Medical Malpractice

Would a WWII Vet who is NOT disabled Get Much Benefit from going to a VA Hospital?

Assume the vet was not wounded in the military and that he only has Medicare insurance. Assume his income is about $40,000 per year --- so he's not in poverty. I have an elderly uncle who travels far to go to a VA hospital for things like glasses, prescriptions, and long term ailments like diabetes. I have a feeling he has an expectation that everything will be free to him. But, I don't think it is. And, he seems frustrated when he doesn't get things (like medicines) free.

Public Comments

1. if your retired military you get nothing.. unless you pay the seperate private for profit health insurance company for insurance. or if you have a service connected disability.. you need to reemmber the VA exists to deny benefits.. mutch like the health care industry exists and profits by denying health care. military, at least the navy where i live.. no longer takes care of retiree's.. you now need to buy the private insurance. tricare... i know someone personally .. retired .. full navy retirement.. went to the navy one time for health care 13 years after retireing.. to get an eye exam.. the navy turned him away.. they dont do that.. you need to have private for profit health insurance. that's how much we've been sold out.. they have even sold our vets health care to the insurance industry.. and now they're screwing vets too.. just like the rest of the country...
2. According the VA, your uncle has to fill out a VA Form 10-10EZ each year. This form requests information about his income. According to the information he provides (and is later cross-references with the SS office and the IRS) will determine his eligibility for medical care. After 2003 the VA was mandated by Congress to implement a process that Veterans must go through to determine eligibility. This form is the process. Yes, I'm sure you uncle feels like everything would be free to him, but it's not. There are co-pays for medicine, doctor's visits, hospital visits, and even nursing care. Yes, it is at a fraction of the cost to see someone on the private sector, but still a co-pay. And, no, Medicare will not pay the co-pay, because one government entity cannot pay another government entity. When your uncle fills out the 10-10EZ it asks for his income from the previous year, as well as, his medical expenses the previous year. Every dime that he has to pay for medical expenses needs to be documented. The VA takes his income, subtracts his medical expenses, and the subtotal after that is what they consider his actual money he has. If he is married his wife's income and medical expenses are to be considered too. Is it the best we can provide to our Veterans, No, it's not. But, the VA is following Congress's rules and regulations and they are as limited as anyone. I encourage every Veteran that has a complaint against the VA (regarding this medical issue) to contact their Congressperson and let them know how unhappy they are. The VA cannot change the rules set forth to them by Congress. Good Luck!!
3. I have used the VA. I used in when I was about 25 because I didnt have health insurance. I thought they were great. My dad also uses the VA. Neither of us retired from the military. My dad is disabled now, but I am not. I think the VA is better than many civilian hospitals myself. But I guess that depends on each individual hospital too. Good luck.
4. The VA classifies Veterans into 8 categories. With Cat 1 being combat injured veterans Down to cat 8, not service connected veterans, who make more than the VA means test. Your Uncle, would be a category 8 veteran. Space for cat 8 veterans is limited and benefits are limited. Right now, the VA is not accepting anymore cat 8 veterans, only those previously enrolled. You can go to the VA web page and read exactly what benefits are offered to cat 8 veterans. IE: co pays, etc.