Text 27652, 101 rader
Skriven 2007-03-06 17:43:30 av John Massey (1:123/789.0)
     Kommentar till en text av TIM RICHARDSON (1:123/140)
Ärende: THE WALTER REED STORY
=============================
TIM RICHARDSON -> JOHN MASSEY wrote:


 TR> Recently a friend of mine talked me into signing up at the local VA for
 TR> health care. Reluctantly, I did so.


 TR> Along with Medicare and the private health insurance I have, if something
 TR> catestrophic came about (not an impossibility at my age) it would still
 TR> cost me a small fortune for treatment, hospitalization, and recovery.

I work a lot with older people that want to stay in their homes as long as
possible. The cost of sitters 24-7 can run into thousands a month.


 TR> The medication my doctor has me on for blood pressure control and
 TR> cholesterol control costs $99 and $230 respectively.

 TR> While I was covered by my employers health insurance plan (up till my 65th
 TR> birthday), both medications together cost $20 for a thirty day supply.

When you retired were you offered  the chance to keep your employers health
insurance plan, or convert to a personal health insurance plan if you paid the
premium?

 TR> I was forced to pay the full price for the month I was waiting for my new
 TR> health care (Secure Horizons) to kick in. I paid for the blood pressure
 TR> medication, and let the other medication go. Now that Secure Horizons has
 TR> taken over, both medications together cost me $56.

That's not to bad.

 TR> One week after I did the paper work for the VA, I was accepted into the VA
 TR> full health coverage. It costs nothing for membership. Secure Horizons
 TR> Premium  Plan costs me around $5 a month, and my Medicare premium covers
the rest.

That sounds goo to me.

 TR> In that first week with the VA, I was given an appointment with a
 TR> doctor, got a physical from that doctor, showed her the medications I
take, recieved my
 TR> VA medical health card in the mail, and have a scheduled appointment on
the
 TR> 30th of this month for some sort of video scan of my chest.


 TR> In the second week with the VA, I recieved in the mail a 90 day supply of
a
 TR> medication for blood pressure, and yesterfay I went down to the VA and let
 TR> them take a blood sample so they can send me a supply of medication for
the
 TR> cholesterol.


 TR> I got a bill in the mail yesterday from the VA for the medication they
 TR> sent me for $24 dollars for the 90 day supply of blood pressure meds.
Thats $8
 TR> dollars  a month as opposed to $25.50 a month. When you get 65 years old,
those
 TR> little differences in costs will mean something to you, too. To me, the
savings
 TR> means  a couple of golf games, or some computer software (I'm into
civilian flight
 TR> programs and submarine simulations).

Sounds like the VA is doing a good job for you.


 TR> Of course, I have kept my regular doctor (he's on the list provided by
 TR> Secure  Horizons of physicians they deal with), and will show him this new
 TR> medication  before I start taking it. If he approves it, that'll be great.


 TR> As to service...the hardest part of the VA was getting a parking space.
The
 TR> waiting time once you're inside and signed in at the office you're
 TR> visiting is  not very long at all. Yesterday, I was in and out in less
than 45
 TR> minutes from  the time I parked the car, to the time I left the building
to go home.


 TR> Offices are clean, as are the floors and waiting areas. The deplorable
 TR> conditions I see Sauer, Ceppa, Chirnside, and the rest loudly
 TR> trumpheting all  over Fido are `not' what I've seen here.


 TR> I see the headlines, see Katie Couric's yammering about how terrible
 TR> everything is, hear about generals and secretary's resigning and all, and
 TR> wonder what world all that is taking place in. Because that isn't whats
 TR> happening out here.

Even though I am a veteran I have never needed the services of the VA so I have
no first hand experience with it. I do talk to other Vietnam vets that use the
VA and don't hear too many complaints. But it's clear to me the troops are not
getting the BEST this country can give them.
There is no acceptable excuse for that.

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