I finally filed a claim with the VA

[GP6971]

through the WA state Department Of Veterans. I never thought it would be honored, but it was.

I have to say things went very smoothly. I filed in March and received my 10% disability notification in June and my first check in July. I then received a phone call from the company that manages the Veterans choice Program. I had an appointment in early August and now have a follow up next month authorizing all sorts of routine Xrays, tests etc.

So far, much better than my current company paid health care.

[Eko]

1. Great!

[Kaleva]

2. Mine went smoothly too.

I got a 10% rating and not 25% because I'm fine if I'm sitting with my leg elevated.

[MLAA]

3. Wonderful! Glad to hear it. You earned the best care possible.

[lunasun]

4. Did you see the post Victor @DU had of the ad made of his VA support ?

Check it out & glad things are working out for you in WA
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1179&pid=7374

[GP6971]

5. No I hadn't, but I'll check it out

Many thanks!

[AC_Mem]

6. good for you!

Choice is not (yet) a permanent fixture of the VA and frankly, I'm seeing that many Vets use Choice and then end up asking to come back to the VA. The care you get at the VA is unique. In the private sector you are a patient like everyone else who walks in the physician/provider's door; in the VAMC you are an honored member of a huge supportive community of healers who respect and honor your service to our country. Is it perfect? of course not, but I have never seen people work so hard as I have since i began working for the VA. And please don't misunderstand - there are wonderful providers in the private sector, it is just that the VA is custom made for the specific and unique needs of Veterans - who have very very complex medical profiles.

Additionally - every single day starts with a focus on "access" - meaning, how do we get the Veterans in to see their care provider as quickly as possible. Our goal is less than 30 days, and many of our clinics are becoming more of a "walk-in", so even better than 30 days. I'm watching the VA change to fit the needs of the Veterans. They are listening and working to make this a gold standard of care for Veterans and frankly - congress should be looking at the VA if they really want to improve the ACA. We are as close to universal healthcare as it comes LOL.

thank you for your service,
Annette

[The River]

7. Choice is a Backdoor Scam

to privatize the VA.

It's a BAD "Choice".

[AC_Mem]

10. It is unfortunately, necessary

There are needs that the Veterans have that we may not be able to meet. Let me give you some examples:

Veteran A needs a cardiac bypass. The VA hospital closest to him does not have the capability to do heart surgery. Before Choice, he may have had to travel for hours to a VA hospital that did have that capability (the VA would not pay for outside care if it can be done inside the VA) and the Veterans did not like that. They wanted the Choice to be seen in a timely manner without having to travel long distances, and for that care to be paid for by the VA.

Veteran B is in a wheelchair and lives 50 miles from the nearest VA hospital. He does not have a car or reliable transportation. He needs care closer to his home.

Veteran C needs Chiropractic care and the nearest VA does not offer this (although this is changing, we just hired our first Chiropractor!). He is able to go to the chiropractor via Choice.

The answer? Give more funding to the VA so we can build more hospitals and hire more providers and specialists. Until that happens, we still have to give the Veterans care - so, Choice. Most of the complaints I hear from the Veterans are about the third party contractor who actually handles the coordination of the outside appointment. They are overwhelmed and the Veterans sometimes have to wait longer for Choice than if they had stayed within the VA system.

I look forward to the day when the VA offers the Veterans so much that they do not need Choice.

Annette

[The River]

13. You're Right

especially about this

"Most of the complaints I hear from the Veterans are about the third party contractor who actually handles the coordination of the outside appointment."

That's the same thing I'm hearing. 3rd party contractors who take forever to coordinate a service, get authorization to pay for and then schedule a service.

I like that the VA is proactive regarding healthcare. Age appropriate tests and procedures are automatically scheduled. The system makes everything available to all the other Dr.'s. I had a test yesterday at one VA facility and met today with a surgical specialist at different VA facility. He had all my test results. My meds are in the mail....

Try getting that kind of service from 2 different private hospitals.

[GP6971]

14. With a 8 to 12 month wait

at VA provided facilities, many of us have no choice.

[GP6971]

9. I know. Right now it's only funded through February of next year

I was offered 3 choices.....VA facilities close by with a 8 to 13 month waiting list, a clinic about 26 miles away or the Choice Program. I took the Choice Program. I asked if I could be on Choice until openings at the VA came up and was old no.

[AC_Mem]

11. I'm not sure where you live

but 8 to 13 month waiting list is UNHEARD of where I work. No way no how, unless you are being seen or followed up on for an annual appointment. If it were me I would escalate my request with the local VA and ask for a sooner appointment. Choice has specific criteria because it has limited funding that has to go a long way - which is why it cannot cover all needs outside.

annette

[leanforward]

8. Way to go.

I don't know your back story. YOU SERVED. They gave me a 10%, too. It's been well worth it. Because of my circumstance, I never thought I would get anything.
You and I are lucky, especially when you pass the wall. Or, when we honor a soldier, sailor, marine, or a coastie, in Arlington or ANY military memorial cemetery in our country.

[GP6971]

12. I'm on the west coast

served 1973 - 1977. I get back to DC about 2 times a year. Mandatory stop at the wall. I knew too many people that were in VM or affected by it. And too many names on the wall.

They recently had the traveling wall visit our little community for 4 days in June I talked to a couple of sponsors/ supporters and told them the fact that I was a Vietnam Era veteran. I was asked if I received my "Pin". I said no and then a couple of Vets presented me with a pin that said "Vietnam War veteran".

I was never in VM and have never carried weapon except for 2 exercises in Korea. I cannot in good conscious ever wear that pin.

If the pin said Vietnam ERA Veteran, I would proudly wear it. Not so here...it's a dishonor to those that fought and died.

Truly overcompensation....and it's way too late.

[DashOneBravo]

15. I wish you the best

I'm glad you were able to do that. I'm lucky and have always had great work insurance. And my ears took a beating when I was in and I was able to get in and take a audio test right before I got out. It showed the difference.


I think you have to be pretty bad to get a rating. But I've not checked in decades