Question about Veterans Hospitals,and healtcare for the military

[bsfins]

Growing up, a few of my buddies were military kids,and used VA doctor's,and such and didn't have any problems (actually liked them) One of the guy's in my office is former military (I didn't know till today) Said that he'd never go to one now that he's out,unless it was a last resort.A few years ago, it sort of an issue,about the state of disrepair some of the hospitals are,and that troops returning from combat,were staying in horrible places to get health care...So I've sort of heard both sides..

I was Curious of the experiences some of the ex military people on the board thought about them? are a few bad apples ruining it for all of them?

[Phishfan]

I do not have experience myself, but my father uses the VA. I also know someone who goes there. The only issue I can see is they each have had to travel at times for their procedures (kidney transplant & reconstructive surgery for urethra).

[Sunstroke]

I've used VA facilities (Prescott, AZ & Seattle, WA mainly) for medical attention on a few occasions, but I didn't see the care or anything else to be substandard at all. Maybe not as lavish on the aesthetics of the facility, but I didn't see any difference in the quality of the medical care.

[bsmooth]

There have been issues concerning returning troops and the level of thier injuries. A lot of VA clinics and hospitals have had problems dealing with the newer prostethics as most of the ones they dealt with were older vets who lost limbs to diabetes and other medical problems and did not have the more advanced ones.
The VA as also had problems dealing with the number and severity of TBI's and PTSD cases coming in. Also there has been a push to try and "cure" vets with severe PTSD because a groups study done by VA involving 12 rape victims seemed to be able to "cure" their PTSD.

[Pats2006]

The care sucks!! Meanwhile I have regular insurance and I get screwed. I had to get a  MRI so I paid my co-pay and the a few weeks later I get a bill for like $800. and now with a child and a mortgage and 1 income I don't have 800 to dish out.

You would think that serving fighting for your country you would get some good insurance but you have to go to the VA and get shitty care. It not free all the time nether.   

Meanwhile I go to work every day pay for medical insurance, and pay taxes (been to the desert and back) and for what so I can pay a co-pay and then get a bill for hundreds of dollars. But in the state of MA they can take my tax dollars and give people that don't have jobs or don't make much money and give them MASS Health. (MA pay for these people's insurance) but they shit on the servicemen!


eerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........... ....... .