Mitt Romney suggests ‘voucher’ system for vet benefits in Tricare, VA, ChampVA, Fee Basis, Medicare etc. Forum

0 Points

Mitt Romney suggests ‘voucher’ system for vet benefits

Author	Comment
bamadood		#21	[url]	[-]
Posts: 393 Nov 15 11 10:01 AM	mazboy wrote: who ever heard of someone in the general population getting paid to go to the doctor. I do not get paid to go to the Doctor !!!! I get reimbursed for miles traveled ...ie gas,oil,tire wear,oil filter,fuel filter,antifreeze,battery,insurace,and a whole host of car related repairs...NOBODY GETS PAID TO GO TO THE DOCTOR unless you are an experimental human guiney pig...
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
71infantry		#22	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4990 Nov 15 11 11:02 AM	bamadood wrote: mazboy wrote: who ever heard of someone in the general population getting paid to go to the doctor. I do not get paid to go to the Doctor !!!! I get reimbursed for miles traveled ...ie gas,oil,tire wear,oil filter,fuel filter,antifreeze,battery,insurace,and a whole host of car related repairs...NOBODY GETS PAID TO GO TO THE DOCTOR unless you are an experimental human guiney pig... Oh come on....... you knew exactly what mazboy meant and to say otherwise is disingenuous to say the least.....but if you want to get technical, the only reason you get a travel allowance from the va is because of the distance you travel to use the facality. It has nothing to do with wear and tear on a vehicle if that was the case all veterans who drive to appointments would receive travel pay. In fact, some of those who use the DAV transportation system even get a travel allowance which they are required to turn over to the DAV. Those using that DAV van don't have wear and tear on their vehicle now do they......no but they do travel a longer distance to get care that other veterans. You should just be happy you get an allowance.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
texasyank	Dental Care limited to 100% service connected	#23	[url]	[-]
Posts: 405 Nov 15 11 11:21 AM	Here is a rough break down of the patients in my service, by eligiblity class: Class IV (100% or IU) 88% Class II (care not completed while on AD) 3% Class IIa (care for dental problems related to combat/service trauma) 1% Class IIb (limited care in support of residential homeless vet programs) 2% Class I (10% sc in Dental Rating Series) 1% Class III, VI (care that directly impacts a med. condition under treatment) 3% Class V (Limited care for Voc rehab patients) 2% Stating only vets who are 100% sc should be eligible for VA dental care cuts out other very deserving groups of veterans and would have small impact on the primary problem, which is: 1. Changes to PTSD rating criteria, and 2. the Agent Orange initiative to associate several very common diseases with it has increased the number of 100% sc and IU dramatically.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
bamadood		#24	[url]	[-]
Posts: 393 Nov 15 11 11:24 AM	OK .. I am wrong...I came down with a bad attitude when I woke up this am...sorry ya'll
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
gallego		#25	[url]	[-]
Posts: 102 Jun 15 12 4:54 PM	Just give me medical that congress gets or even better give them what we get. now there is an idea to cut spending . This is like putting a fox in the Hen house .
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
gallego		#26	[url]	[-]
Posts: 102 Jun 15 12 4:57 PM	Just give me the medical coverage congress get .or give them what we get.Now there is a thought . this is putting the fox in the hen house.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
chicagobob25726		#27	[url]	[-]
Posts: 3089 Jun 16 12 12:39 PM	DON'T CHANGE NOTHING!! UNLESS IT'S MORE $$$$..Romney cant win anyway..He is a twit. "The NAVY CHIEF IS ALWAYS RIGHT" CPO "INITIATED AND PROUD" 100% I.U/P&T/Combined 80% 70% G.A.D/MAJOR DEPRESSION 30% Headaches 10% Back 10% Knee
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
ChipMorrison		#28	[url]	[-]
Posts: 106 Jun 16 12 2:02 PM	How did VA Vouchers get mixed into the topic? I thought this was to be about TRICARE and perhaps Medicare but not VA care. To get TRICARE requires a minimum 20 years service retirement. VA care requires a lot of different requirements so of which are based on ability to pay. TRICARE is basically the military retiree 80/20 health plan. And when the military retiree reaches 65 he/she goes under Medicare and TRICARE picks up the difference. In some case Medicare does not cover some things that TRICARE does and that requires a little working out the differences. As military retiree one might be covered under VA care if the VA are selected as a primary care giver by the retiree. He/She does not have to do that, it is just an option (that VA would like you to take but ...). I go to private physician and he belongs to some kind of group/association that does all the billing. They take a photo copy of the ID card and my Medicare card and do the rest. For the record, I have not received a bill in more than two years of this. Before the doctor was a member of his group, he did the following. He billed me, I paid, and he filed it all with Medicare/TRICARE and they reimbursed me for all the cost. So my Medicare/TRICARE has worked for me, no out of pocket expenses yet (since I reached 65 years of age). I get my meds from TAMP (Express Scripts - what lousy pharmacy to deal with). I have to pay zero dollars for generic meds, $9.00 for non-generic meds and if I had to take special meds maybe up to $22.00. All of the meds are in a 90 day prescription cycle. I can get similar meds from the VA for the same period of time. But Express Scripts accepts the prescription for Diabetes Type II test strips and lancets(my prescription calls for three tests per day and so I get 270 of the stuff every three months, well above the piddily one per day from the VA). So I pay $9 for a 90 day supply per prescription that is not generic (test strips are not generic). Not sure VA would supply the same to me. So I stay with TAMP (Express Scripts) lousy service because it is cheaper and at the same time provides more coverage. But then, I am a military retired Veteran. Benies are different. No VA vouchers. DoD pays for my coverage for TRICARE. Medicare was paid for via past SSN collections.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
mazboy		#29	[url]	[-]
Posts: 739 Jun 21 12 10:38 PM	i guess i'll put my two cent in one more time. if government did some across the board cuts...not just in the VA i'd support them cutting back on: 1. dental unless directly service connected. 2. vision unless directly service connected. 3. eliminate mileage for "general" appts. 4. pick a % of disability and only have medical for that rating and above. 5. greatly limit would VA would do outside of a vets disability issues. i.e. if you have heart issues from military they won't deal with you have a rash or a head cold and etc. an option could also be to allow under 65 vets (100% p/t) to go on to medicare or medicaid and have the va pay the supplement for medicare. this would reduce need for VA resources....kinda of like a voucher system. these vets would not be going to VA clinics or hospitals, or would on rare occassions.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
texasyank	Cutting Dental	#30	[url]	[-]
Posts: 405 Jun 25 12 8:09 AM	i guess i'll put my two cent in one more time. if government did some across the board cuts...not just in the VA i'd support them cutting back on: 1. dental unless directly service connected. 2. vision unless directly service connected. Eligibility for VA dental is based on overall disability. About 85% of the dental care VA provides is to veterans who are 100% sc, or IU. Your suggestion would end dental care to the overwhelming majoroity of those veterans.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
herdgrunt		#31	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5797 Jun 25 12 11:30 PM	texasyank wrote: i guess i'll put my two cent in one more time. if government did some across the board cuts...not just in the VA i'd support them cutting back on: 1. dental unless directly service connected. 2. vision unless directly service connected. Eligibility for VA dental is based on overall disability. About 85% of the dental care VA provides is to veterans who are 100% sc, or IU. Your suggestion would end dental care to the overwhelming majoroity of those veterans. I simply do not understand all this talk of late about eliminating dental care for 100% veterans, what would be next, to eliminate eye care, xrays, mri's, hearing tests, and basically all other predictive/preventive testings. I wonder if all y'all who are calling for these things actually realize that almost all of us 100% disabled veterans cannot get private insurance, the VA is our lifeline, otherwise, because of our service and sacrifices, we'd be left in the cold. I really hate seeing this kind of rhetoric but if the truth be known and the government is looking for places to cut, then let them start with closing the System to the Priority 7's and Priority 8's that have swamped the system since 2009.. And then, if that's not enough, then bring a quick halt to any and all veterans receiving care for anything that's not combat service-related. If your SC's are from other than combat service, then too bad, go to the private care sector. I am not advocating that but with the kind of talk on this thread, I can see it heading that way.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
herdgrunt		#32	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5797 Jun 25 12 11:46 PM	mazboy wrote: i guess i'll put my two cent in one more time. if government did some across the board cuts...not just in the VA i'd support them cutting back on: 1. dental unless directly service connected. 2. vision unless directly service connected. 3. eliminate mileage for "general" appts. 4. pick a % of disability and only have medical for that rating and above. 5. greatly limit would VA would do outside of a vets disability issues. i.e. if you have heart issues from military they won't deal with you have a rash or a head cold and etc. an option could also be to allow under 65 vets (100% p/t) to go on to medicare or medicaid and have the va pay the supplement for medicare. this would reduce need for VA resources....kinda of like a voucher system. these vets would not be going to VA clinics or hospitals, or would on rare occassions. I am glad you only have two cents worth to contribute. I can't tell anything from your profile about your dl's but I'm guessing you are not 100%, and not so disabled from your combat wounds that it keeps you from getting a job, let alone keeping you from getting private health/dental insurance. Maybe you're lucky, I'm not, and others like me are not lucky, the VA Healthcare System is our lifeline, and you know what, I almost died in service to my Country so I could get these lovely benefits. Do you see the VA for any of your healthcare needs? If so, what ''bona fides'' do you have to expect the services of the VA? What ''bona fides'' do you have to support cuts in services to 100% disabled veterans as you described? How would you propose that a 100% disabled veteran get to the clinic/hospital for care without incurring an expense for travel and need a reimbursement for that expense, a reimbursement that you would support eliminating?
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
Truckmaster		#33	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1635 Jun 26 12 8:19 AM	texasyank wrote: the primary problem, which is: 1. Changes to PTSD rating criteria, and 2. the Agent Orange initiative to associate several very common diseases with it has increased the number of 100% sc and IU dramatically. I think the target has been located. I have a hard time realizing how someone can work a civilian carrear for 30 -40 years and retire with a great retirement, then suddenly come down with 100% for PTSD. Its not just the Vietnam vets, the new vets coming out, being healthy as an ox, and rated deployable one day, then the day after they leave service, they have a list of 25-50 conditions to try to reach the 100% level. Fight for every little bit of your life back. Don't let them win.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
Truckmaster		#34	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1635 Jun 26 12 8:25 AM	texasyank wrote: i guess i'll put my two cent in one more time. if government did some across the board cuts...not just in the VA i'd support them cutting back on: 1. dental unless directly service connected. 2. vision unless directly service connected. Eligibility for VA dental is based on overall disability. About 85% of the dental care VA provides is to veterans who are 100% sc, or IU. Your suggestion would end dental care to the overwhelming majoroity of those veterans. How many facilities would even have a dental facility anymore? I'd bet most would go to trying to find a part dentist, or local fee basis. Either of which would most likely lead to poorer service for the vets with sc'd dental conditions. Having grown up with a mother that was a Dr for the Va, I have witnessed the VA's change from a primarily inpatient hospital based system, to the present outpatient, with many local clinics. I appreciate the change, and can see how much better it is now for everyone. Fight for every little bit of your life back. Don't let them win.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
SPSGT.ptsding		#35	[url]	[-]
Posts: 436 Jun 26 12 10:33 AM	I also dont understand why any veteran would want to see another veteran denied healthcare. I feel that if the issue is cost then there are MANY OTHER areas of the federal budget that can be cut first !
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
VABA		#36	[url]	[-]
Posts: 2492 Jun 26 12 5:45 PM	Vouchers make perfect sense to some folks. After all, instead of actually going into the service, Romney got little pieces of paper that deferred him. Now he wants to give pieces of paper to the veterans for our health care. Makes sense to him, I'm sure. As for me, I'll take vouchers for my healthcare when they say I can send vouchers, instead of my son, to war. Edit: "added send" >Insert Witty Saying Here< Ozanam71, Bishop Hogan73, USN74, SERE, VQ1, Ranger75, Midway76, Coral Sea77, Constellation78, Kitty Hawk79, Atsugi80, UCF84, USAF85, Clark86, Taegu87, Osan88, Spangdahlem89, Ramstein91, Sheppard93, RET95, WWU04, MBA05, PMP08, VAMC09, ALS Widower 2011 Edited 1 time by VABA Jun 27 12 12:41 PM.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
herdgrunt		#37	[url]	[-]
Posts: 5797 Jun 26 12 9:45 PM	VABA, I think you last sentence is not saying what you meant.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
The Old Medic		#38	[url]	[-]
Posts: 6024 Jun 27 12 11:40 AM	71, I have personally received ongoing care at the following VA Facilities: VA MC in Fresno, CA; VA Outpatient Clinic in Santa Barbara, CA; VAMC Westwood in Los Angeles, CA; VAMVC Sepulvada in Los Angeles, CA; VAMC in Boise, ID; VA Outpatient Clinic in Eugene, OR; VAMC in Portland, OR; VAMC in La Jolla, CA (San Diego); VA Outpatient Clinic in Vista, CA; VA Outpatient Clinic in Escondido, CA; VA Outpatient Clinic in Bowling Green, KY; VAMC in Nashville, TN and the VAMC in Murphreesboro, TN, as well as short term care in several others around the country. I have had surgeries performed in Boise, Portland, San Diego and Nashville. I have had extensive outpatient care at virtually all of those facilities. I will say again, I have never had any problem what so ever in getting an immediate appointment or being seen for anything that was life threatening or serious. I have been "squeezed in" to the schedules of several clinics, when it was felt that i could not wait for a regular appointment. I also don't mind waiting a few months for routine stuff. I am sorry that YOUR experience has been so poor. Mine has not been. I have advocated that service connected veterans rated between 50-100% S/C be given a CHOICE between receiving care through the VA, and having a Medical Insurance Program that would cover all of the costs of their treatment in their local community. NOTE, this choice should be up to the veteran, and NOT the government. I do not lie about my experience 71, and I do NOT appreciate you labeling me as a liar. US Army 1959-1969; Germany 1960-63; Medic 1964-69 SFC E-7 MOS: 55G10 (60-63) , 91B40, 91C40, 91F40 (64-69) Registered Nurse, 1968-2005 (Licensed, not practicing after 1975) Ed.D in Rehabilitation Counseling, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Retired, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Independent Social Security Contract Vocational Expert 1983-2005, Contract Medical Expert 1987-2005 60% Service Connected Disabled; Life Member of the DAV since 1980
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
nickfuhs		#39	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1666 Jun 29 12 10:58 PM	I believe that 71Infantry has a valid point. I have an acquaintance who just got a kidney transplant at the VA. No service connection that I am aware of, two years peacetime service, a history of substance abuse including jail time. Maybe there is some service connection that I am not aware of but on the surface at least don't get it and wonder who didn't get that kidney. Maybe there should be some middle ground where service connected vets get some priority access in the system.
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote
USNDW		#40	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4378 Jul 1 12 10:30 AM	The VA continues to spend billions of dollars building new medical centers or specialty clinics. I know that this helps bring employment into some areas but it would be far more economical to allow Veterans to see private examiners for the conditions. Tricare & Medicare pay a small amount, or the contracted agreed upon amount for service to their insured. The VA could do the same thing with vouchers, but I don't agree that there should be a limit. Veterans should be able to receive the care they need, not just a dollar amount. My Mom was getting travel pay when she went to see examiners for an injury she suffered on the job. With workmans comp and other employer insurance companies they will mosr certainly provide the worker travel if they are seeking treatment for an on the job injury. The real issue coming is that the Obama administration is forcing DOD to increase the costs of Tricare health insurance. DOD sent a budget to the White House and it was promptly returned with a letter stating that if they did not put in an increase for Tricare the POTUS would veto it???? I thought he had said he would not try to fix the budget with more fees or increase in costs for Military personnel, Retired Personnel or their families? In fact he said this at multiple visits with Veteran charity services and in front of troops. If they are going to start increasing health care costs for dependents or survivors of dead or seriously injured Veterans who were medically retired, and those who served over 20 years, then you can bet their is a deal on the table calling for some cuts to the VA system also. All Veterans may suffer from these "affordable Health Care" acts. Some of our Nations Hero's and their families are living paycheck to paycheck and now they want to increase the cost of medical insurance? And not only by a little either, there will be significant cganges around 2014-2016 that could lead Tricare to go from about $400 a month to almost $1,600. 250% increase over 2-5 years. I don't know about the rest of you but I think that is shameful and dishonest. What I would really like to know is why has this not been a topic on any new stations?
Interact My Recent Posts	Reply Quote

Yuku free message boards

Link to VBN User Agreement. By Using VBN, You agree to ALL TERMS.

Mitt Romney suggests ‘voucher’ system for vet benefits

VBN User Agreement

About VBN