Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (61315)	8/18/2004 11:24:54 AM
From: Ish	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793914

<<do we really need a separate but unequal health care system for veterans?>> I have coffee with a couple of old veterans. Pre Bush, they had to make an appointment, drive 75 miles to a 2nd rate VA hospital to get their month worth of pills. Then, horror of horrors, Bush closed that VA hospital. Now they have to go through the hell of driving 35 miles to a 1st class private hospital, either have a quick check up or go to the cafeteria while their prescriptions are being filled. As I recall they can now get more than a month's worth at a time.

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (61315)	8/18/2004 11:56:51 AM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793914

I am not familiar with the VA system. I use the Army hospital system and the military Tri-Care system and love it. I do know several guys in NC who use the VA in Fayetteville and Durham...who are very satisfied customers too. I get 90 days worth of pills at a time. They will mail them to my home if I wish. I get an annual physical. I get care and surgery very timely whenever needed.

To: MulhollandDrive who wrote (61315)	8/18/2004 6:29:44 PM
From: jjkirk	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793914

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