Can the VA replace health insurance? I am wondering if I can drop

[alfredo]

my personal insurance and just go with the VA.


What do you think?

[babylonsister]

1. Are you retired mil? nt

[Rick Myers]

2. Depends on how much you make per year...

The VA has a formula to determine your coverage based on income. Call the nearest VA or stop in and go to the 'Means Test' office. I have only the VA as heatlh coverage. It does not cover dental or optical unless service related, but otherwise, I get fabulous care! The VA has improved 1000% over the past 10 years.

[alfredo]

7. I am Priority 5. I am in and have had several appointments. I just wanted

to see what you think about dropping my health insurance.

[hobbit709]

3. I did it a year ago

It saved my wife $300/mo and my copay on the meds dropped from $200 to $64/mo. Getting about the same leve of care-on some things better. But the VA facility here in Austin is pretty good and the VA hospital in Temple is just an hour away.

[EV_Ares]

4. Go to their website and it will tell you. Unless you have a service

connected disability, no ability to have health insurance of your own, work, own policy, income, you will not qualify.

[Submariner]

5. That YELLOW-BELLIED DRAFT DODGING COWARD Cheney

and his puppet AWOL-boy Bush took away free VA health care unless it is a service connected disability. The Dems are trying to get our bennys back, but there are still too many cowardly draft-dodging repukes that need to be kicked out of office before we get a chance to get it back.

Here's the latest on "Group 8"vets:

Medical Fight Over 'Group 8' Vets
Tom Philpott | June 22, 2007

Bitter Split Over Re-Opening VA Care to Any Veteran

Since January 2003, nearly 400,000 veterans have been denied enrollment in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system because they have no service-connected disabilities and have incomes that exceed a VA means test, the same one used to screen for federal housing assistance.

The Bush administration’s decision to suspend enrollment in VA healthcare for these “Priority Group 8” veterans was explained four years ago as necessary to ensure continued access to VA care for higher priority veterans – those with service disabilities, low incomes or special needs.

Whether Congress should force the administration to reopen the VA system to new Group 8 enrollees was the topic of a contentious hearing June 20 of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.

The timing might seem questionable given how veterans physically and mentally wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan are a rising challenge for VA medical staffs and resources. But the treatment of Priority 8 veterans is tied to Democratic election promises of “full funding” for VA health care. Also, it’s an issue guaranteed to light off partisan fireworks on which so many lawmakers today seem to thrive.


http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,139877,00.html

[alfredo]

11. Our Republican governor cut the veterans preference in hiring.

We will fight to have it restored.

[skorpo]

6. Do you have service related medical problems?

If you have no service related medical problems and are not already registered with the VA you may not be eligable. Check out this article and the link at the end. This may help you make your decision.

http://www.military.com/veterans-report/medical-fight-over-group-8-vets?ESRC=vr.nl

Sorry don't know if the link is clickable.

Medical Fight Over 'Group 8' Vets
Week of June 25, 2007
Since January 2003, nearly 400,000 veterans have been denied enrollment in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system because they have no service-connected disabilities and have incomes that exceed a VA means test, the same one used to screen for federal housing assistance.

The Bush administration's decision to suspend enrollment in VA healthcare for these "Priority Group 8" veterans was explained four years ago as necessary to ensure continued access to VA care for higher priority veterans - those with service disabilities, low incomes or special needs.

Whether Congress should force the administration to reopen the VA system to new Group 8 enrollees was the topic of a contentious hearing June 20 of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. To learn more, read the full article at Military.com.

[alfredo]

8. I'm already in. Group 5 or as they say, Priority 5.

I might. I am an old 05h20 and many of us have hearing problems from years of trying to hear signals under QRM and QRN.

[skorpo]

9. Sounds promising

Two friends with hearing damage from airplane depressurizing in '65 are getting excellent full coverage.
Go to your local VA and check everything out.
Good Luck.

[alfredo]

10. I am going in next week to talk to the DAV to get the forms and such.

I have had a loud ringing in my ears ever since the Army. I tried to get something done but they told me I had to extend my duty to get any help.


I hadn't been home for 3 years, and had been working swing shifts, 16 days on, one day off. I was burned out.