VA and Vets

[Monkeyman2500]

Recently met a really nice kid who was reluctantly telling me how hard it was to get an appointment with the VA doctor. He's having bad stomach issues and has a family history of stomach and colon cancer. He told me how hard it was to get an appointment and he eventually had to go through a charity to see a doctor. Is it really this bad? This guy was a Marine with two tours of afghanistan .

[npgunner]

Speaking as an "insider" (I work for the VA) and friend to many Vets ...

It seems the frustrating issue is gaining access to care, which has little to do with those of us on the medical staff, and more to do with whatever .gov bureaucrat (slowly) reviews service histories and assigns benefits. From what I hear, once people are in the system and seeing the docs, most patients are pleased with the care and assistance they receive.

[Raoul]

Based on conversations with a group of friends, all of whom served, defer and delay is still the norm with the VA. What I find to be just as insulting is blatantly ignoring their own guidelines on payment of agreed upon settlements when they choose.

While their services to the individual are often very good, obtaining care is apparently still a serious problem.

[R1100R]

I have had no issues. I use the VA in Murfreesboro. I am also a Chief Medical NCO in the Army, so I have an idea what care should look like.
.

 

The first thing that needs to happen is he must be registered with the VA. A DD214 is also required. Due to the back log in some areas at the VA they have recently issued a new card that authorizes you to be seen by a civilian health care if you can not get a appointment within 30 days. At every Hospital there are Veteran Service Officers (VFW,American Legion, etc etc) that can assit with the process. Services are not always free, it depends on if you have income or insurance. With a wartime service DD214 you are normally entitled to 5 years of medical care not service connected.

 

There are a lot of things that come into play with so little information you have given. Glad to help if needed.

[DaveTN]

Congress passed the Veterans' Access to Care Act in August. He should try again.

[Ugly]

I've had the problem of getting appointments in a timely fashion. The shortest was 3 weeks and the next was 11 weeks and the third was just under 6 months. The quality of care is something to be desired too. The average appointment time was between 10 and 20 minutes.

I avoid the place now but do know there are a lot of good people there that want to help. It has become a machine that seems too broken to fix without a complete revamp. My Dr retired, they had temps filling in for 3 years, finally got a new Dr and she seemed real, like she cared. I asked her if she was going to be my perm Dr and she told me she already resigned (less than 6 months there). She said the management was so dysfunctional that she didn't see it getting better and it wasn't run to be about medical care.

Kinda like any gov run program I guess. My prognosis? Yes, it is that bad.

[btq96r]

The only thing I've ever been rated for was my hypertension, at 0%, and quite honestly, it's easier to see a doctor and get my RX filled out of pocket on the open market than through the VA.  Having to rely on them for something complicated would scare me.

Edited January 12, 2015 by btq96r

[Grayfox54]

I can't speak for the whole system, but the VA in memphis is a complete cluster :censored: . My younger son is an Iraq veteran and his attempts to deal with these people have been a lesson in frustration and incompetence. The biggest problem seems to be complete and total apathy for the vets. Nobody cares.

I was there one day and noticed an older man, probably in his 70s, who seemed to be having trouble walking. Before I could get to him, he fell flat on his face and busted open his forehead. Several doctors and nurses walked right past him without so much as a glance. We actually had to go find somebody to take care of him!  :rant:

The place is an embarresment to our nation and certianly no way to treat our veterans.  :mad:

[Ugly]

Congress passed the Veterans' Access to Care Act in August. He should try again.

My wife got a card for that in the mail. It says she can use civilian services if the VA wait is too long, there isn't much more info than that and she hasn't tried it yet. Hopefully it helps those that need it. 

[Just2Honor]

So far my experience has been 10 1/2 months since filing of a claim and to schedule an appointment for a hearing test.   I was told I had hearing loss in both ears.    Denial Letter issued in 10 days of test date.        Written appeal made mailed July 10th and no further word from VA has been received--6 months.  Glad it's not life-threatening!     

[DMark]

Congress passed the Veterans' Access to Care Act in August. He should try again.

 

:shake:

 

Its as worthless as the plastic used with the cards. 

 

Just more Career Professional Politicians passing feed-good stuff in an effort to make it look like they are doing something. 

 

Note the information that I have boxed in red.

 

Front.

 

 

Back.

 

 

All that "does not provide pre-approval" and "authorized" on the card is just how a bureaucracy speaks when it doesn't want to do something.  :blah:  

[Tncobra]

The wait still is a problem.

 

It takes me usually three weeks to get a primary Dr apt. Then the problem starts getting the next appointment at the VA center, Hospital clinic etc. 

 

So from the time I set foot into the primary Dr's office until I get to a specialized clinic is several months. Longer if its anything related to mental health, PTSD etc. 

 

The Choice Card is a joke. You are supposed to be able to use it if your VA care is too far away. 40 miles I think is what it said. I tried using it as some of my Clinics are over 100 miles away. I was told there were no participating Dr's that were close to me. So that didn't work. It didn't make me feel good at all.   

[DWARREN123]

I am glad I have Tri Care Prime instead of having to go to VA. I actually have less out of pocket expense than if I went the VA route.

Tri Care lets me deal with a PCP on a approved list and mine is a great doc.

[Dolomite_supafly]

The Veteran's Access Care Act does work. I have used it even though I am within 40 miles of a facility and I seen my doctor two weeks ago I am still eligible.

 

If you cannot be seen by the VA within 30 days for ANYTHING you can go on the economy. I am doing it as we speak. I was scheduled for a ENT doctor but the appointment was not until March so I got a call from the VA, I did not call, and was told I could go to a local doctor. I needed to call the Tricare west number to get approval. The phone didn't ring three times before they answered.

 

So it works but you must make a few phone calls. Personally the VA system has been better to me than any civilian insurance I have ever had.

[Dolomite_supafly]

:shake:

 

Its as worthless as the plastic used with the cards. 

 

Just more Career Professional Politicians passing feed-good stuff in an effort to make it look like they are doing something. 

 

Note the information that I have boxed in red.

 

Front.

 

 

Back.

 

 

All that "does not provide pre-approval" and "authorized" on the card is just how a bureaucracy speaks when it doesn't want to do something.  :blah:  

Have you actually used the program?

[buck1032]

I am glad I have Tri Care Prime instead of having to go to VA. I actually have less out of pocket expense than if I went the VA route.

Tri Care lets me deal with a PCP on a approved list and mine is a great doc.

How are you able to maintain Prime? They cancelled mine and dropped me to Tricare Standard in the Fall of 13. If you don't want to go into here please feel free to PM me.

[DMark]

Have you actually used the program?

 

Maybe its working in the Knoxville area, but here in Middle Tennessee all of the local Veteran Service Officers trying to make it work are running into a lack of participating medical providers.  I haven't been able to "use" the program because of that.  

 

Having said that, when I have been seen at the VA in Murfreesboro the care has been good.  Not SF medic or Flight Surgeon good, but still good. 

Edited January 12, 2015 by DMark

[R1100R]

Not trying to beat a dead dog, I just called the Murfreeesboro VA for a new issue and got a appointment for 10am tommorow. I also have TRICARE but use the VA for service connected issues.

[DWARREN123]

I have not had my Tri Care Prime changed. May be my location or something else, I am not sure.

[E4 No More]

I'm sorry, but the entire VA system is an embarrassment to this county and not enough citizens care about it to actually do something about it. Example, ask someone about the death panels and watch them look at you with no emotion about it because it's old news. I have friends who work for the VA and who tell me things that go on there. While there are many who actually give a crap there are many more who couldn't care less about doing their jobs, and the unfortunate thing about the latter is that management can't get rid of them. The system which was set-up to care for men and women who sacrificed ANYTHING in the service of this country does its best to hurt them. I could go on a diatribe about my personal experience with the VA, but I'm sure no one cares. :(

[R1100R]

I have not had my Tri Care Prime changed. May be my location or something else, I am not sure.

Its my understanding is you have Prime if you live within 50 miles of a military installation with a MTF.

[2.ooohhh]

I'm sorry, but the entire VA system is an embarrassment to this county and not enough citizens care about it to actually do something about it. Example, ask someone about the death panels and watch them look at you with no emotion about it because it's old news. I have friends who work for the VA and who tell me things that go on there. While there are many who actually give a crap there are many more who couldn't care less about doing their jobs, and the unfortunate thing about the latter is that management can't get rid of them. The system which was set-up to care for men and women who sacrificed ANYTHING in the service of this country does its best to hurt them. I could go on a diatribe about my personal experience with the VA, but I'm sure no one cares. :(

 

Not all of the VA system is an embarrassment, but portions certainly are.

[MrsMonkeyMan2500]

He's doing work for us in our new home. The first conversation we had was me saying hi, asking about the marines and thanking him for his service. The look of shock on his face when I said it made me sad. He told me that he rarely heard that. That just pissed me off. 2 tours, no thanks and no healthcare. I just don't get it.

The more he comes to work at our house the more I just want to adopt him. I'm probably only 4-6 years older but this kid breaks my heart an not I a bad way. I've gotten to where I just want to feed him and listen to him talk.

I don't see how someone in his situation can't get care. I think Monkey and I will look into trying to help him. He might just need help to get through the system.

[Ugly]

The backlog for acceptance has jumped in recent years (obama) last I saw it was over a 2 year wait. I was lucky, my claim was fastracked because I filed when I was active duty and the organizer hadn't infused his ilk in leadership yet. My ol lady's claim took over 2 years with the cute little process of them saying they were missing her medical record and other pertinent info. The VA has been caught sitting and transferring lenghty packages and processing the smaller claims due to turnover. The more claims processed, the bigger the bonus for the worker. 

 

My last trip there, an older gentleman, guessing about 80 started yelling and losing his cool. He was pissed about the lazy person at the desk to welcome and check in patients. (he was not wrong with his assessment, these are some of the laziest folks I've seen)sorta like the walmart greeter that doesn't greet you. He was escorted out.

 

My appointment was canceled, they forgot to notify me. Too bad so sad. 

 

I think there are several problems that are too big to fix.

1. Unions in civil service, bad, bad, bad idea for the end user and taxpayer. (It's good if you are for the "Cloward Piven Strategy"

2. too many bureaucrats running the show, most with no real world experience.

3. A disdain and hate for the military and veterans that are considered possible terrorists, this is the worst I have seen in my lifetime I'm 47.

4. Ethics seem to be lacking in the big picture. 

 

It is bad, and a shame. 

 

I hope that young man gets help and let him know that many of us appreciate his sacrifice and service! 

Have him contact his congressman, senator and DAV. Someone can help him

[DaveTN]

The more claims processed, the bigger the bonus for the worker.

So you are saying a VA worker is being paid a bonus, or being paid on how many claims they can clear?