We retired B/4 ACA was in effect (2009 @ 58/57), and purchased individual policies out in the market. We elected to purchase separate policies as I am covered by the VA, but the VA does not normally cover emergencies in non-VA facilities. A drop on the street will get you to the nearest hospital, and we figured one of those would easily overrun the cost of just insuring me with a catastrophic type of coverage from BCBS until Medicare (was reasonable back then). ....
When affordable care act came along, we thought things would get better for us with costs/coverage (wrong)...
My policy was over two times as costly on the ACA...
I wanted to add to this post, but too late -
If one is using the VA for coverage, you cannot get any subsidy when buying on the ACA exchanges (thanks again Mr. President for stating "your covered if you're VA"). We had to take out separate policies to get different ACA coverages, and to qualify DW for any subsidy. If you're not VA and you both go on the ACA together - you'll get a much better (subsidy) deal. If VA, You would have to leave the VA system (documented in writing to the VA) to qualify for the ACA with subsidy. No guarantee you'd be accepted back if you chose to leave the VA healthcare system. A real catch-22 for veterans - no ACA subsidy with VA and no guarantee of non VA coverage in an emergency w/o ACA coverage (don't believe there are any catastrophic coverages available for this scenario either over the age of 32 and financially healthy). And subsidy for just DW was no where near what we could have gotten together. I chose to stay with VA, and costs are now going back positive with Medicare - paying back extra costs incurred with no subsidy ACA coverage. I use traditional Medicare with Hi deductible F and no part D as VA qualifies as Part D coverage, (we travel and snowbird). Would be buying Medigap G and part D w/o VA.
I'm not sure what your quarrel is with these rules. The VA rules and subsidy issue is the same as the Medicare rule..One spouse on Medicare the younger spouse gets a little less money for her subsidy. That's not a Catch-22 that's common sense.
Now true emergency care WILL be covered by the VA..I've never seen anything to the contrary.. Depending on the situation you might be moved ASAP to a VA hospital. Of course the burden is on the Vet to be sure it's an emergency situation. In exchange for this you get virtually free health care and heavily subsided drugs. And before anyone comments on the last sentence I mean free cost wise. All vets earned their coverage by serving their country.
You already got your cost subsidy baked into the VA coverage, why would you be offered a double dip in the subsidy pool.
If a vet is uncomfortable with the VA rules or location of their providers they have complete freedom to buy a full price policy and go for a subsidy, if they drop completely out of the VA system. It seems you think a belt and suspenders health care coverage should get you a double subsidy.