Ok, this is going to be a rant.....

So ever since I got out of the Military back in 1995, I have been service connected with 0%. That means that even though I get no payments from the VA, I am covered in terms of this particular condition. All fine and dandy, right? WRONG.

Over the past few years, I have made about 5 visits for this condition to either the Durham VA Medical Center or the Raleigh VA Medical Clinic. Every single time I go, even though I am service connected, I get an EOB from my health insurance because the VA billed them. Some time later, I get bills from the VA for the medical care I received (which is a joke). For instance, lets discuss the last visit...

On October 09, I went to the ER at the Durham VA Medical Center because I was in extreme pain. It was so bad that I could barely walk. I got in there at around 9am and waited until 2pm to see a doctor. I explained the situation to the doctor and the doctor told me that since I have a regular appt. with the VA medical clinic, that I need to wait for that. I again explained that I needed something for this because the pain was so bad I was about to pass out. Nothing in response but him walking me out of the hospital. RIDICULOUS. So finally, I have to go to a civillian doctor to get any kind of relief. I have to go to civillians to get an MRI done since the VA wouldn't do one. Cost out of pocket for me? Close to 3k now and counting because the VA won't give me the medical care that I need, even though I'm supposed to be covered.

So to add insult to injury, I get an EOB saying that the ER visit I had with the VA in October is 818.40 for just the visit and another 389 for seeing the doctor. Once again, this doctor did NOTHING. He did absolutely nothing at all. WHY, again why would the VA have the gall or the stones not only to do nothing for someone in need, but then go back and bill this person's insurance for NOTHING, on top of that, well knowing that it was service connected in the first place?

It's disgusting, ridiculous and the VA needs to be fixed. To treat our vets the way the VA has done, and to provide the crappy medical care they do is a sham. I cannot for the life of me believe that so many lazy people can work in a single facility. I don't care if I have to pay for it the rest of my life, I will not ever go back to the VA for my medical care only to sit for 6 hours, get seen and then have nothing done. Then boom, get a bill for it.

So here is to you VA, you SUCK

 

Shame how we treat our soldiers. My Mom was a RN at an army hospital. Vets had to do a dog and pony show to get treatment.

 

I agree. I think what bothers me the most is that every time I go there for treatment or every time I call with a billing issue like this, they act like I'm sub-human. They treat me with anger and like a person who just interrupted their lunch and ruined their day. I'm tired of being talked down to by these morons, and then getting no treatment either.

 

I feel your pain. Discharged in 1975 with 0% connected. Went to VA in 1976and was treated like second class so badly I never went back.

On a side note-have you been to a civilian hospital lately? Not a whole lot better and more expensive.....

 

This past summer the VFW post I am a member at did a BBQ at our local VA hospital and while the facility was very nice I was not impressed with the staff or their attitudes towards either the patients or us. This is a crying shame and should be criminal considering the sacrifices these people have made for all of us.

 

I drove 5 hrs one way to get a shoulder shrug an I dont know response. I have dizzy spells and headaches quite often but they had no idea and sent me on my way. They want me to come back and ask questions but no thanks after the last visit. I am only 26 cant wait to see how it becomes.

later,
ac

 

I feel your pain Jack and I too refuse to go to a VA hospital again. I was heavily involved in the VFW as a State Officer and dealt with VA issues on a regular basis.

I was able to help many Veterans that were experiencing issues like yours but it took a HELL of a LOT of face to face time with the VA Hospital Administrator and our Congressman.

I would advise you to seek out your local VFW post or other Veteran organization for help with this matter as they deal with this on a regular basis. This is the reason I left the VFW, I was overwrought and dismayed at the lousy treatment the Veterans were receiving.

Don't misunderstand me, it was NOT the VFW's fault, I just could not take any more and the only way for me to stop the guys from begging me for help was to quit going around them. I wanted to help EVERYONE, but my own health issues were catching up to me and taking some of the fight out of me.

 

I'm 0% as well and when I checked into the the VA back in '92 or '93, they told me that if I made over a certain amount of money, I would be charged a % of the bill. Nevermind, I'll just use Blue/Cross Shield and not be a guinnea pig.

 

One thing you can do is complain to your Congressman and Senitors. Try and not bring emotion into the correspondence - but do bring as many facts as you can to their attention. Send the same letter to each. There will be some sort of a result.

The VA has been notiorious in its treatment of Veterans. The VA would like to bill your insurance and will. That is prety much a fact of life - everyone wants someone else to pay.

The newly appointed head of the VA may be able to start some forms of reform. Remember though, it took a long time to get here and will take a long time to fix.

Hal

 

I feel for you guys. This is another example of a federal bureaucracy where there are some highly qualified,caring individuals which are dwarfed by lazy,numb,bums who can't be fired. I'd like to see a comprehensive national healthcare plan run by the private companies but under government supervision. By that I want to see an end to CEO's walking away with tens of millions of dollars,while depriving our citizens of decent care.

 

Wow-sounds like dejavu all over again! Jack-let me tell you my story, and hopefully it will help someone out here. About 6 years ago, I was in a meeting at work, and started to feel a migraine coming on-now I have had headaches as long as I can remember, but this one was coming on strong-stronger than any headache ever had with me. It got so bad, that later that night I had to go to the ER, and ended up seeing a doctor that my mom used to work with(she's an RN.) They saw me sitting in the waiting room, with the puke bowl in front of me, not being able to stand the screaming kids and bright lights, and took me back almost immediately. The doc gave me IV infused Demerol and I believe Perkocet, which didn't do a thing-they finally sent me home with a perscription to Imitrex, and told me to take it easy for a few days.

Well, it took me about 3 days of not being able to eat anything, trying to sleep, hoping for death in a dark room before the pain subsided-now this was the worst pain I have ever felt, and I have had broken bones, torn out the tendons in my knees, impacted a tooth so bad the root came out my gums, and they did not compare. The ER doc wanted me to describe it, and I told him it was like someone super-heated a phillips screwdriver, shoved it through my skull and into my head, and slowly stirred. But when the pain subsided, is when the dance with our current medical system began.

Post this headache, I started to have dizzy spells, and numbness in the left side of my face that would come and go. I went to my PCP about it, and he said "its probably just a pinched nerve, take some anti-inflammitory, it should go away soon." Well, it didn't, and it took me 5 attempts, and my mom's medical connections before I could get an MRI ordered, OUTSIDE of my insurance approval system. Come to find out I had a brain tumor the size of a golfball next to my brainstem, distending my carotid artery and pushing on my pituitary gland. Once I got the diagnosis, the insurance co. had no problem with me getting a 2nd and 3rd opinion and finally getting some treatment, but to get to that point was literally like pulling teeth-if I wouldn't have an insider like my mom, who knows what would have happened.

Which brings me to this:AC, AWCampbelll, please get your symptoms checked out, and don't accept "I don't know" for an answer. Get in their face if you need to, this is your life that they are dealing with, and the only one you get.

 

Man I'll tell you what. It's things like your experience that scare me because you never know when it can happen to you, and you never know when your doctor will kill you. It's ridiculous that they treat people that way. It NEEDS to be fixed.

Just like you, I had to get my MRI on my own because the VA wouldn't order one even though I was very specific and knowledgeable about what I had. I mean after all, I had been going through it off and on for 15 years with one previous surgery. So now I'm working with a civilian Neurosurgeon, paying out of pocket just to get care. It shouldn't be that that way and the VA should NOT be billing people's insurance when a service connected treatment occurs!! That is THEFT IMO.

 

Man, that is scary. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be in good health at the present time (knock on wood) but just knowing what is waiting for me should I decide to go to a VA center ... sheesh.

Why does every single veteran have to jump through all those hoops and red tape just to get medical help ? Ridiculous .

No wonder there are so many sick, destitute vets living under the overpasses and in alleys these days. The very administration that was created to serve them has abandoned them.

Hmmmph ... you know, I can remember my earliest days in the military when they told me that if I retired, I would have free medical for life. Pipe dream.

Thanks for bringing the topic up Jack. Seems like there should be more that we vets could do to press the issue. I wish I was smart enough to know what that would be.

Discouraged,
PISTOL

 

I use to be a vet's advocate in the 90s. since I could still tie a noose, I quit.

personally, YOU are the best advocate. since you've already hit the neuro guys- think pain mangament stuff. big relief, I want to be a poster child.

government funding is just that- I have veterans benefits from the 70s, state coverage from the 80s, workmen's comp from the 90s, social security disability, state retirement, hubby's insurance. going to the hospital (which I hate) is a crap shoot, pardon the term. everyone wants someone else to pay. the facts are:

ask your private insurer to make VET 526 primary payee, as soon as you bring it to their attention they will refuse payment. once a refused payment surfaces, benefits coordinators find your eligibility on a scale. you will be assigned that classification (might take three times though, so have copy of primary care letter ready) and pay the percentage.

i have had to pay 700-900 bucks by a doctor when not even seen, just the nurse aide to wash the head injury BUT a doctor ordered it.......

that is just the way it works. I had three cancers for over three years. had to about break the law in a doctor's office to get a looksee by a competent trusted doctor. two weeks later, I was in surgery and cancer free......

occipital nerve blocks freed me from a life of hell. yes- pay attention to the pain guys! tell them the intensity, frequency and your tolerance level, whether the light hurts or type of pain. remember all the red tag profiles ? well they hang out at the VA too, doctors think you are all alike- stand apart by knowledge and presentation.

hate when good people suffer needlessly, really do....

 

I know its tough but Vets need to be involved with the Vet groups esp VFW ,American Legion and DAV. Numbers are needed to change things in DC.

We Need to make our voices heard.

It gets dicouraging but never give up the ship.

Please JOIN one or all.