CHAMPVA for husband and wife

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platm6309	CHAMPVA for husband and wife		Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 06/24/09 22:02:24	Hi everyone, I am a newbie to this site and it appears everyone is really smart. My husband has been 100% SC since 2003 and just this week it was deemed permanent. Before I go into the problems he is having with the Dallas VA Medical Center and the doc's there, I have a couple of questions about ChampVA. One, being his wife, I am eligible, correct? I have no other insurance and was wondering how the TriCare supplement works or if I even need it since I don't have any insurance and I don't work. I am 57. Second, is there any way my husband with being 100% SC, can he get it? Reason I ask, is I would LOVE to get his treatment OUTSIDE the VA. (this is all he has too) Summary of details: Dx'd with Pca 2003. Dx'd with bladder ca 2008. The dallas va did an endoscope due to pain and found he had gall stones. Well, at 10:30 at night they called me stating they thought they punctured his intestines and had to do emergency surgery. They found a 9cm pseudocyst on his pancreas and debride it, hence now a new dx of pancreatitis and diabetes. Now, the VA is refusing to do a neobladder for the bladder ca and refusing to do nerve sparing for the prostate as his psa was 20. His Pca is Gleason 3+3, well-differentiated. This means if you are going to get prostate cancer, his is the best cause it is the least aggressive. That is why we have been doing watch full waiting. Anyway, the doctor that the VA pulls from UT Southwestern, Ganesh Raj, is the ONLY one credentialed at the VA to do his surgery and he refuses. He has NUMEROUS lies about us in his medical file which we have hard copies of, and he refuses to change them. I have filed a complaint with the medical board here in TX for these lies as it is a felony to falsify medical records. In the mean time, the patient advocate is trying to get his surgery out sourced, but we haven't heard anything as yet. Going out of town is not an option. We have to stay local. Does any one have any suggestions? Can he get outside care and possibly have CHAMPVA himself or does he HAVE to stay in the system? Thanks in advance for all the wonderful input.
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vetforus		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 917 06/25/09 08:05:31	I'm sorry to hear about your husbands problems. If your husband is retired, then he has Tricare, if so you would be Tricare eligible. If he did not retire and if his 100% is Permanent, then he has ChampVA. Only you can use ChampVA. He can put in a request to have the procedure done in a civilain hospital. I'm not sure how that works are if he would have a good chance of getting it. Hopefully some experts will see this post and go into more detail. Best of luck to you both, VetForUS
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fanaticbooks		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1544 06/25/09 09:58:10	Have you gone to the Head of the VAMC there? Sometimes you need to start at the top to get something resolved. www.howtoassemblevaclaims.com (A free guide on how to research, organize and assemble a VA claim.) Veterans are the mainstay of this country. Only they truly know the price of freedom. Only they can truly teach others like myself the price of freedom.
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hutsky		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 606 06/26/09 00:26:03	platm6309, I will attempt to address some of the questions you pose. If your husband is retired from the military he and you are eligible for Tricare. If he is eligible for Medicare (or Tricare) you have options other than VA medical service. If you are eligible for Tricare you will not be elibible for CHAMPVA. If Tricare or Medicare do not apply and he has 100% VA disability then he will have to work within the VA medical system and you will be covered by CHAMPVA. However, there are certain avenues you can use while working within the VA system to insure that your needs are met. You have already mentioned one, the Patient Advocate. The VA also have hierarchal structures that you can approach. There is the IG, and so on. No one likes bad press. I will speak about the prostate cancer since I was diagnosed and treated a few years ago for the same. Anyone with this condition needs to have medical attention and advice that goes beyond the routine. There are a number of treatments that may be appropriate and bungled treatment can be disastrous. There is an ongoing scandal at the Philadelphia VA Hospital that involves treatment of PC. You and your husband should be fully informed of the options and the expected outcome/risk of each. Then you will have to make the decision. If surgery is the selected treatment then the question of nerve taking should be a function of the extent to which the disease has spread and not because a PSA number is high. I assume that biopsy has confirmed the disease and there should be some indication of the extent and the best probable treatment. My surgery was quite successful and most everything left in tact. I suggest you obtain a book from your local library by Dr Patrick Walsh, the guru on PC. There is also a website at John Hopkins (Urology) that is staffed by his followers.
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brianwl		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 9979 06/26/09 00:48:35	Brian E-6 USAF Ch 61 Ret 80% IU/P&T SC SSDI "A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'" (Author unknown)
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platnm6309		#5	[url]	[-]
Posts: 8 07/03/09 06:04:22	Thanks for all the input. My husband is NOT retired. This is due to AO from Nam. The prostate cancer is diagnosed as 3+3 Gleason, well-differentiated. The docs said if one is going to get it, he had the best as it is the very least aggressive and he would probably die of something else before the Pca would. Now, given that, the VA in Dallas is considered the worst in the county as far as rankings of VA hospitals go. In order to get outside care, the urologist has to initiate the approval for the fee based care in order to get outside the VA surgery. I have started this, AGAIN. We were told this a yr ago, and no one has ever followed thru. The main doc they pull from UT Southwestern to do the surgery stated "I refuse to treat this patient and he can go outside the VA for his care." I have filed complaint after complaint on this Dr. Ganesh Raj, and to no avail. I have gone to Patient Advocate and they may be trying somewhat, I don't call everyday to see what is happening. It may come to a point in time soon, that my husband will have to take whatever butcher he will be assigned to to have this surgery at the VA in which case I will be beside myself not knowing if they will kill him on the table or not. According to them he is not eligible for the nerve sparing surgery because and I mean just because of his psa which is 19.9 and they say 20 is the line. My argument is where in the hell did this fool get his education in math? In medicine you don't round numbers, you have to be exact. Well, I don't need to go on about that because we all know this. Lastly, I want to thank the group for the info about the new law on the property insurance. Being 100% pernament disabled, accourding the the certificate from the Veterans Affairs. Well, according to the tax office, so far, they won't grant this home exemption ONLY because his name is not on the house. I purchased it long before we were married, and my name is the only name on the records, and given circumstances, I cannot add him. Now mind you, I do have his 100% disabled exemption on there but they won't add this one since it will exempt us from all taxes completely, not just a reduction. I just don't get it. There is absolutely no consistancy in the laws. Texas is so darn stupid. Sorry other fellow Texans, but I just don't understand why they are so far behind the rest of the country. I am a native from here, but have lived elsewhere where other states are more in tune with the world. Anyrate, back on the topic of my husband's issues. I guess next week I will need to contact the Director of the Dallas VA hospital and see what if anything can be done. As always, any and all suggestions are welcomed. :-)
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platnm6309		#6	[url]	[-]
Posts: 9 07/03/09 06:18:31	Husky, We have the book, but, the VA will ONLY do what they want to do, they are not listening to either of us. Do you know the difference between doctors and God? God KNOWS he's the doctor. Well given that, the VA doc's seem to think they are God and are treating patients, especially my husband as such. They deem the psa as the SOLE indicator of nerve sparing or not. Not the fact that he has the LEAST aggressive Pca there is. When they remove the bladder, they also remove the prostate.. automatic... no if's and's or but's. That is their Gold Standard. I am so sick of that phrase by them. Bottom line, they want to remove the bladder, hang an outside bag on him (ileal conduit), remove the nerves so he can never have sex again, and possibly do a penile implant in 6 mos. It is there way or no way, basically end of story they say or go elsewhere. I throw all the potential side effects up to them and their reply is "yes, that's true". So, we are just trading in one set of side effects for more potentially harmful others. Their reply is that he will live maybe 5 yrs, 50/50 with the surgery. I hate them so much and their know it all attitudes. I guess they hate me because I can talk to them on their level and they feel threatened. Well, you know, I may just go to the Director next week and see if I can get something done as all the so called players are just dropping the ball. He has to be cleared from general surgery from the pancreas issue first before they can open him back up again anyway, and know one knows how long that will be. He is becoming more frial and needs to put more weight on or he won't make this next surgery as the length of time it will require. It will be long and hard on him. So, I don't know the right answers here. I am at a total loss and it's all the VA docs fault for doing nothing.
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MiltStar		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2914 07/03/09 08:28:32	platnm6309, I move this to General, because I feel you will get more exposure to your question of your husband being treated outside the va system. As far as ChampVA, the spouce and dependents of permenant and total rated veterns are the ones who benefit from ChampVA. The disabled veteran him/her self can not take advantage of it. The extending the new 100% property exemption to your husband sounds like a legal matter. The tax exemption is clearly stated to exempt the January 1 homestead of veterans being compensated at 100% for their service connected conditions. Your problem is the answer to the question is it your husbands homestead? What I do know is Texas is a community property state, which means if you acquired your homestead after you married, it would belong equally to both of you an no question about it being your husbands homestead. On the other side of the fact of Texas being a community property state, anything you bring into the marriage is yours. You should be able to get your husband added to your deed to solve this problem, but I do not know if that will satisfy the requirement of it being his homestead on Jan 1, 2009, and only cover next year for the exemption.You need legal advice on this matter which I don't feel there is anyone here qualified to give. I would also like to put out, any specific legal or medical advice you get here is really to be considered the opinion of the responder, and you need to weigh for yourself if it is sound or not. Regards, MiltStar
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ggold7211	Sorry,	#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2439 07/04/09 21:32:48	This comment does not deserve a response! "It may come to a point in time soon, that my husband will have to take whatever butcher he will be assigned to to have this surgery at the VA in which case I will be beside myself not knowing if they will kill him on the table or not." Gold
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DanMedic		#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1436 07/05/09 23:58:16	ggold7211 wrote: This comment does not deserve a response! "It may come to a point in time soon, that my husband will have to take whatever butcher he will be assigned to to have this surgery at the VA in which case I will be beside myself not knowing if they will kill him on the table or not." Gold I also take offence to that statement. If you REALLY feel a BUTCHER is doing the work you shouldn't even consider that avenue. IMHO Vietnam--'69--'70 MOS's 91A10 & 92B20 311th Fld Hosp. - 17th Field Hosp.- 7th Med. Det.. It's all about Today.......
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platnm6309		#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 12 07/06/09 07:14:38	If you feel a reply isn't necessary, then don't bother wasting your time or mine. I can't help what kind of doctors the VA gets to do their surgery, and yes, Dr. Ganesh Raj is a liar and has put numerous lies in my husbands medical record which is his way of saying let him die as no one now will touch him. He like you is a vet and deserves the best care of which he is not getting. Angry, you bet I am. I bet your spouses would be too if you were treated the way my husband has been treated, so, don't come off on me. He can't get any other care other than the VA, and for what, something this government gave him? Sending him to Nam, and then turning their backs because he HAS A MIND OF HIS OWN. He won't stand by and neither will I sit there and take their crap, yes, crap. If he wants to live, he has to take what they dish out, and that is not right. They don't care about the Vets, if they did, none of the Vets would have to endure all the crap they do. So, don't you dare jump on my case. You don't have a clue. I have tried to explain what is happening and trying to get some advice, but it is obvious some of the Vets still think they are in the service and want everyone to still tell them what to do on a minute by minute basis, sorry, I don't operate that way, never did, never will. I have a mind of my own and will use it without some VA doc stating such n such is the way without the consideration of the Vet. The doc's all think they are little God's and they are not. So, don't judge me until you experience the same EXACT thing.
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platnm6309		#11	[url]	[-]
Posts: 13 07/06/09 07:21:32	Dan, He has no other option if he wants to live, plain and simple. The VA in Dallas is doing nothing to help at all. When a doctor puts lies in you file and you can prove it, they won't remove them, and they (VA) only used ONE doctor, he refuses to do the surgery (or he will die without it) and he can't go elsewhere, then what? Just let him die? I don't think so! Sorry, I don't have a high opinion of the doctors they use. They use you Vets as lab rats to do whatever, and many just go along with the program as if they were still in the service. Well, this is not the case, and I will not let them treat my loved one that way. They already have killed one family member of mine and I won't sit and let them kill another one. And people wonder what is wrong with the system...
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platnm6309		#12	[url]	[-]
Posts: 14 07/06/09 07:22:33	Then why did you bother?
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platnm6309		#13	[url]	[-]
Posts: 15 07/06/09 07:25:50	My house was and has been homesteaded since Jan 1988, that isn't the issue. They are saying even with the current 100% disabled Vet exemption already in place on the property, that maybe it should have never been there in the first place since his name is not on the Deed. According to them, since it is NOT community property (it was mine prior to the marriage), it is my clear and separate property, therefore they won't so far allow the exemption. Makes no since to me whatsoever.
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jdave		#14	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5217 07/06/09 08:41:05	Reference the property tax exemption: Your lack of exemption makes perfect sense to me. You are not the 100 percent disabled veteran entitled to the exemption. The qualified person in your household does not legally own the property---he's not on the deed you said. Fix that so you'll be eligible next year if that's an option. Good looking dog! jDave Member since January 2003 SRU # 3 1965-66 2/8th Cav 1967 MAT IV-22 1968
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JanB999		#15	[url]	[-]
Posts: 485 07/06/09 10:11:26	The tax exemption law is very clear. The exemption only applies if the veteran's name is on the deed. What about that does not make sense?
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platnm6309		#16	[url]	[-]
Posts: 16 07/09/09 10:16:42	janb999, You are one smart *ss! Well, guess what? No, his name is not on the deed and given my set of circumstances, the tax office IS ALLOWING the exemption, so there. You don't have to be so hateful! We are all here to get help, not to be belittled. So, without your help, I was able to pursue on MY OWN to get the exemption on record. So, my name is on the deed, not his, he is the P&T 100% SC Veteran and we have the exemption.... zero taxes. I can thank this forum for giving me the heads up about the form.
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platnm6309		#17	[url]	[-]
Posts: 17 07/09/09 10:21:26	Thanks about the dog. I have 3 weimaraners! The tax office APPLIED the tax exemption, WITHOUT my husband's name on the deed! His exemption has been on there for yrs, and it is only fitting it should remain, and without paying taxes. They will not add his name to the deed either, it will remain in mine. So, my perserverance and my circumstances, there ARE ways to get things done. Just wanted to let you know that it CAN be done, as I did it.
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Aim4fun	Surgery	#18	[url]	[-]
Posts: 540 07/09/09 18:10:05	I can understand your concerns for your husband. Has your husband applied for SSDI? What is his age? Did I miss that? You said that you needed to stay locally. Is the reason because if you left town you would have no where to stay? I know if it were my spouse and I could get better treatment somewhere else and their life would be spared I would go no matter what. Little Rock is close, so is Oklahoma City. I would sure look into it before I threw my hands in the air and gave up. I am not saying this to be mean or callous, but to open up some options. Just a question. Why have you waited so long to talk to the Director? You say this has gone on for a year now, your husband's PCP could request a fee based service. I know I have not had the surgeries that he needs but the times that I have needed fee based services it has been pretty easy. Have you talked to the Doctor that is in charge of surgery? The doctor has to have a boss. You have stated that he has written lies about your husband. What kind of lies has he put into his file? I am asking these questions in hopes that you will post them and then someone might have an educated idea to help you. We can't do it in a vacuum. I hope you can have a resolution soon Aim4fun 11B Bco. 1/502 101st Phu Bai 12/69 to 03/71
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Red Eye Jones		#19	[url]	[-]
Posts: 12 07/10/09 23:35:58	Have you considered taking your husband to Parkland? Parkland provides service to low income residents of Dallas County. The wait to get in their system can be considerable but, once in their level of service is top quality. Red Eye
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JanB999		#20	[url]	[-]
Posts: 486 07/10/09 23:58:57	I don't see anything "hateful" in what I said. If you took it that way that's your problem. IF you were able to convince someone to give you the exemption so be it.
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