Senator
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
I don't understand this comment, if you get VA healthcare, you get VA healthcare...A disability rating my reduce your co-pay to zero. Yes if you have any type of other insurance, the VA will bill your insurance. As a matter of fact, VA encourages you to use the healthcare to stay in the system, they recommend a visit every 12 to 18 months so that you stay qualified as a regular user.
Exactly. As soon as I got my disability rating, I scheduled an appointment for a physical to get in the system. If you have any disability rating, it's 100% free. If you use the VA because you cannot afford anything else, there is a co-pay based on your income. There are 8 levels of priority, with 1 being the highest. I am a priority 3. The same as a person with a purple heart.
I have been seen quite a few times since the first visit, for basic follow-ups. I did use the VA back in 1983 as I was a student without health insurance, and has my appendix removed. Since I was low-income, that was free too.
When I also had a corporate policy, the VA billed BCBS. I saw the EOB forms, and it was treated as in-network. They still cut the costs down from the original charges, and applied my deductible. And I never received any bills, but the deductible was closer to being met.
I gave the government a blank check, made payable to ‘The United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including my life.’ I do not feel guilty at all about getting my healthcare. I hope that I can eventually go to any medical facility, not just the VA.