MD, re: VA System
We are fortunate here in San Diego in that the VA is adjacent to the campus of the UCSD Med School. Almost all of the contract docs are from UCSD and only need walk across a footbridge from UCSD to the VA Hosp.
As a retiree, I went to the VA for my service-connected disabilities until I gained access to the Naval Hospital at Camp Pendleton and paid insurance prems into the Champus system. Both my sons are vets, one Army artillery and one Navy aviator. The Army vet is disabled and gets full medical care thru the VA in San Diego.
I have no complaints. Access to the system and the docs is convenient and other than the 35 mile drive to SD, handy. Meds are mailed on the schedule ordered by the doc and arrive in a timely manner. If a change in meds is prescribed you can pick up the first issue from the pharmacy before you leave the facility.
There are storefront off site walk-in clinics which provide general medical and counseling services. Vans are available to take vets the 35 miles down to the hospital. Granted, I'm in a target rich environment when it comes to vets, so the services are probably more concentrated and, I think, of higher quality than perhaps in other areas.
Lastly, the VA Med System is a source of employment and opportunities for volunteer work for vets, including disabled vets. It is a community for those that have none.
As to the alternatives to VA med system, I understand your implicit point that VA geographical coverage is spotty and use of existing civilian hospitals may be more cost effective. I would think that non-retiree vets <65 that were disabled and therefore had access to medicare would have access to civilian facilities and then would be faced with sometimes large co-payments which would not be required at a VA facility. The VA can charge nominal co-pays when treating non-service-connected medical issues.
I don't know what Kerry said about the VA, but he probably promised the moon to his life-long, beloved, troops whom he always supported when it came to legislation being a believer in intelligence ops...especially humint, a champion of the military, forget that he was the lead accuser/prevaricator extraordinaire re: the mass perpetration of atrocities by these self-same life-long, beloved, whom he always supported to the fullest in Senate legislation BROTHERS IN ARMS TO WHOM HE IS REPORTING FOR DUTY and everyone cheered, "GAG A MAGGOT AND A BUSHEL OF FRENCH ESCARGOT" for our PATRON and PATRIOT, JOHN F. KENNED...er..KERRY!!!
JJ |
