Google veterans affairs and get back to me.

And that's not my BRAIN being contaminated by anything, its a simple statement of proven fact. When you look at most government run health systems the productivity of the underlying health care providers actually went down not up after intervention/nationalization (friedman gives a great talk on this.) If you simply displace price as a rationing mechanism and replace it with longer wait times or diminished quality then you haven't actually increased value or productive capacity you have simply traded one problem for another.

As for drug prices, so the regulatory environment causes an artificial shortage thus high prices and the solution is to give said government regulatory regime complete control of Health Care. Do we even listen to the things we say? One of the reasons that European countries can enjoy such low prices is because WE SHOULDER THE BURDEN for so much of the R & D that takes places in medical innovation (Yaaron Brooks quotes a rough 75% of medical innovation.) So if other countries use free ride drugs and second hand techniques that would be behind the curve in our domestic market then there lower sticker price is reflective of less quality not more.

As for this gobbldy gook about making people EXPERT. You don't have to be an architect to determine which house you like or what price you're willing to pay. I have never butchered a cow in my life, I know what kind of steak I like. Likewise, anyone with a basic understanding of math can determine what they can pay for a procedure, what they can pay in premiums, which plan has a lifetime cap etc. etc. etc. People should be more involved not less in the decisions that govern their lives. And the providers (both insurers and direct care providers) have vested interest in making prospective customers comfortable with their care, products and service.

Most importantly, how did we get in this mess. We partially created the mess of hording insurance companies to corporations and not individuals the last time that we had the misguided idea of wage and price controls. This was an unintended consequence that we all have to live with. One solution is allowing more people to form associations and pool their purchasing power to make them more attractive to insurers and thus get the best bang for their buck in the marketplace. On the employer side, we see more innovation and competition that has mitigated pre-existing conditions because of community rating and so on.

As for experts negotiating on my behalf, not greater fallacy has plagued this country since the concept of DISINTERESTED EXPERTS and the progressives in line of Woodrow Wilson. A person can either be disiniterested or an expert, they can't be both. And history has demonstrated no matter how expert a single person is that a.) they will always fall short of the knowledge and creativity of society as a whole and they will never advocate or represent you the way that you would for yourself. The last set of EXPERTS advocating for health reform in this country lied for a year and a half to people undergoing cancer treatment about the affect of their plan on their continuity of care and then spent 3 billion (with a b) on a website that didn't work that they released to tbe public anyway even though it failed a test load of 1100 people let alone 11 million. It's not my mind being contaminated with anything. It's instinct guided by experience.

---

Google veterans affairs and get back to me.

What would that teach me?
The VA system has trouble hiring people because we have a shortage of doctors in general.
They also try to only treat stuff that was service-related.  A lot of the frustrations come from that; a doc shouldn't care "why" you got hurt, he should just want to help you heal.
Sometimes wait times were long.  Some people fraudulently altered their tracking of wait times.
None of this means they are doing a worse job than private providers.
Private providers won't see some of these people, and they don't have the same goals.

---

My fellow southpaw Mark Brunell will probably always be my favorite Jaguar.

Google veterans affairs and get back to me.

What would that teach me?
The VA system has trouble hiring people because we have a shortage of doctors in general.
They also try to only treat stuff that was service-related.  A lot of the frustrations come from that; a doc shouldn't care "why" you got hurt, he should just want to help you heal.
Sometimes wait times were long.  Some people fraudulently altered their tracking of wait times.
None of this means they are doing a worse job than private providers.
Private providers won't see some of these people, and they don't have the same goals.

Dodge duck dip dive and dodge!!!

Just a little fraud....  Only a couple people died in a hospital for they were in for 7 years without seeing a doctor...  If u just let them manage EVERYONE then they'll shot u how much they !!!!

---

What would that teach me?
The VA system has trouble hiring people because we have a shortage of doctors in general.
They also try to only treat stuff that was service-related.  A lot of the frustrations come from that; a doc shouldn't care "why" you got hurt, he should just want to help you heal.
Sometimes wait times were long.  Some people fraudulently altered their tracking of wait times.
None of this means they are doing a worse job than private providers.
Private providers won't see some of these people, and they don't have the same goals.

Dodge duck dip dive and dodge!!!

Just a little fraud....  Only a couple people died in a hospital for they were in for 7 years without seeing a doctor...  If u just let them manage EVERYONE then they'll shot u how much they !!!!

It's a dying business.  
every single hospital in the entire world has made mistakes that caused people to die sooner than they might have otherwise.
If we hold private hospitals up to the same standard that you are trying to hold the VA to, how would they do?
Remember, they straight up turn away non-emergency patients that they don't think can pay.
But even the ones they accept can become victims of mistakes.

---

My fellow southpaw Mark Brunell will probably always be my favorite Jaguar.

Google veterans affairs and get back to me.

What would that teach me?
The VA system has trouble hiring people because we have a shortage of doctors in general.
They also try to only treat stuff that was service-related.  A lot of the frustrations come from that; a doc shouldn't care "why" you got hurt, he should just want to help you heal.
Sometimes wait times were long.  Some people fraudulently altered their tracking of wait times.
None of this means they are doing a worse job than private providers.
Private providers won't see some of these people, and they don't have the same goals.

Literally, every single line you wrote here is wrong. You want to see what kind of cluster socialized medicine in America would look like, the VA is the poster child!

- Doctors don't hire on to the VA because of bureaucracy and image issues.
- The VA treats veterans with or without service related injury or illnesses.
- The VA is not only preventative care but also treatment. They care about the why, how, and fix action. Unfortunately, each of those has another bureaucratic level and specialist.
- Wait times are ALLWAYS long! One rare exception is if you happen to be lucky enough to live in a relatively low populated region. Wait times have gotten so bad that they implemented a program called CHOICE to allow members to seek out private providers.
- The VA is and has been doing a worse job than private providers. There have been numerous upper level firings and reorgs over the last few years. Still not working.
- Private providers will see "these" people. See the CHOICE program. In fact, most members will do everything possible to go to a private provider over the VA. I have friends that would rather pay out of pocket than go to the VA. And why wouldn't a treatment team whether VA or private have the same prevention and treatment goals?

---

What would that teach me?
The VA system has trouble hiring people because we have a shortage of doctors in general.
They also try to only treat stuff that was service-related.  A lot of the frustrations come from that; a doc shouldn't care "why" you got hurt, he should just want to help you heal.
Sometimes wait times were long.  Some people fraudulently altered their tracking of wait times.
None of this means they are doing a worse job than private providers.
Private providers won't see some of these people, and they don't have the same goals.

Literally, every single line you wrote here is wrong. You want to see what kind of cluster socialized medicine in America would look like, the VA is the poster child!

- Doctors don't hire on to the VA because of bureaucracy and image issues.
- The VA treats veterans with or without service related injury or illnesses.
- The VA is not only preventative care but also treatment. They care about the why, how, and fix action. Unfortunately, each of those has another bureaucratic level and specialist.
- Wait times are ALLWAYS long! One rare exception is if you happy to be lucky enough to live in a relatively low populated region. Wait times have gotten so bad that they implemented a program called CHOICE to allow members to seek out private providers.
- The VA is and has been doing a worse job than private providers. There have been numerous upper level firings and reorgs over the last few years. Still not working.
- Private providers will see "these" people. See the CHOICE program. In fact, most members will do everything possible to go to a private provider over the VA. I have friends that would rather pay out of pocket than go to the VA. And why wouldn't a treatment team whether VA or private have the same prevention and treatment goals?

You beat me to it.

---

There are 10 kinds of people in this world.  Those who understand binary and those who don't.

What would that teach me?
The VA system has trouble hiring people because we have a shortage of doctors in general.
They also try to only treat stuff that was service-related.  A lot of the frustrations come from that; a doc shouldn't care "why" you got hurt, he should just want to help you heal.
Sometimes wait times were long.  Some people fraudulently altered their tracking of wait times.
None of this means they are doing a worse job than private providers.
Private providers won't see some of these people, and they don't have the same goals.

Literally, every single line you wrote here is wrong. You want to see what kind of cluster socialized medicine in America would look like, the VA is the poster child!

- Doctors don't hire on to the VA because of bureaucracy and image issues.
- The VA treats veterans with or without service related injury or illnesses.
- The VA is not only preventative care but also treatment. They care about the why, how, and fix action. Unfortunately, each of those has another bureaucratic level and specialist.
- Wait times are ALLWAYS long! One rare exception is if you happen to be lucky enough to live in a relatively low populated region. Wait times have gotten so bad that they implemented a program called CHOICE to allow members to seek out private providers.
- The VA is and has been doing a worse job than private providers. There have been numerous upper level firings and reorgs over the last few years. Still not working.
- Private providers will see "these" people. See the CHOICE program. In fact, most members will do everything possible to go to a private provider over the VA. I have friends that would rather pay out of pocket than go to the VA. And why wouldn't a treatment team whether VA or private have the same prevention and treatment goals?

You probably have personal experience with this, and it upset you.
I don't have any personal experience but I do have friends who work for the VA and friends who have gotten care from the system.
Anyhow, something is not adding up about your personal experience.
If people are waiting in a long line for care at the VA, and other places don't have long lines like that, why didn't all of them just het out of the line and try their luck at private hospitals first thing?

---

My fellow southpaw Mark Brunell will probably always be my favorite Jaguar.

Literally, every single line you wrote here is wrong. You want to see what kind of cluster socialized medicine in America would look like, the VA is the poster child!

- Doctors don't hire on to the VA because of bureaucracy and image issues.
- The VA treats veterans with or without service related injury or illnesses.
- The VA is not only preventative care but also treatment. They care about the why, how, and fix action. Unfortunately, each of those has another bureaucratic level and specialist.
- Wait times are ALLWAYS long! One rare exception is if you happen to be lucky enough to live in a relatively low populated region. Wait times have gotten so bad that they implemented a program called CHOICE to allow members to seek out private providers.
- The VA is and has been doing a worse job than private providers. There have been numerous upper level firings and reorgs over the last few years. Still not working.
- Private providers will see "these" people. See the CHOICE program. In fact, most members will do everything possible to go to a private provider over the VA. I have friends that would rather pay out of pocket than go to the VA. And why wouldn't a treatment team whether VA or private have the same prevention and treatment goals?

You probably have personal experience with this, and it upset you.
I don't have any personal experience but I do have friends who work for the VA and friends who have gotten care from the system.
Anyhow, something is not adding up about your personal experience.
If people are waiting in a long line for care at the VA, and other places don't have long lines like that, why didn't all of them just het out of the line and try their luck at private hospitals first thing?

...

---

Literally, every single line you wrote here is wrong. You want to see what kind of cluster socialized medicine in America would look like, the VA is the poster child!

- Doctors don't hire on to the VA because of bureaucracy and image issues.
- The VA treats veterans with or without service related injury or illnesses.
- The VA is not only preventative care but also treatment. They care about the why, how, and fix action. Unfortunately, each of those has another bureaucratic level and specialist.
- Wait times are ALLWAYS long! One rare exception is if you happen to be lucky enough to live in a relatively low populated region. Wait times have gotten so bad that they implemented a program called CHOICE to allow members to seek out private providers.
- The VA is and has been doing a worse job than private providers. There have been numerous upper level firings and reorgs over the last few years. Still not working.
- Private providers will see "these" people. See the CHOICE program. In fact, most members will do everything possible to go to a private provider over the VA. I have friends that would rather pay out of pocket than go to the VA. And why wouldn't a treatment team whether VA or private have the same prevention and treatment goals?

You probably have personal experience with this, and it upset you.
I don't have any personal experience but I do have friends who work for the VA and friends who have gotten care from the system.
Anyhow, something is not adding up about your personal experience.
If people are waiting in a long line for care at the VA, and other places don't have long lines like that, why didn't all of them just het out of the line and try their luck at private hospitals first thing?

Because that is not always an option.

---

On average you would live longer if you were born in Canada, UK or Australia.

There must be lessons out there whether they are health or distribution of wealth or a mix of the two. Even smaller items like access to public transport and walkability of areas rather than reliance on the motorvehicle probably even factors in.

Voting to lower taxes for the rich and give less for the poor probably won't solve this

---

What would that teach me?
The VA system has trouble hiring people because we have a shortage of doctors in general.
They also try to only treat stuff that was service-related.  A lot of the frustrations come from that; a doc shouldn't care "why" you got hurt, he should just want to help you heal.
Sometimes wait times were long.  Some people fraudulently altered their tracking of wait times.
None of this means they are doing a worse job than private providers.
Private providers won't see some of these people, and they don't have the same goals.

Literally, every single line you wrote here is wrong. You want to see what kind of cluster socialized medicine in America would look like, the VA is the poster child!

- Doctors don't hire on to the VA because of bureaucracy and image issues.
- The VA treats veterans with or without service related injury or illnesses.
- The VA is not only preventative care but also treatment. They care about the why, how, and fix action. Unfortunately, each of those has another bureaucratic level and specialist.
- Wait times are ALLWAYS long! One rare exception is if you happen to be lucky enough to live in a relatively low populated region. Wait times have gotten so bad that they implemented a program called CHOICE to allow members to seek out private providers.
- The VA is and has been doing a worse job than private providers. There have been numerous upper level firings and reorgs over the last few years. Still not working.
- Private providers will see "these" people. See the CHOICE program. In fact, most members will do everything possible to go to a private provider over the VA. I have friends that would rather pay out of pocket than go to the VA. And why wouldn't a treatment team whether VA or private have the same prevention and treatment goals?

My dad is a Viet Nam vet. He and 3 other friends of the family get healthcare via the VA and we've never heard a complaint from any of them. They've provided my dad healthcare that otherwise, he could not afford. Some of his prescriptions are hundreds of dollars on their own and he is on a lot of medicines for various health problems related to exposure to chemicals during the war and years of shift work in the factory, where he was employed for 36 years. The people that I've met who complain about the service of the VA are the ones who either don't need it or are rich enough to buy whatever private healthcare they need. In fact, he just had an eye appointment at the VA last week to check on his glaucoma and he was in and out in around 45 minutes. That's not typical, but it happens. In all the years he's gone there, we've only experienced really long wait times twice that I know of and that was during a big flu outbreak where they were understaffed. That could've happened anywhere. Sometimes you just have to be patient, whether it's at the doctor, the DMV, the grocery store or a restaurant.

---

On average you would live longer if you were born in Canada, UK or Australia.

There must be lessons out there whether they are health or distribution of wealth or a mix of the two. Even smaller items like access to public transport and walkability of areas rather than reliance on the motorvehicle probably even factors in.

Voting to lower taxes for the rich and give less for the poor probably won't solve this

On average statistics are misleading, but you are right that the health care system isn't the real issue. Neither is taxation.

---

You probably have personal experience with this, and it upset you.
I don't have any personal experience but I do have friends who work for the VA and friends who have gotten care from the system.
Anyhow, something is not adding up about your personal experience.
If people are waiting in a long line for care at the VA, and other places don't have long lines like that, why didn't all of them just het out of the line and try their luck at private hospitals first thing?

Because that is not always an option.

Good private groups dont take Tricare or VA patients because the reimbursement is low and, being government programs, they are difficult to deal with. Last year the Florida VA claims shop was 12 months behind in claims processing for nearly 3 months, companies dependent on cash flow can't handle that kind of delay.

---

“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

Literally, every single line you wrote here is wrong. You want to see what kind of cluster socialized medicine in America would look like, the VA is the poster child!

- Doctors don't hire on to the VA because of bureaucracy and image issues.
- The VA treats veterans with or without service related injury or illnesses.
- The VA is not only preventative care but also treatment. They care about the why, how, and fix action. Unfortunately, each of those has another bureaucratic level and specialist.
- Wait times are ALLWAYS long! One rare exception is if you happen to be lucky enough to live in a relatively low populated region. Wait times have gotten so bad that they implemented a program called CHOICE to allow members to seek out private providers.
- The VA is and has been doing a worse job than private providers. There have been numerous upper level firings and reorgs over the last few years. Still not working.
- Private providers will see "these" people. See the CHOICE program. In fact, most members will do everything possible to go to a private provider over the VA. I have friends that would rather pay out of pocket than go to the VA. And why wouldn't a treatment team whether VA or private have the same prevention and treatment goals?

My dad is a Viet Nam vet. He and 3 other friends of the family get healthcare via the VA and we've never heard a complaint from any of them. They've provided my dad healthcare that otherwise, he could not afford. Some of his prescriptions are hundreds of dollars on their own and he is on a lot of medicines for various health problems related to exposure to chemicals during the war and years of shift work in the factory, where he was employed for 36 years. The people that I've met who complain about the service of the VA are the ones who either don't need it or are rich enough to buy whatever private healthcare they need. In fact, he just had an eye appointment at the VA last week to check on his glaucoma and he was in and out in around 45 minutes. That's not typical, but it happens. In all the years he's gone there, we've only experienced really long wait times twice that I know of and that was during a big flu outbreak where they were understaffed. That could've happened anywhere. Sometimes you just have to be patient, whether it's at the doctor, the DMV, the grocery store or a restaurant.

Really rich or didn’t need it? This is the VA, not Bay Health! In any case, you just contradicted yourself and proved my point. It is a mess and inefficient except for routine work. Pharmacy and eye checkups are hardly time consuming and beyond routine. But glad he is comfortable with his care. They are trying to improve. Most folks are just not lucky enough to live near a new high dollar facility or in a low population region. Some regions even have small “clinics” to try and offset certain service waits. My care in Fargo ND was outstanding! Not even close down here. I don’t have time to sit all day or sit 4 hours only to get rescheduled last minute...over and over. Waiting 3 weeks for urgent care is not acceptable either. It’s less of a hassle to pay a little out of pocket and use wife’s insurance. There appears to be this perception that veterans should just be patient no matter the inconvenience but boy if that standard is applied to civilians all hell breaks loose! You better have access to 5 urgent care facilities in a two block radius, drive through pharmacy access and PMC access 24/7.

My quick [BLEEP] story...my dad died this past year from a service related issue that he had been waiting years to get addressed. He paid out of pocket for treatments until he went broke. He was Navy in Vietnam and fell under the offshore agent orange claims. But as some may know, there has been a battle to deny those claims. The case was settled last week to support ALL agent orange claims in that AOR. During all this, my dad was not given even basic care because although his records supported his claim for treatment, the bureaucracy did not. He filed paperwork to upgrade his disability but that still is waiting for review two years later! This is typical in the VA. Anything to try and save a buck. That is where most issues lie. There is a set pool of money and all centers must share which means care will be unfairly rationed. There is no profit pool sharing. It is triage medicine at its worst.

---

VA facilities vary, sometimes wildly, in their level of care. My father was a patient in many VA hospitals over decades. Some treated him very well, while others were almost crime scenes. The VA hospital in Fresno almost killed him. Had I found him 15 minutes later, he would have died that day. All because a Chinese doctor who could barely speak English prescribed him insulin doses that were too strong. In Louisville, in order to get his prescriptions, we would drive to the VA early in the morning to draw a number and then return in the early afternoon to sit in the waiting room for it to be called. But the meds were free, so... 
However, the flip side of that coin is he also received lengthy and expensive care over the years that would have been unattainable had he not had VA healthcare. 

What chaps me is the abuse of the VA disability system. Dad was a combat wounded vet, which caused one leg to be almost 2 inches shorter than the other. He drew only 30%. A guy I work with is retired military, no combat, and is the picture of health. He goes to the gym 5 days a week and is limited physically in no way, yet he's gaming the system for 70%. He's just one of many who do so.

---

VA facilities vary, sometimes wildly, in their level of care. My father was a patient in many VA hospitals over decades. Some treated him very well, while others were almost crime scenes. The VA hospital in Fresno almost killed him. Had I found him 15 minutes later, he would have died that day. All because a Chinese doctor who could barely speak English prescribed him insulin doses that were too strong. In Louisville, in order to get his prescriptions, we would drive to the VA early in the morning to draw a number and then return in the early afternoon to sit in the waiting room for it to be called. But the meds were free, so... 
However, the flip side of that coin is he also received lengthy and expensive care over the years that would have been unattainable had he not had VA healthcare. 

What chaps me is the abuse of the VA disability system. Dad was a combat wounded vet, which caused one leg to be almost 2 inches shorter than the other. He drew only 30%. A guy I work with is retired military, no combat, and is the picture of health. He goes to the gym 5 days a week and is limited physically in no way, yet he's gaming the system for 70%. He's just one of many who do so.

Corruption in a government program?!?!? Say it ain't so!!!

---

“An empty vessel makes the loudest sound, so they that have the least wit are the greatest babblers.”. - Plato

VA facilities vary, sometimes wildly, in their level of care. My father was a patient in many VA hospitals over decades. Some treated him very well, while others were almost crime scenes. The VA hospital in Fresno almost killed him. Had I found him 15 minutes later, he would have died that day. All because a Chinese doctor who could barely speak English prescribed him insulin doses that were too strong. In Louisville, in order to get his prescriptions, we would drive to the VA early in the morning to draw a number and then return in the early afternoon to sit in the waiting room for it to be called. But the meds were free, so... 
However, the flip side of that coin is he also received lengthy and expensive care over the years that would have been unattainable had he not had VA healthcare. 

What chaps me is the abuse of the VA disability system. Dad was a combat wounded vet, which caused one leg to be almost 2 inches shorter than the other. He drew only 30%. A guy I work with is retired military, no combat, and is the picture of health. He goes to the gym 5 days a week and is limited physically in no way, yet he's gaming the system for 70%. He's just one of many who do so.

Corruption in a government program?!?!? Say it ain't so!!!

It really irks me. I draw 10% for hearing loss and tinnitus and didn't even file for it. It was given to me upon retirement based on years of hearing tests and screenings. This guy strategized from day one by complaining about "aches and pains" throughout his service. Then he got it bumped up another 20% under the guidance of someone who used to work for the VA that advised him on what and how to file.

---

I felt bad for years collecting my 10%, but as I've aged, I definitely have spent that much or more in hospital bills for these service related issues. The VA experience varies wildly. I'd be reluctant accepting any anecdotes. The point is that there is enough inefficiency and inconsistency to caution that there may be problems with a government run healthcare system. The question is which works better, the private or public health care system. I believe the former is preferable.

---

My dad is a Viet Nam vet. He and 3 other friends of the family get healthcare via the VA and we've never heard a complaint from any of them. They've provided my dad healthcare that otherwise, he could not afford. Some of his prescriptions are hundreds of dollars on their own and he is on a lot of medicines for various health problems related to exposure to chemicals during the war and years of shift work in the factory, where he was employed for 36 years. The people that I've met who complain about the service of the VA are the ones who either don't need it or are rich enough to buy whatever private healthcare they need. In fact, he just had an eye appointment at the VA last week to check on his glaucoma and he was in and out in around 45 minutes. That's not typical, but it happens. In all the years he's gone there, we've only experienced really long wait times twice that I know of and that was during a big flu outbreak where they were understaffed. That could've happened anywhere. Sometimes you just have to be patient, whether it's at the doctor, the DMV, the grocery store or a restaurant.

Really rich or didn’t need it? This is the VA, not Bay Health! In any case, you just contradicted yourself and proved my point. It is a mess and inefficient except for routine work. Pharmacy and eye checkups are hardly time consuming and beyond routine. But glad he is comfortable with his care. They are trying to improve. Most folks are just not lucky enough to live near a new high dollar facility or in a low population region. Some regions even have small “clinics” to try and offset certain service waits. My care in Fargo ND was outstanding! Not even close down here. I don’t have time to sit all day or sit 4 hours only to get rescheduled last minute...over and over. Waiting 3 weeks for urgent care is not acceptable either. It’s less of a hassle to pay a little out of pocket and use wife’s insurance. There appears to be this perception that veterans should just be patient no matter the inconvenience but boy if that standard is applied to civilians all hell breaks loose! You better have access to 5 urgent care facilities in a two block radius, drive through pharmacy access and PMC access 24/7.

My quick [BLEEP] story...my dad died this past year from a service related issue that he had been waiting years to get addressed. He paid out of pocket for treatments until he went broke. He was Navy in Vietnam and fell under the offshore agent orange claims. But as some may know, there has been a battle to deny those claims. The case was settled last week to support ALL agent orange claims in that AOR. During all this, my dad was not given even basic care because although his records supported his claim for treatment, the bureaucracy did not. He filed paperwork to upgrade his disability but that still is waiting for review two years later! This is typical in the VA. Anything to try and save a buck. That is where most issues lie. There is a set pool of money and all centers must share which means care will be unfairly rationed. There is no profit pool sharing. It is triage medicine at its worst.

That's fine if you have that option, but my dad doesn't have that option and if he did, he couldn't afford the premiums. He's 76 years old and on total disability after a major stroke. He and my mom are on a fixed income and the VA has been great for them. My dad averages 4-5 trips there a month and he has never experienced the inconveniences you mentioned, other than the one time I mentioned. Without the care the VA has provided, my dad might likely be dead, since they cannot afford private care. My dad's issues were related to agent orange as well. We haven't had any problems getting his issues covered by the VA, as they were determined to have been linked back to the agent orange several years ago. I'm sorry your dad went through that, but we've just had different experiences with the VA. Here in Ohio, our VA sounds like it may be running much more efficiently.

---

Really rich or didn’t need it? This is the VA, not Bay Health! In any case, you just contradicted yourself and proved my point. It is a mess and inefficient except for routine work. Pharmacy and eye checkups are hardly time consuming and beyond routine. But glad he is comfortable with his care. They are trying to improve. Most folks are just not lucky enough to live near a new high dollar facility or in a low population region. Some regions even have small “clinics” to try and offset certain service waits. My care in Fargo ND was outstanding! Not even close down here. I don’t have time to sit all day or sit 4 hours only to get rescheduled last minute...over and over. Waiting 3 weeks for urgent care is not acceptable either. It’s less of a hassle to pay a little out of pocket and use wife’s insurance. There appears to be this perception that veterans should just be patient no matter the inconvenience but boy if that standard is applied to civilians all hell breaks loose! You better have access to 5 urgent care facilities in a two block radius, drive through pharmacy access and PMC access 24/7.

My quick [BLEEP] story...my dad died this past year from a service related issue that he had been waiting years to get addressed. He paid out of pocket for treatments until he went broke. He was Navy in Vietnam and fell under the offshore agent orange claims. But as some may know, there has been a battle to deny those claims. The case was settled last week to support ALL agent orange claims in that AOR. During all this, my dad was not given even basic care because although his records supported his claim for treatment, the bureaucracy did not. He filed paperwork to upgrade his disability but that still is waiting for review two years later! This is typical in the VA. Anything to try and save a buck. That is where most issues lie. There is a set pool of money and all centers must share which means care will be unfairly rationed. There is no profit pool sharing. It is triage medicine at its worst.

That's fine if you have that option, but my dad doesn't have that option and if he did, he couldn't afford the premiums. He's 76 years old and on total disability after a major stroke. He and my mom are on a fixed income and the VA has been great for them. My dad averages 4-5 trips there a month and he has never experienced the inconveniences you mentioned, other than the one time I mentioned. Without the care the VA has provided, my dad might likely be dead, since they cannot afford private care. My dad's issues were related to agent orange as well. We haven't had any problems getting his issues covered by the VA, as they were determined to have been linked back to the agent orange several years ago. I'm sorry your dad went through that, but we've just had different experiences with the VA. Here in Ohio, our VA sounds like it may be running much more efficiently.

I think really my point is the system is very inconsistent and does not function the same in all regions. You would think the opposite to be true for a government program. A standard of care nationally if you will. The fact that a multi-tiered private sector can offer a more standardized level of care is disheartening. This is why I have my doubts, at least for now, that a government healthcare system for all would be feasible. A financial and coverage nightmare.

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All I can say is, when I was new to my current insurance I was not covered for a year for my preexisting condition of anxiety and depression and had to pay cash every month to see my doctor. $93 per visit. After my insurance decided I was "worthy" of coverage I had a $60 co-pay and they (the provider) charged my insurance company $255 per visit on top of the co-pay. That's over $300 for the same dang visit. Something is wrong with this picture.

I currently see an alternative medicine doctor/chiropractor who refuses to take insurance because of all the BS and red tape involved and He doesn't want insurance companies telling him how to treat his patients. He charges what a typical specialist co-pay is and that is covered by my flexible spending account.

Your psychiatrist isn't getting $255 from the insurance. I will do my best to explain. You have to bill at a high rate so that you get the max the insurance will allow. Basically its like asking for a credit card raise.

Me: Hey visa, I want a 50k credit line increase.
Visa: Ugh your income hasn't changed at all. We will give you a 3k increase.
Me: Okay

Its a bit more complicated than that. Because you have to offer the same price to any insurance, so you have to have a number that is high enough that you will never be below an insurance threshold. Your psychiatrist can charge you, as a patient, less when you pay cash as basically a paying same day cash discount (which insurance won't do, they have to billed argued with etc. etc. )

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Yes, it's improvement, but it's Blaine Gabbert 2012 level improvement. - Pirkster

http://youtu.be/ouGM3NWpjxk The Home Hypnotist!

http://youtu.be/XQRFkn0Ly3A Media on the Brain Link!
 

Peyton must store oxygen in that forehead of his. No way I'd still be alive after all that choking.