How do VA Hospitals work?

[Tmy]

Its my understanding that the VA coveres peoples injuries sustained while in the service. Is there more than that?

Ive seen stories about cuts to the VA hospitals and on talk radio I heard some guy complianing about the wait to get cancer treatments. If he gets cancer years after service, why should that be covered by the VA?

If the VA is so screwed up why not cover these people with some sort of HMO program.

 

[Luke T.]

If you ever served in the military, and have an honorable discharge, you can always go to the VA as a last resort. It does not have to be a service-related illness for you to receive treatment.

 

[Genghis Pwn]

I am a Vet, and I go to the VA hospital all the time. It's great. Everything is free. You can get physicals, broken limbs repaired, major surgery -- everything. I even got all four of my wisdom teeth pulled there last year.

 

[Tmy]

WHAT THE!!! Why that smacks of socialism!!!!

Really though. AS much as I respect people serving in the military, do they reallly need free med service for life? For aliments that have nuthing to do with there service. Cant they get medical insurance at work, like everyone else.

If we limit the VA to people with service injuries then the wait wouldn't be so bad right.


Man Ive been listing to local talk radio and all this time its the same people crying about the VA. There the same fowlkes who call in and bitch about every social program. Hypocritical considering they use a the VA which is basically a welfare program.

 

[Dancing David]

very slowly....., it is a small price for us to pay for the risk vetrans assume during thier service.
Service related disability is a different issue, vetrans injured or disabled while in the service are entitled to a stipend.

Peace

 

[Lisa]

WHAT THE!!! Why that smacks of socialism!!!!

Really though. AS much as I respect people serving in the military, do they reallly need free med service for life? For aliments that have nuthing to do with there service. Cant they get medical insurance at work, like everyone else.

*snip*
You're right Tmy. After 20 years in the military, people are just dying to hire 44 year old women who are on 40% disabilty for jobs that actually have health insurance. Dang, there goes the phone again. Wow another CEO postition! Should I take it?
[/sarcasm]

 

[a_unique_person]

*snip*
You're right Tmy. After 20 years in the military, people are just dying to hire 44 year old women who are on 40% disabilty for jobs that actually have health insurance. Dang, there goes the phone again. Wow another CEO postition! Should I take it?
[/sarcasm]

You could say the same for someone who has worked 20 years for a company and is 44 but not in the military.

 

[Genghis Pwn]

WHAT THE!!! Why that smacks of socialism!!!!

Really though. AS much as I respect people serving in the military, do they reallly need free med service for life? For aliments that have nuthing to do with there service. Cant they get medical insurance at work, like everyone else.

If we limit the VA to people with service injuries then the wait wouldn't be so bad right.


Man Ive been listing to local talk radio and all this time its the same people crying about the VA. There the same fowlkes who call in and bitch about every social program. Hypocritical considering they use a the VA which is basically a welfare program.

You do realize that people who join the service are basically offering to sacrifice their lives for the country, right? Just ask those truck drivers who got ambushed in Iraq.

During the Gulf War, I was willing to die in the fighting. It feels really good to me now that I'm out to know if I get sick or injured I can count on the country that counted on me.

 

[a_unique_person]

You do realize that people who join the service are basically offering to sacrifice their lives for the country, right? Just ask those truck drivers who got ambushed in Iraq.

During the Gulf War, I was willing to die in the fighting. It feels really good to me now that I'm out to know if I get sick or injured I can count on the country that counted on me.

I am not saying you shouldn't get the health care, just that it does sound like socialism.

 

[padakr]

Actually, service related medical conditions are covered for free. For anything else, there is a means test. The more you make, the more you pay.

One could say the vetrans who are bums can get medical treatment for free, which is true. I think the percentage of vets who are bums is small, and that it is a small price to pay.

Both my father and I have said that when we get old and decrepit our respective wives should just drop us off at the nearest VA hospital. My wife, who worked for a while as a NA at the local VA hospital, said the conditions were so bad she wouldn't do that to her worst enemy.

 

[Crossbow]

I am not saying you shouldn't get the health care, just that it does sound like socialism.

Sorry dude, but you are just going to have to deal with it!

As long as this country needs people to kill and die for it, then the people who do the fighting need to be cared for. Considering what is required of them, it is a small price to pay.

 

[Tmy]

Do police and firemen get the same deal. Wouldnt the reasoning be the same.

What about my second question. Would it be better to cover these people with some sort of HMO setup?

 

[Genghis Pwn]

Police and firemen have lifelong medical insurance, of course. So do teachers and most government employees.

As for vets using HMOs, I wouldn't mind that at all.

 

[Linda]

Government employees may be covered by health insurance once they retire, but it's certainly not free! It becomes another mortgage payment! And it's not even free while employed, although the premiums are less. In fact, some of the biggest issues facing local governments (city/county/school board/ is how to handle the rising cost of health insurance without overburdening employees. The same is true for both police and fire employees. While coverage is generous for work-related injuries or illnesses, the cost of health insurance premiums for employees and families is a major budget issue for both employer and employee.

This is turning into a real national crisis and I don't see Congress or the state legislatures making any real attempts to get this under control.

 

[Tmy]

Police and firemen have lifelong medical insurance, of course. So do teachers and most government employees.

As for vets using HMOs, I wouldn't mind that at all.

Yeah, but if your a police officer for 4 years and then leave you dont get health insurance for life.

I think that health care costs are out of control. Its sad really. If you talk about socializing medicine, people freak out. Im not sure how you can control these costs and cover people at the same time.

 

[a_unique_person]

Government employees may be covered by health insurance once they retire, but it's certainly not free! It becomes another mortgage payment! And it's not even free while employed, although the premiums are less. In fact, some of the biggest issues facing local governments (city/county/school board/ is how to handle the rising cost of health insurance without overburdening employees. The same is true for both police and fire employees. While coverage is generous for work-related injuries or illnesses, the cost of health insurance premiums for employees and families is a major budget issue for both employer and employee.

This is turning into a real national crisis and I don't see Congress or the state legislatures making any real attempts to get this under control.

This is a world wide issue. The Australian Government is currently dismantling the 'socialist' tax funded system to convert it to the American model. I don't think this will solve anything, except line the pockets of a few more executives.

Health costs are rising due to the aging population.
There are new technologies available for treating more diseases better. They cost a lot of money, however.

 

[a_unique_person]

Sorry dude, but you are just going to have to deal with it!

As long as this country needs people to kill and die for it, then the people who do the fighting need to be cared for. Considering what is required of them, it is a small price to pay.

Hey, I believe in a government health system, they are just dismantling ours in Australia at present.

 

[Lisa]

Police and firemen have lifelong medical insurance, of course. So do teachers and most government employees.

As for vets using HMOs, I wouldn't mind that at all.

We do. It's called Tri-Care. And yes I pay for it out of my own pocket. For everything that is service connected, I can use the VA or the Base Hospital.
And if I'd worked for a civilian company for twenty years, I'd have made more money, and probably wouldn't have had nearly as many weapons drawn on me.