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Department of Veterans Affairs?

Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care?

  • Serious question time. I recently provided a ride to one of my relatives to the regional VA Medical Center for an examination. This man is a senior citizen, veteran, republican, and was a successful professional during his career years. He can afford and does have private medicare gap insurance, but prefers to go to the VA for general and preventative care. I asked him why and he said he trusted the VA more than his private practice doctors, and felt they were efficient, friendly, and thorough. He also appreciated the fact that they proactively scheduled check-ups and specialist appointments and notified him, rather than him having to schedule them himself with his private clinic. While he also liked the low cost of the VA services, he indicated that was a secondary consideration. I'd like to hear opinions from other veterans on VA health benefits. Do you think they are good or bad, and why do you feel that way? My interest is to understand whether the federal government can effectively administer a health care system. I'm not implying any correlation between VA health care and the national health care proposal, I just want to know if the feds have a positive or negative track record on administering ANY health care plan.

  • Answer:

    What? Take a look if the government can run anything and look at the post office? The post office runs very well, don't you think? Hmm... Well, anyway, reading something that has every word capitalized is tiring. Here's an article that says that veterans are more satisfied about their health care than the general public: http://www1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=1069 Here's an article that says that veterans are opposed to current plans to privatize some of their health care: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/03/10/veterans.health.insurance/ Here's an article that explains how veteran's hospital became the best in health care: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1376238,00.html Here's an article about how the revamped veteran's health care system has become a model for health care systems: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/21/AR2005082101073.html This article says that the VA health care system is "in shambles." http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/24/va-medical-shambles-veterans-groups-say/ My thoughts are that the Veteran's Administration is a bit underfunded. It is socialized medicine, so, although it is taking care of our veterans, there is a reluctance by some members of congress to fund it properly. But, they do a good job. My father is a veteran of three wars and he would not hesitate to use the VA. The VA should be funded properly, and if it was funded properly, it would continue to demonstrate that the government can, indeed run health care properly. And, if you want to include Medicaire, consider that Medicaire runs on a much lower profit margin than private health care, but continues to operate efficiently. So with Medicaire and the VA, we have two medical systems that the government runs well.

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As a veteran it disgust me to see you using honorable men and women who served this country for your own political reasons. If you want to learn about the VA then do as hundreds of millions have before you and serve your country instead of taking what unsuspecting vets have to say and twist there words to fit your political views. Shame on you!

You people just don't quit. You make me sick.

We have given enough, many will never come home, others will carry their scars every day till they die, many of us have a hard time just trying to get threw each day, many give it every thing they have not to give up and eat a bullet for breakfast, Blood suckers like you are not a welcome site. Please find another source to manipulate with your disrespecting ways.

get the hell out of here

I have a friend whose father was a career military person. I agree he had wonderful health coverage. On the other hand he did spend his life serving this country. Thing is my friend's father also has medicare in addition to VA coverage.. What medicare didn't cover the VA did and the choice was his. The military is a totally different ball game. I believe that their doctors are members of the arm forces and/ or whatever medical services that they farm out to other facilities they hold to strick standards. In short they have many safe fail systems in place. My friend did confide in me that her father liked the VA services mainly because he really enjoyed that feeling of still belonging to the Army. They talk his talk!

akelleystr22

I have nothing but good to say about the VA. True, at one time the system had to deal with an overload of WW2, Korea and Vietnam vets. A good part of that 'pig in the python' problem has been abated due to the diminishing number of older veterans. The system, while still imperfect rates a solid 'B+' these days. The fact that a vet can get a 90 day supply of any needed medication for eight to ten dollars is a real plus. But here we're comparing oranges to apples. The VA runs a HEALTH CARE system. Nothing like that has been proposed for the general population. What's been proposed is an optional non-profit HEALTH INSURANCE company designed to insure anyone who wants to access a lower cost public option plan. I'm not convinced that a VA system for the entire population would work...it probably wouldn't, but this only points out that one size doesn't fit all. Unfortunately the current system is fitting fewer and fewer...it's time think 'future', and the sooner the better.

Noah H

We have underfunded the VA for 16 years. Only this year did we finally provide full support to our Veterans and heroes. Many of our recent problems--Walter Reed and others--were primarily due to lack of funds and people to administer quality facilities and care. Thankfully, we are just now starting to refocus our efforts on honoring our soldier's sacrifices both on and OFF the battlefield.

Sarah

I also use the VA. I am a disabled veteran. The treatment I receive is the best I have ever received. VA doctors take the time to explain things for you and answer your questions. They also practice preventive medicine. The VA has the most modern system in the US. US Navy 60-64 AG3

Walks Far Man

This Is Just My Opinion From What I Have Seen And Heard So Take It For That And That Alone: The VA Has Come Along Way In The Ability To Treat The Former Military Members, It Use To Be A Real Night Mare To Get Anything Done... Waiting Lists For Appointments Were Months Long... Most Of The Time You Would Say The Heck With Them And Go See A Local Health Care Provider Out Of Your Own Pocket... Most Of This Has Changed Due To The Higher Visibility They Have Been Receiving As A Result Of The Many Iraq (OIF) And Afghanistan (OEF) Injured Troops Returning For Treatment, The VA Is In A Bigger Spot Light Of The American People So They Have Buckled Down To Meet The Task At Hand... If You Want To See If The Government Can Manage Anything, Just Take A Look At The Post Office And All Of The Local Offices Closing Due To Mismanagement... That Might Give You An In sight On What To Expect If The Government Takes Full Control Of Health Care. Don't Get Me Wrong, Something Really Needs To Be Done About The Current Health Care Situation But... Total Control From The Government Is Not The Answer That I Would Like To See.

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