Here is the question - why not eliminate, or at least largely shrink the VA system, and instead offer the veterans good quality private health insurance. After 65, they would be on Medicare, like everyone else - with paid Medigap coverage. What do you think about this, and what, in your opinion, would other military and vets think about it? It seems to me that the care could be a good deal better, and at a huge savings to the taxpayer.
I am not a VA expert by any means, but here goes my opinion. If anyone knows better feel free to chime in.
The VA has 8 categories of patient priority and several sub categories under all 8. I happen to be at the top of priority 1 due to rated combat related wounds and injuries and having a Purple Heart, but know guys in lower categories who can't get seen. If they are seen they have to pay according to their income.
Health insurance won't do much good if you put the civilian health care system in overload with VA patients.
The VA has about 450 medical facilities and a chronic patient load of just under 4 million. These are not first class trauma and medical centers. 75% of the patients have at least one serious military related chronic condition. Many of these are so serious I don't discuss it much. If you ever get a chance visit a VA hospital's brain and spinal cord injury ward and try to figure out where those patients will fit in the civilian system. Then there are the amputees, double, triple and quadruple. All of these folks need a lot of care for life.
Sometimes I think we should drag every member of Congress and the president through some of these wards twice a year, so they understand what their actions cause.
Most if not all major VA hospitals are located adjacent to or very close to a civilian teaching medical school. The medical students practice on VA patients. They call it the practice of medicine because they practice on us.
Most civilians focus on the combat death toll. The wounded rate is 7-10 times higher in our current conflicts and that does not include chemical exposures and bizarre illnesses, insect and animal bites etc. My point is many or most of these folks need or will need specialized care and a lot of it.
In my opinion the VA is not first class care. Two current personal examples. I was approved for new hearing aids in October, was fitted in December and I'm still waiting for them. Another one of my doctors ordered new orthotics for my feet in October and my fitting is tomorrow. Then they will be ordered and I'll wait for a final fitting appointment. But it is adequate and they do take good care of the worst. I never complain unless it is on behalf of someone else.
So far I only use the VA as stated above and then only because I feel they are the best at orthotics and hearing aids. I also take some free health related classes there from time to time. I have a brother-in-law who takes care of of my other medical needs at his clinic. But don't go by me. 4 million other Americans need the VA. When we get into another major war we definitely will need the VA and more.
Our soldiers who return with shattered and broken bodies and brains need specialized care, often for life. Some for every moment of every day. The VA does that well. I don't know anyone who goes to a VA hospital for frivolous or minor medical problems.
I'll leave the topic with this. 28 or 29 years ago I ran into an SF medic I knew quite well on active duty at an old-timers breakfast at FT Bragg. He was one of the best SF medics and I had heard he was having serious health problems. I asked how he was doing. His worst problem was diabetes that was ruining his body. I asked where he was getting care. He said the VA. I asked if he was satisfied with the care. He put it this way,
"Going to a VA hospital is giving yourself another opportunity to die for your country." He meant it and died a month later. But I also think he would be pleased with the changes and improvements in the VA. Today we know Diabetes is a complication of agent orange exposure and Vietnam vets get checked for that regularly.
Yes, I think we need to keep the VA, warts and all, for those who really need it now and who will need it tomorrow and next week and next year. |
