VA healthcare in retirement?
- Thread starter efg090754
- Start date
OneEyedDiva
SF VIP
- Location
- New Jersey
We had a friend who used it and was very satisfied with it and he had a serious issue...kidney disease and eventually dialysis then a transplant. Due to our friend's positive experiences I tried to get my husband to sign up for it but he never did. I would imagine that the staff and doctors at various facilities might be a factor as to whether one gets good care or not.
Tommy
Senior Member
- Location
- New Hampshire
To the best of my knowledge, only veterans having verifiable, service-connected injuries or illnesses are eligible for VA healthcare.
Widow of Vietnam Vet
Member
- Location
- Cohocton NY
This is the VA's eligibility site for VA Health Care. Almost every veteran is eligible for Heath care.
Eligibility for VA health care | Veterans Affairs
The VA was supposed to be re vamped MANY times over the years, but in my opinion it has gotten worse.
President Trump started the VA White House Hot line years ago and I filed a formal complaint against VA that turned into a Bill the Senate has passed unanimously. Hopefully the House will pass it in 2024.
https://news.va.gov/60596/white-house-va-hotline-surpasses-250000-calls-veteran-community/
I had researched a Mandate the VA was supposed to follow regarding any malpractice and/or wrongful death cases, and found that VA did not always honor this mandate in reporting what they should have reported.
I might have mentioned here before that my husband's death was due to proven VA malpractice.
VA saves lives every day but their true malpractice statistics are hidden from Congress and the Public, in two ways, which I proved in my complaint, with evidence. The Bill will demand their proper accounting of malpractice and they will Have to honor the NPDB mandate.
Negligence and malpractice can happen at any hospital, private or VA.
Some of the BEST people I know ( to include my dead husband) have worked for the VA.
But sometimes good people work side by side with idiots.
VA Service Connected compensation is explained here:
VA disability compensation | Veterans Affairs
Some vets or their surviving spouses get a VA Pension- the eligibility for that is at above link.
They seem to forget about Section 1151 , 38, USC benefits.
I received DIC under 1151 for wrongful death of my husband, but then I proved they malpracticed on 3 Agent Orange disabilities he had, and they changed my DIC to direct Service connected death.
Many vets are shocked at how many benefits there are available for veterans, and often for their family members.
I finished my degree at AMU under Chapter 35 VA benefits.
And in addition to Medicare Part A and B , I get CHAMPVA which picks up whatever Medicare does not pay.
CHAMPVA and Chapter 35 are googleable to find out more, what makes a vet's spouse, surviving spouse and/or child ,eligible.
Eligibility for VA health care | Veterans Affairs
The VA was supposed to be re vamped MANY times over the years, but in my opinion it has gotten worse.
President Trump started the VA White House Hot line years ago and I filed a formal complaint against VA that turned into a Bill the Senate has passed unanimously. Hopefully the House will pass it in 2024.
https://news.va.gov/60596/white-house-va-hotline-surpasses-250000-calls-veteran-community/
I had researched a Mandate the VA was supposed to follow regarding any malpractice and/or wrongful death cases, and found that VA did not always honor this mandate in reporting what they should have reported.
I might have mentioned here before that my husband's death was due to proven VA malpractice.
VA saves lives every day but their true malpractice statistics are hidden from Congress and the Public, in two ways, which I proved in my complaint, with evidence. The Bill will demand their proper accounting of malpractice and they will Have to honor the NPDB mandate.
Negligence and malpractice can happen at any hospital, private or VA.
Some of the BEST people I know ( to include my dead husband) have worked for the VA.
But sometimes good people work side by side with idiots.
VA Service Connected compensation is explained here:
VA disability compensation | Veterans Affairs
Some vets or their surviving spouses get a VA Pension- the eligibility for that is at above link.
They seem to forget about Section 1151 , 38, USC benefits.
I received DIC under 1151 for wrongful death of my husband, but then I proved they malpracticed on 3 Agent Orange disabilities he had, and they changed my DIC to direct Service connected death.
Many vets are shocked at how many benefits there are available for veterans, and often for their family members.
I finished my degree at AMU under Chapter 35 VA benefits.
And in addition to Medicare Part A and B , I get CHAMPVA which picks up whatever Medicare does not pay.
CHAMPVA and Chapter 35 are googleable to find out more, what makes a vet's spouse, surviving spouse and/or child ,eligible.
bobcat
Well-known Member
- Location
- Northern Calif
I have been on the VA healthcare system for roughly 12 yrs, and overall, I am very satisfied. Literally every doctor, nurse, NP, and service counter personnel have been wonderful, caring, and professional individuals. I don't have any service connected disability, so that is not a requirement.
I have found that the wait times aren't really any different than in the private sector. They have gone though a few struggles in the past couple years with staffing, which is also the same situation in the private sector. However, they have managed pretty well to cover the needs, even when they needed to use phone consultations coupled with lab tests done at the VA facility.
One of the things I love most about the VA system is that I can go into any one of the thousands of facilities, and all I have to give them is my name and soc. sec. number, and in an instant, they can pull up my entire health history, and no other question needs to be answered except the reason for the visit. They even have an after hour VA advice nurse staffed by an RN who can help you determine if you need to go to emergency or not. As far as meds that are prescribed, there is no problem. They can be done by automated refill, and you just pay a small fee for whatever it is.
If the VA facility is closed, and it's an emergency, you just need to let the VA know within 24 hrs, and they will cover it, and have you transferred to one of their hospitals if it's going to be a longer stay. If specialty care is needed and there is no VA facility in your area that does it, you need to get a referral from your VA physician that the specialty care is needed, meaning that it has to necessary, and it will be covered except for $50.
Overall, I am very satisfied with their system and professional care.
I have found that the wait times aren't really any different than in the private sector. They have gone though a few struggles in the past couple years with staffing, which is also the same situation in the private sector. However, they have managed pretty well to cover the needs, even when they needed to use phone consultations coupled with lab tests done at the VA facility.
One of the things I love most about the VA system is that I can go into any one of the thousands of facilities, and all I have to give them is my name and soc. sec. number, and in an instant, they can pull up my entire health history, and no other question needs to be answered except the reason for the visit. They even have an after hour VA advice nurse staffed by an RN who can help you determine if you need to go to emergency or not. As far as meds that are prescribed, there is no problem. They can be done by automated refill, and you just pay a small fee for whatever it is.
If the VA facility is closed, and it's an emergency, you just need to let the VA know within 24 hrs, and they will cover it, and have you transferred to one of their hospitals if it's going to be a longer stay. If specialty care is needed and there is no VA facility in your area that does it, you need to get a referral from your VA physician that the specialty care is needed, meaning that it has to necessary, and it will be covered except for $50.
Overall, I am very satisfied with their system and professional care.
hearlady
Every Day is a New Day.
- Location
- N Carolina
My husband does. He says it comes down to your particular location and their reputation.
Talk to local veterans in your community for reviews.
Widow of Vietnam Vet
Member
- Location
- Cohocton NY
That is Excellent advice. I know many vets who get GREAT care from VA.
Thanks for the valuable feedback. Much appreciated.
I have been receiving my healthcare from the VA for many years now and have had nothing but a positive experience. I retired in 2017 at 62 and decided to get my care from the VA until I hit 65 to be eligible for Medicare. When I was approaching 65 I realized how very comprehensive my care had been with the VA and decided to forgo enrolling in part B.
I have copays for prescriptions, office visits and procedures as deemed necessary. I have found that navigating the system and making sure that my needs are met is fairly seamless. The key to this is making sure I advocate for my healthcare needs. No different than the private sector.
Once again, thanks for the feedback.
I have been receiving my healthcare from the VA for many years now and have had nothing but a positive experience. I retired in 2017 at 62 and decided to get my care from the VA until I hit 65 to be eligible for Medicare. When I was approaching 65 I realized how very comprehensive my care had been with the VA and decided to forgo enrolling in part B.
I have copays for prescriptions, office visits and procedures as deemed necessary. I have found that navigating the system and making sure that my needs are met is fairly seamless. The key to this is making sure I advocate for my healthcare needs. No different than the private sector.
Once again, thanks for the feedback.
john19485
Member
Had a nutcase VA doctor some years ago tried to kidnap me at the VA hospital in Salt Lake, I was lucky my daugther who is a doctor was with me, I think for some reason the women wanted to kill me, they fired her later on, still cost me $1000. out of pocket, because myy daugther had me transfered to another hospital , total cost as $10,000 for one night at the other hospital, they ran test at this private hospital , said there as nothing wrong with me, just depends I guess, I will not go to the VA hospital in this state, some people get good service, but it only takes one time.
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StillLearning
Member
- Location
- Minnesota
Hubby has private health insurance as well as VA benefits with a 10% disability. He checks in with them once a year to keep active benefits going. He wanted to drop private insurance years ago but I said absolutely not. I don’t trust them. That being said the VA has really come through during the years with prescriptions.
Sarci
New Member
My dad was a Korean War vet and paid for BS/BS out of his pocket instead of using the VA. One of my brothers uses VA because private health care is so expensive. The VA can be under staffed and under funded so many people have to wait longer for certain services, but it beats not having anything.