VA health care vs. Private health care?

As I understand VA health care coverage, you are required to inform them if you also have private coverage. The cost for your care is then coordinated between your VA benefits (Thank you for your service, BTW.) and your BlueShield plan benefits.

If you were to see a private doctor rather than going through the VA, BlueShield would be the only one paying rather than splitting the costs. I don't see how anyone can claim that you're jacking up anyone else's rates.

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If you recieived an Honorable Discharge, The you are, HISTORICALLY SPEAKING, allowed free health care from the VA. Why should you pay for coverage ? and then let the GOV. off the hook for even for the minimul care that the VA provides. I think it shamefull that they even ask for an insurance card. Did you notice all the BRAND NEW Dell computers the VA just bought nationally. They are buying paint and drapes and now need to use an outside source to cover their expenses. The doctors are less than adequate as well. I have no choice but to use the VA. It is the 4th largest government agency as far as annual money goes. 1) Homeland security 2) CIA 3) Secret Service 4) VA and 5) the FBI

Thanks to Bill Clinton if you have insurance you have to give the info to the VA and they bill the insurance company. However for your service connected condition , you don't pay for treatment or meds at the Va.

Always use the VA for your service connected , that way if you try to get your VA disability rating raised , all the info is right there in your records. I am 100% service connected and have been using VA since 1972 and have had nothing but excellent care from them. I have never waited more than 10 minutes past my appointment time and in most cases , am in before my appointment.

Hate to disagree with warrior soul but I have always got fine service from the VA for medical care. My son was recently discharged and he has been able to get appointments within a week. They performed surgery on his hand and furnished sleep apnea device. I won't argue any budget problems, but for some lower income disabled veterans the VA is a good choice. With regard to paying blue cross premium, that gives you the option to go see the doctor on the outside or at VA. Blue Cross should pay claim at either place. For me I pay Tricare Prime premiums and still visit VA facilities for differnent problems.

The way I see it is that you pay your $400 a month and that makes you entitled to see whatever doctor you want and if going to the VA lowers your own personal costs then that's even better.

As for the idea of going to the VA for free medical care when you can afford insurance I personally think that is wrong. It adds to the cost of medical for those vets that really do need the care and cannot afford it on their own.

Vets have a higher homelessness rate then any other group.

This VA system rewards those that are destitute and take from the system. If you are competent and do the right thing to support yourself, you get nothing but static from the VA. It's a rotten shame. I have to cover both me and my wife through my job, and meet deductibles. Then I read this garbage about others getting medical equipment for free. Makes me sick.

Rawbert is the VA stealing from health insurance companies is what it is. They give crappy service, and take the health care over free treatment, so that they can weed out anyone who can afford to go to a private doctor, to eliminate so many people in the system. It's sick, twisted, greedy and our lovely, loving VETERANS ADMINISTRATION

I suggest you to try this internet site where you can compare rates from different companies: http://coveragequotes.net/index.html?src=5YAttzxiS...

RE :VA health care vs. Private health care?

I give my BlueShield insurance card to the VA every time I see the VA hospital for treatment... I pay BlueShield almost $400 a month through work. It's a $15 co-pay if I see their doctor.

Someone told me all I'm doing is jacking up the insurance rate of everyone else by giving the VA my insurance card to bill BlueShield. What I don't get is, If I'm seeing a doctor, then I'm seeing a doctor... either way Blue Shield has to pay...

So How is this effecting all other private insurance?

Update: I am "service connected" and my ID card say purple heart recipient (or something like that). I actually went to my Bluesheild doctor, I still had to wait 3 hours (with an appointment), pay $15 to sit there in a disgusting facility. Today, I went to the VA, no appointment, was seen and treated and out the door in 2.5 hours... So I feel that BlueShield should pay, but so far there service sucks...

Also, If I go to a BlueShield doctor for my "service conected" injury, does that mean that BlueShield shouldn't give me treatment?

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Don't believe that is right