Somebody explain to me Veteran's heathcare.

[stormrider]

Was visiting my mother in law's cousin this weekend in Tampa and medicine costs were brought up in conversation. It wasn't clear to me, a non-vet, but supporter, as to how the Veterans medical care works or is supposed to work. I'm sure there are several of you that can explain it to me so I can possibly help keep up with what he's dealing with.

Thanks in advance.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Google is a wonderful thing 

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/costs/

[Chrisj CMA]

It depends on how you define a Veteran.  Active duty is different than retired, and different still when you didnt retire, served enough time and came out with a service related something or other....they go to the VA (veterans administration)....All three categories are thought of as Veterans sometimes, but the care system is different

[BudMan]

The VA site (imagine this) only tells part of the story.   Most of us carry private insurance as a supplement to TriCare. It will pay the portion of the medical charges not covered by TriCare.  As long as you always go to a provider that is in network (meaning they have agreed to the amounts approved for charges by the Government) You have nothing out of pocket except your premiums (and any deductibles) for the supplement policy. I will be glad to assist by sending information to your ML’s cousin if you would like.  Just drop me a line.
Good luck, it can be a frightening jungle in there.

[stormrider]

Thanks Joe, I probably don't have enough of his information for the site to help me. I'll have to do a little probing on it.

[Dangle]

Best call up or go down to you local VA office. I have a service connected disability from my time in VN and with an appointment don't spend too much time waiting at the local VA hospital. Everything is computerized, they swipe my ID card and my records and history are there on the screen. Just to be safe, if you have private insurance, don't give it up.

[usmc1142]

well, it's difficult to follow.  If you served 20+ years you get some care, (not dental).  If you served 6 months or more and become an alcoholic, druggie, etc.. you basiclly get a lifetime of care,+ dental.
  I work at a V.A. hospital have seen some of the most screwed up people.  I saw a wwII pilot  ( and career soldier) come in for an eye exam.  The guy was 80 years old and served his country well, but made too much money in his retirement to get glasses.  I've seen a guy who served 4 years in the army come in weighing 700 lbs and get a specialized bed and wheelchair from the VA.  You can't tell me he weighed that much when he got discharged, but yet the VA picked up the bill.
  Alot, and I mean ALOT of guys in the domicilary program use it  and abuse it, going from here to Florida in the winter, then to another program in some other VISN, just living off of the government.
  The VA is the last stop for alot of vets, some very deserving, but many not.  It makes me sad to see the derelicts "belly up to the trough" while many deserving vets can't get care because they did some good with there life, not depending  on uncle sam to take care of them forever.  sorry for the rant.

[asfltdncr]

The "derelicts" that "belly up" are Veterans that demographically are from the era of the military draft and were called to duty.It is not by coincidence that our Vets are the majority of homeless, drug abusers, and alcoholics.
Get ready for the next wave of "derelicts" coming home from Iraq and Afganistan.

[stormrider]

Thanks guys. I am trying to figure out why his medications cost so much. There is more info I need to find out from him. He is slow to give it.

[usmc1142]

so far I have met very few OEF/OIF vets, but the few I have met were there for ptsd, and the VA has some very good programs for that.  The era you refer to does have more than its share of viet nam vets, (where everyone was a door gunner/seal/green beret/general bad a##) but there are many guys from the post-draft era coming in, trying to get 100% disability for whatever illness or injusry occured to them in the past 30 years.
  Don't get me wrong, I love my job and feel privlidged being able to help veterans, but within  society is that 10% that skate by while 90% does the work.   I just get to see that 10% of veterans in a concentrated area.

[Dangle]

Curious why you are disrespecting Vietnam vets?

[BudMan]

Many of us Vets from that era may indeed have more “issues” than our brother warriors from earlier or later conflicts.  I tend to wonder how much of the problem arose from being spit on and called a baby-killer anytime we were out in public while in uniform.
It is something that will leave a deep mark on your psyche.  I constantly fear those attitudes will return to harass our young warriors of today.

[Dangle]

Many of us Vets from that era may indeed have more “issues” than our brother warriors from earlier or later conflicts.  I tend to wonder how much of the problem arose from being spit on and called a baby-killer anytime we were out in public while in uniform.
It is something that will leave a deep mark on your psyche.  I constantly fear those attitudes will return to harass our young warriors of today.

War and battle is one of the worse things a person can go through. I don't care what conflict one has experienced and I would not wish such an experience on anyone. I personally have never seen any Vietnam Vet spit upon or called a baby killer and I spent 31 months incountry and I would not consider it a really smart thing to do anyway . I'm just curious as to why someone especially with a USMC tag and works at a VA hospital go out of his way to express disrespect toward at Vietnam Vet.

[stormrider]

Many of us Vets from that era may indeed have more “issues” than our brother warriors from earlier or later conflicts.  I tend to wonder how much of the problem arose from being spit on and called a baby-killer anytime we were out in public while in uniform.
It is something that will leave a deep mark on your psyche.  I constantly fear those attitudes will return to harass our young warriors of today.

War and battle is one of the worse things a person can go through. I don't care what conflict one has experienced and I would not wish such an experience on anyone. I personally have never seen any Vietnam Vet spit upon or called a baby killer and I spent 31 months incountry and I would not consider it a really smart thing to do anyway . I'm just curious as to why someone especially with a USMC tag and works at a VA hospital go out of his way to express disrespect toward at Vietnam Vet.

Hey guys, not trying to stir the pot, just trying to make sure this WWII vet gets what he's supposed to. And Peckerhead, I think usmc142 was refering to the post draft era, not Vietnam era, of volunteer enlistees that he percieves tries to get disability out of any injury. Not sure but reread his post.

[Dangle]

Reread and apologies to USMC. 

[usmc1142]

Thanks for the apology.  I never intended to come across as disrespectful to viet nam vets, I've got a family full of them.