Just that. Is the Govt. (Obama-care) going to interfere with veterans’ health care?
I realize that Uncle Sam is furnishing health care for veterans, and I certainly appreciate this, but will they change things?
Google. Seems pretty clear that it will not affect it in any way.
Chefguy, you just took a big load off my shoulders!
I’d like to add, to you veterans who don’t have health insurance, that it’s easy to enroll and that they take VERY good care of you. Give it a try!
Jake
I’m puzzled by the phrasing in the OP. No, the PPACA will not affect what the VA is doing, but surely the VA is itself a government interference in the health care of veterans?
It also has no effect on retired military health benefits (TRICARE).
Veterans don’t have to use the VA, how is this interference?
So it’s an interference that some folks voluntarily accept, because they think it’s interference for the better. That doesn’t mean it’s not interference.
OK, I can see how someone could reasonably question if bringing PPACA on line could involve absorbing parts of other federal health care programs into the scheme, but the law explicitly stated the contrary.
Even further, VA health care/disability benefits are insulated from Budget Sequestration.
(One could claim the Veterans and the Medicare pensioners were already under the oh-so-dreaded Public Option all along - the point is that like** Chronos **says, yes it is an interference with the market, just one that many happen to think is a righteous and good one)
There has been some discussion of making some changes to things like Tricare to deal with the cost of medical care rising, like making people pay more on their co-payments. However, I haven’t seen anything that suggests the Affordable Care Act will touch veteran health care
I beg to differ on “easy to enroll”. Since Jan 2003 Veterans are assigned to a “Priority Group”.
If you do not have a service connected disability or meet other criteria, you are subject to geographic means testing. If you make too much money, you cannot get care at the VA except for emergency care. (like any ER, if you show up, they have to treat you.) I know this by experience.
I have VA healthcare, and it was easy for me due to being disabled, but it is not EZ or free for everyone.
And if battling a truly overloaded underfunded system is your idea of being taken care of I disagree completely. Yes I get care, but it is not timely, not top of the line, and I do not believe it has the best doctors. If I could afford to go back to using insurance instead of the VA I would return immediately.
fer instance, I got an MRI on my shoulder that shows 2 muscle tears and 1 tendon tear. I requested the MRI 14 months ago, and treatment started last week, way overdue. With my old insurance it would have been done within a couple of weeks.