam, etc) will move you up in the VA line. The key is it has to have occurred in or been aggravated during your service...unless you were in Vietnam in which case lots of conditions are presumed to be related to your service.

Again, get the DAV or VFW or American Legion service officer to help you.

Trust me!
 
Rusty:

You know I'm gonna say I love the VA-the docs,nurses, techs, etc. The Admin-not so much, but I never have to deal with them.

I credit them with saving my life when I was diagnosed with the throat cancer and their treatment mirrored, exactly, the treatment Michael Douglas received at Sloan-Kettering.

And, though that's not a consideration when one has insurance, it was free.

I have said before, and it is still true, that rarely, very, very rarely, when I have an appointment at, say, 8:15, am I still in the waiting room at 8:15. More likely, I am already in the parking garage or in my Pathfinder exiting the VA Campus.

I really like that and I like the idea that the doc ain't getting more $ for doing some procedure on me when something less intrusive and painful might suffice.

Latest example for that-I have a torn rotator cuff and the head tendon is completely severed. I have no idea how I did that or even when I did it, But the MRI shows the damage.

The ortho surgeon said that they have learned that 2 out of 3 patients with that problem and that small tear in the rotator cuff can avoid surgery by physical therapy. He asked if I wanted to try or if he should schedule me for the surgery.

Are you kidding? I'm gonna give it a try. He said try, then, for 4 weeks. If my shoulder doesn't feel a lot better, call him and he'll schedule me for surgery.

He did tell me that it takes several months to get into the surgery (lots of people getting operated on there and I was already aware I'd have a wait just to get in since it's not an emergency. Heck, I may have been this way for years).

So what my plan entails is doing every single thing those PT folks say to the best of my ability. If it doesn't work, then I'll go to an outside surgeon and see how quickly I can get in for the operation. I am fortunate to have my Medicare with BC/BS as my secondary.

I really don't think there is anything wrong with seeking treatment at the VA. Being Service-Connected is "better" but talk with your advocate and see what you need to get in.

Bob
 
Good luck. I tried to sign up 8 year ago and was told my household income was to high to qualify. Also if your assets are above 80m which includes your house you don't qualify.
Exceptions are if you have a service related medical problem. I told them that I may have drunk so much while doing my 4 years 69-73 in the U. S. Navy that this could have caused me to become type 2 diabetic.
They did not think that was funny.
If I had signed up before 2004 they would have taken me into the system, oh well. I am now on medicare so I gave up on the VA.
 
Just a note on the means testing: I got a letter a couple years ago that said I didn't have to fill out the annual qualifying statements anymore, because the VA was hardwired to the IRS and was checking my income automatically. Co-pays are on a sliding scale based on income, for visits/procedures/drugs.

I've got no complaints with my local outpatient clinic either. It seems like almost all of the workers there (and my doctor) are vets themselves, makes you feel like they're not just there for a paycheck. I kinda like having a no-nonsense vet as a my doctor, instead of treading lightly around an issue he'll just tell me straight-up. At our first appointment, when I asked about the best thing to do to for my high blood pressure, he poked me in the gut and said "Lose that!"
 
VA

Arkensawyer Where & what did you do in the navy? , were you
close to Vietnam , also hearing is rated on your job , any hi pitched noises . In other words a dozer operator is more likely to have hearing problems compaired to a office job . But don't give up
 
I checked out the VA health care years ago, I never signed up because they told me that I was making to much money and I already had health care. I could have signed up anyway but passed. I was approved for a service connected disabilities which surprised me, then I realized that when the government pays you for a disability it means you are probably pretty ****ed up. :eek:
 
I would sign up at the local VA clinic if I were you. They rate you depending on any disability you may have, your "in country" time and your income. If you don't qualify and have a service connected disability as I do file a claim. A claim stands by itself and has nothing to do with your rating at the clinic.

Be aware that disability claims and care through the clinic are two separate entities in the VA. You may have a service connected disability (check once a month) and get help at the clinic at the same time but you have to report it. From what I can tell it's two totally different systems.

If you want to be compensated for any disability you have to file a claim. The clinic approaches this differently. If you qualify they just take care of your problems right away.

With the help of an American Legion advocate I filed a claim for service connected disability and was denied numerous times and gave up. 4 years after I filed I got a letter from them stating I qualified for a disability retro for 18 months. That almost floored me.

They work in mysterious ways there and I don't think anyone actually knows how the system works. Just get the paperwork done and hope for the best.
 
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