Why do we not offer private healthcare to veterans?

[kentuck]

Why do we give them government healthcare? Because we are morally obligated to take care of our wounded soldiers once they return from war. But we take care of all our veterans, not just those wounded in war. We do not trust the insurance companies to take care of our soldiers.

Because we, as a people, have a moral duty to take care of our sick and wounded, whether they are soldiers or not. Healthcare is not a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder. That is why we need reform.

Nobody should be in the business of making a profit off the illness of another human being. We pay our doctors well because we appreciate what they do - not because we believe in the profit motive. The insurance companies are whores. This is a moral issue, above all else.

[imdjh]

1. Because most of them wouldn't pay the premium, and they would still end up on the steps...

... of the Capitol saying "Take care of me. I earned it."

The same way that those who are opposing single payer and who bitch about Medicare and Medicaid end up on the Capitol steps screaming, "I'm a tax payer! I earned it!" when one of their fiercely independent family members ends up needing care.

The really hard part of this discussion from a political point of view is that the politicians can't really tell the truth. The truth: "We need to push single payer through, because most Americans are too stupid to get out of their own way."

[TreasonousBastard]

2. STOP IT! I tear my hair out every time I see this...

The VA was set up with specific centers set up around the country, and expanded to local clinics in urban areas. When it was set up, the health insurance business was much smaller than it is now-- almost nonexistant. It has never significantly changed its fundamental method of operation because that would require a lot of work by Congress.

I'm a client of the VA, and the closest clinic to me is 30 miles away, and they do almost nothing there. I get an appointment every 3 months to get some blood tests and the doctor listens to my heart. Everything else, even X-rays, is at the main center over 60 miles away. There are no second opinions, and there is no choice in procedures. They do contract with a few outside providers for things like colonoscopy that are done more efficiently at gastro centers, but for most of it you've got the doctor they assign you to, and have to find a way to get there if you're sick.

I know quite a few people who have enrolled with the VA just to get the free meds and avoid copays and donut holes with Medicare or their private insurance, but don't want VA care.

Now, TRICARE, the military health plan, IS run by private insurance companies under contract, and has been since it was formed from the bits and pieces of CHAMPUS. I would not be surprised if at some point the VA follows the same path and contracts out administration for outpatient services. Frankly, I would jump at the chance to use local doctors and facilities.

[kentuck]

3. You have to find a way to get there if you are sick?

Huh?

[TreasonousBastard]

4. Yeah. Who's going to pick me up, or pay for an ambulance...

usually, I can make the drive, even the times I had to go to the emergency room.

A heart attack would be a big problem, and the VA might pay for local ER treatment, but if I broke my leg, I'm not sure they would pick up the local ambulance and ER tabs. The rules are a bit fuzzy.

I'm not complaining about the VA, much, anyway, and they have mostly done me right. But, the day I fell and got a big gash on my head, they threw me out of the local clinic and I drove to the VA ER 60 miles away. Did a great job stitching me up when I got there, but if I couldn't drive or beg a ride, how would I have gotten there?

Same thing when a cataract surgery caused some real problems. I couldn't see in the sunlight so managed to drive to the ER at 3 AM 'cause there were no other options.

I've got some friends and family here who can drive me, but they're not always available to kill a whole day at a moment's notice. There's also the DAV van, but you have to make an appointment in advance so they can find a volunteer driver, and it doesn't run in the afternoon.

There are trains and buses, but nothing direct and the connections are flaky. The trip by bus or train is at least two hours, often more.

[damntexdem]

5. Shhhh, or they'll try to do it.

But they'll only offer it to privates. ;-)

And maybe restrict major medical to majors, or general surgery to .........