*****
When we first moved out here, I had no health insurance so I went down and applied at the VA, not for free medical care but hoping I could get a nice discount through them from another insurer, but because I was a non-conflict Vet, I didn't have a service related medical issue, and because I wasn't destitute, they said I wasn't eligible. I appealed it and got another Fuck You, so I dropped it. I went without insurance for the next 8 years until my MediCare kicked in. No big deal.
A non-conflict Vet..... Had I enlisted before 1975 or after January 1980, I'd have been eligible. I enlisted in 1978.
Then a couple months ago at my American Legion meeting, we had a couple women from the VA come to speak and they explained that Vets were under-represented in my area and they needed to boost those numbers to get more funding from the Federal Government. They asked who wasn't getting any care under VA, and I think I was the only one in the room that raised their hand, so the Head Babe asked me to stay after the meeting so she could speak to me.
After the meeting she wanted to know why I wasn't getting VA care and I explained I had tried to sign up twice but was refused and besides, there was nothing wrong with me. I have zero service related conditions. She told me to sign up again because there were new conditions that might make me eligible such as burn pits and contaminated water supplies at military bases. I told her that I was stationed in Germany and their water environmental standards are higher than here in the States, and while we did occasionally burn classified trash, it was all paper and the 2 or 3 times I got stuck doing it, I stood upwind. I wasn't going to lie just so VA could get more funding. Then with one final jab, I told her, "Look around the room. Everybody in here considers me to be a Vet, but my own government doesn't."
She looked at me like I was retarded and then handed me a packet with another application and told me to try again. Fuck that and fuck VA. If they're that broke, I'm damned sure not going to take resources from them that can go to better use for a Vet that truly deserves them.
Hope tonight is one of those nights when you treat yourself to some finer bourbon.
ReplyDeleteYou earned it. Thanks.
QHM
dude, you served. you took time out of your life to train and stand duty to defend freedom. you spent day and nights cold, hot, dirty, sometimes hungry. you weren't free to come and go as you please like the rest of the people in the country. hell, you may be effected by stuff you don't even know about, meanwhile they're giving away our tax money to the taliban and illegals. get what you can get, you earned it. now excuse me while i follow my own advice. see ya at the va.
ReplyDeleteNope, they kicked me in the teeth twice. I'm not going to give them a third chance. Fuck 'em.
DeleteHey, I've got MediCare now and I'm happy with it so far. It sure beats the hell out of VA medical care according to what I've heard about it.
Get your ass in there and get your VA check up . Same as I tell all the lads down at my VFW.... "you earned it, and no you're NOT bumping someone else 'more deserving' out of any appointments" you'll be getting good quality care in an accepting environment , and by going you may be the bright spot in some other Vet's day just by chatting in the waiting room .
DeleteRetRsvMike
Sedition and betrayal of the highest order
ReplyDeleteKenny, I am in the same boat. I enlisted Air Guard. My unit supported the Joint Communications Support Element of of MacDill. I was in one of the high deployable carrier fields. If something happened in the world I stood a high chance of being activated. I was in Panama for 10 days for equipment setup then flown back to Tampa. I also got to play in the sandbox for Desert Storm. During a Southern Watch in Kuwait I got sent to Afghanistan to lay a fiber down Main Street. That Southern Watch turned into OIF1. I was also at BrightStar in Egypt on 9-11, that training mission quickly changed to a real world mission.
ReplyDeleteI have 5 campaign ribbons. What I don't have is 2 years continuous active duty. A small requirement to get into VA medical. I have 2 military related issues that I paid to get fixed. I was around the burn pits and with the 2 injuries I could get a 50% disability.
I’ve had Tri-care since I retired and just went on Medicare and Tri-care for Life this month. Got 20% disability when I retired, about $300 a month now. They reduce my retirement pay by the exact same amount, but the disability is tax free! I can use the VA if I want to, but always figured they don’t need my sorry ass clogging up an already overwhelmed system just to save a few bucks in co-pays. Best thing I got was aVA no no mortgage without paying one point for loan insurance. Eod1sg Ret
ReplyDeleteI was in the Navy ,68-70. Did a Med Cruise. I applied but was turned down because we made too much money. Then, somehow I got to the VA for a hearing test. Actually took two, one at the VA and another at a VA sponsored hearing Dov. Got a 15% disability. Now, I use VA for Glasses (exams at my long time eye Doc) and for Hearing Aids. New facility in Loveland, CO. Very nice. The HA's are top notch, and the glasses are the best I have ever had. Sorry about your troubles.
ReplyDeleteI bet you have a supplement. Have you considered a Medicare Advantage Plan. Ours doesn't have premium. Next yr things going up because Medicare is raising costs. My wife has Cancer so we got to the copay level, which for this yr was $4,800 - next yr $5,300. Had some incidental cost, so this yr about 7K out of pocket. The Cancer treatments were about 90K at a pop, and she did 6. RX has free generics.
I've got a MediCare Advantage plan through BC/BS of Tennessee. I couldn't see paying out a monthly cut of my SS check for a plan when I hadn't needed to go to a doctor for the previous 8 years. Hell, I've only been once since I got signed up back in July and that was just to get a primary doctor on my records. We talked, she checked my vitals, prescribed some BP meds and sent me on my merry way. She gives me 90 days worth of meds at a time and when I need a refill, I just call her.
DeleteDamn near all the doctors in my area are in that network, so my out-of-pocket costs are really low.
I’m in the same place as you too. Desert Storm ended while I was still in Basic and spent all my active duty in Germany. Stayed in the Nasty Guard to finish my 8 years and I can’t go because I make too much money.
ReplyDeletePunishment for being successful off the govt tit
Same here Ken. Enlisted 78. said bye in 84. VA wants me to sign up. I have no issues service related. Georgia does give me free drivers license, so there is that.
ReplyDeleteOregon gives free vehicle registration to vets, that's worth a couple of hundred per vehicle per year.
ReplyDeleteI've got 'Veteran' on my driver's license but that was through my own efforts at DMV, not VA's doing.
DeleteThe Veteran stamp is good for discounts at some stores and restaurants, as well as up-front parking at the Tractor Supply right next to the handicapped spots.