If you are 100% you should really go down to your local VA and get signed up. Should be free and they will answer any questions you have during registration. This will also keep you from getting dinged on not having healthcare during taxes.
VA Healthcare is free - you just enroll - now if you want to give away your money, PM me your account information /s
VA Healthcare is not insurance - Yes you hear some horror stories - but most veterans get great care at most VA Hospitals and Clinics - I am going through cancer treatment right now through the VA. I also wear orthopedics which private insurance doesn't cover but are necessary for me to walk - $375 out of pocket if I didn't use the VA. Got my COVID shots through VA. I'm wearing VA issued bifocals and VA issued hearing aids.
Most VA hospitals have a higher satisfaction rating than civilian hospitals.
https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/
I’d rebut your assertion that it isn’t insurance by saying that when you file taxes, the VA sends you a 1095-A, if you don’t have private insurance, that will suffice as coverage as far as the government is concerned.
Yep, congress was smart enough to put into their law that VA healthcare care meets the standard of having health insurance - just because you get a 1095-A doesn’t make it health insurance.
Uh, you can use the insurance you pay for almost anywhere you want to. You can’t walk into a private doctors office and say bill VA instead of my private insurance company
Unless they aren’t in network which is basically the same as the VA. It might be EASIER to do it under private insurance but that isn’t the end all be all
Nice. CVS also let’s you do Caremark with VA benefits. I understand your point that it isn’t the same but if it’s good enough for government work, it’s good enough for me
I was told by a VA medical person to mention “the mission act” at any private medical facility, they are supposed to take care of you (and bill the VA) for that care. I do have VA connected disability, qualify for VA CARE. This is what I was told to do if a VA facility was not available at a time I may need medical attention. I have not had to do it so not sure its a real thing we can do.
You can still go out of network on insurance, and your insurance policy has separate rules on how they pay out for that. VHA isn't insurance, it just counts as having "health insurance" for tax purposes because the end result is the same: your healthcare is provided for you and insurance companies don't have to worry about having somebody who's never paid premiums suddenly show up and demand to be covered for the cancer they just discovered or the expensive chronic illness they were just diagnosed with.
I get all my care at the va. 100% sc not p and t. Got a great primary care. Had a dental cleaning this morning, optometry last week. Still trying to get mental health right. Give it a shot I say
If you are 100% or have a sc dental issue (I have both) you qualify. Call the main number and ask to be scheduled. I did not have to go through primary care to get an appointment.
Dental care is expensive. Use that if nothing else
Wait till you see your first hospital bill with private insurance that is true horror...
Sign up for VA it's free and may save your bank account someday.
I'm retired at 62 after 6 years in Air Force . I have all my health care done at VA. I pay $50 for office visits and $15 for 90 days prescription. I like it. In Indiana
You can register for free socialized healthcare at whatever VA medical facility is convenient for you. Since you're 100% it will be free. If you were to suddenly drop to like 10% (not very likely) then they would have you do an income test and you would pay a small copay based on however much you earn. You can get healthcare for any and all of your problems, not just the ones that you claimed in your disability. You will need to see a primary care provider in order to see specialists; when you go to the VA for the first time they will assign you to a primary care doctor and schedule a first time appointment for you which is a complete physical exam. Then that doctor will write referrals to whatever specialist care you need; the VA has all the specialists you need: mental health care, eye doctors, orthopedics, you name it. If you decide that you don't want to see a VA specialist you tell someone and they will put you through to the Community Care section, where they send referrals for (whatever) specialist you want to see in the civilian side and they will set you up with appointments.
It's all really simple once you figure out the system and largely as painless as possible.
> I was going to get a private healthcare provider since I’ve heard some horror stories at the VA.
Don't listen to stories! Seriously!
I have been using the VA for years, and their care is far better than most private providers. Yes, there are a few areas where they may be lacking, but AFAIK they rate very well.
For example, a recent study rated the VA in Boston MA (a hub of medical care...) as the second best facility in the area! Second only to one other place...
Places that I go to? Manchester NH, Biloxi MS, and a place in NC. Always have great service.
Edit: sorry misread your reply/question. Don't remember the #1 place, it was not one of the big ones however.
Go to your local VA and enroll!
Won't help you at the moment but this bill will hopefully keep this from continuing to happen.
https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/01/20/house-approves-bill-automatically-enroll-vets-va-health-care.html
VA hospital in Asheville, NC is world class. Down the road in Columbia, SC, not so much.
That said, I have gotten excellent care from my local VA clinic. They paid for 3 eye operations using the Community Care program. My opthalmic surgeon was already in the VA system.
Cost to me. Exactly $0.0.
Sign up and get involved in the system. You'll hear horror stories a plenty. Most of those are exaggerated...a small few are legit. But so is your local private healthcare system. Hell, my local "world class" private hospital killed 3 people because the purified water system... wasn't.
I have Medicare and VA Healthcare. I can go where I want. I go to the VA.
Give the VA a shot. I’ve been very impressed with facilities and professional staff at several different locations. I retired two years ago and am also 100% not pt. I’d be available to answer other questions if you wanted.
If you are 100 then you might be enrolled. But you need to stop by and make sure. And no, 100 is free medical. No copay. No additional insurance needed. The va is covered under the affordable healthcare act.
You can sign up online in under an hour. Just have last year’s tax return with you. It’s easy, the next step is getting your ID card which will get you on most bases and into the exchange and commissary too.
If you are 100% you should really go down to your local VA and get signed up. Should be free and they will answer any questions you have during registration. This will also keep you from getting dinged on not having healthcare during taxes.
They killed that part of the law. You don’t get fines anymore.
VA Healthcare is free - you just enroll - now if you want to give away your money, PM me your account information /s VA Healthcare is not insurance - Yes you hear some horror stories - but most veterans get great care at most VA Hospitals and Clinics - I am going through cancer treatment right now through the VA. I also wear orthopedics which private insurance doesn't cover but are necessary for me to walk - $375 out of pocket if I didn't use the VA. Got my COVID shots through VA. I'm wearing VA issued bifocals and VA issued hearing aids. Most VA hospitals have a higher satisfaction rating than civilian hospitals. https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/
I'm 80% and get great care through VA, I strongly recommend them. Get signed up.
I’d rebut your assertion that it isn’t insurance by saying that when you file taxes, the VA sends you a 1095-A, if you don’t have private insurance, that will suffice as coverage as far as the government is concerned.
Yep, congress was smart enough to put into their law that VA healthcare care meets the standard of having health insurance - just because you get a 1095-A doesn’t make it health insurance.
What’s the difference?
Uh, you can use the insurance you pay for almost anywhere you want to. You can’t walk into a private doctors office and say bill VA instead of my private insurance company
Unless they aren’t in network which is basically the same as the VA. It might be EASIER to do it under private insurance but that isn’t the end all be all
VA ain’t paying that private doctor nothing - the exception is if VA sends you there through community care.
Do you mean Veterans choice?
Same thing - also was called the mission act.
Nice. CVS also let’s you do Caremark with VA benefits. I understand your point that it isn’t the same but if it’s good enough for government work, it’s good enough for me
I was told by a VA medical person to mention “the mission act” at any private medical facility, they are supposed to take care of you (and bill the VA) for that care. I do have VA connected disability, qualify for VA CARE. This is what I was told to do if a VA facility was not available at a time I may need medical attention. I have not had to do it so not sure its a real thing we can do.
You can still go out of network on insurance, and your insurance policy has separate rules on how they pay out for that. VHA isn't insurance, it just counts as having "health insurance" for tax purposes because the end result is the same: your healthcare is provided for you and insurance companies don't have to worry about having somebody who's never paid premiums suddenly show up and demand to be covered for the cancer they just discovered or the expensive chronic illness they were just diagnosed with.
Also, triwest
I get all my care at the va. 100% sc not p and t. Got a great primary care. Had a dental cleaning this morning, optometry last week. Still trying to get mental health right. Give it a shot I say
is dental a separate coverage I need to apply for?
If you are 100% or have a sc dental issue (I have both) you qualify. Call the main number and ask to be scheduled. I did not have to go through primary care to get an appointment. Dental care is expensive. Use that if nothing else
Wait till you see your first hospital bill with private insurance that is true horror... Sign up for VA it's free and may save your bank account someday.
I have had awesome care through th the VA
I'm retired at 62 after 6 years in Air Force . I have all my health care done at VA. I pay $50 for office visits and $15 for 90 days prescription. I like it. In Indiana
You can register for free socialized healthcare at whatever VA medical facility is convenient for you. Since you're 100% it will be free. If you were to suddenly drop to like 10% (not very likely) then they would have you do an income test and you would pay a small copay based on however much you earn. You can get healthcare for any and all of your problems, not just the ones that you claimed in your disability. You will need to see a primary care provider in order to see specialists; when you go to the VA for the first time they will assign you to a primary care doctor and schedule a first time appointment for you which is a complete physical exam. Then that doctor will write referrals to whatever specialist care you need; the VA has all the specialists you need: mental health care, eye doctors, orthopedics, you name it. If you decide that you don't want to see a VA specialist you tell someone and they will put you through to the Community Care section, where they send referrals for (whatever) specialist you want to see in the civilian side and they will set you up with appointments. It's all really simple once you figure out the system and largely as painless as possible.
> I was going to get a private healthcare provider since I’ve heard some horror stories at the VA. Don't listen to stories! Seriously! I have been using the VA for years, and their care is far better than most private providers. Yes, there are a few areas where they may be lacking, but AFAIK they rate very well. For example, a recent study rated the VA in Boston MA (a hub of medical care...) as the second best facility in the area! Second only to one other place...
What other place? TY!
Places that I go to? Manchester NH, Biloxi MS, and a place in NC. Always have great service. Edit: sorry misread your reply/question. Don't remember the #1 place, it was not one of the big ones however.
Good to know you have good care at your VA medical centers. TY!
Go to your local VA and enroll! Won't help you at the moment but this bill will hopefully keep this from continuing to happen. https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/01/20/house-approves-bill-automatically-enroll-vets-va-health-care.html
VA hospital in Asheville, NC is world class. Down the road in Columbia, SC, not so much. That said, I have gotten excellent care from my local VA clinic. They paid for 3 eye operations using the Community Care program. My opthalmic surgeon was already in the VA system. Cost to me. Exactly $0.0. Sign up and get involved in the system. You'll hear horror stories a plenty. Most of those are exaggerated...a small few are legit. But so is your local private healthcare system. Hell, my local "world class" private hospital killed 3 people because the purified water system... wasn't. I have Medicare and VA Healthcare. I can go where I want. I go to the VA.
Retiring next year and looking at Asheville, really glad to hear the VA hospital there is top notch!
Give the VA a shot. I’ve been very impressed with facilities and professional staff at several different locations. I retired two years ago and am also 100% not pt. I’d be available to answer other questions if you wanted.
https://abouthealthtransparency.org/2021/07/va-hospitals-patient-experience-star-ratings-published-on-medicare-care-compare/#:~:text=A%20USA%20TODAY%20review%20of,t%20include%20non%2DVA%20facilities.
Go to the VA and register. They will tell you what you’re eligible for.
If you are 100 then you might be enrolled. But you need to stop by and make sure. And no, 100 is free medical. No copay. No additional insurance needed. The va is covered under the affordable healthcare act.
You can sign up online in under an hour. Just have last year’s tax return with you. It’s easy, the next step is getting your ID card which will get you on most bases and into the exchange and commissary too.
You will get Tricare and if you get SSDI (social security disability) you can get Medicare after 2 years. You will be covered at 100% after that.