Recently lost my job, Down sized after thirteen years. I'm a disabled vet so I thought I would try and use the local VA pharmacy for my prescriptions and maybe save a dollar or two. I go in they say I have to be under one of their doctors care to use the pharmacy, so I say okay give me an appointment, They say sure the first available will be in three months. So I drop the scripts off at my normal drug store on the way home. I'm glad it wasn't anything serious.

I've had success using the VA for the past year or so. Appointments for annual exams can take a few weeks but I've had great success getting appointments for other issues in as little as a few days to a week. Perscriptions associated with a service connected disability are free and all others cost 15 bucks. The VA has issues but so far I've received quality care in reasonable amounts of time. I wouldn't make a snap judgment based on one experience. Besides I've had to wait up to a month to see my civilian physician for annual exams or other minor healthcare issues. The biggest benefit from using the VA for me is I've saved several thousand dollars over the past year because all of the procedures I've had done didn't cost me a penny.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: calugo,

Sorry about being downsized. If you're looking for a new job, I hope you also know there are veteran based help groups for that.

I used the VA once. Thing I noticed was the number of volunteers. my thought was that this gave them and advantage over the system.

Sorry about your job, that truly sucks.

I was never in the service, so I have no experience with the VA..

I needed to make an appointment for my yearly physical last week. I called my local doc. They said the first available appointment is in February. 2 years ago I was having issues with my neck. My regular doc took x-rays and couldn't find anything. He suggested I get an MRI. I looked around and selected one, first appointment was 8 weeks out.

I don't think wait times are exclusive to the VA.

quote:

Originally posted by 1967Goat:
Sorry about your job, that truly sucks.

I was never in the service, so I have no experience with the VA..

I needed to make an appointment for my yearly physical last week. I called my local doc. They said the first available appointment is in February. 2 years ago I was having issues with my neck. My regular doc took x-rays and couldn't find anything. He suggested I get an MRI. I looked around and selected one, first appointment was 8 weeks out.

I don't think wait times are exclusive to the VA.

This is my experience as well. My GP told me that he expects it to get worse before it gets better if congress doesn't force some changes in healthcare. Look at Canada if you want to see where our medical community is headed.

Jim

I have nothing but high praise for the VA here in Atlanta. After all the bad things I had heard
Was not expecting much but they have far exceeded any civilian care I have ever had.

VA down in the Florida Panhandle blows. I'd die in the streets before ever going back to those fucking clowns.

If you're more than 30 days out from an appointment at a VA facility, you're eligible for the Veteran's Choice program, whereby the VA will cover private care so long as your doc accepts their payment.

I'm on the Choice program because my legal residence is >40 miles from any VA facility (and am also a partially disabled vet). As long as I schedule my stuff through them (they set appointments with my chosen doc and/or specialist), it's all paid for and I get no bullshit actual care.

Seriously. Look into it. Might as well use your "free" healthcare.

quote:

I have nothing but high praise for the VA here in Atlanta. After all the bad things I had heard
Was not expecting much but they have far exceeded any civilian care I have ever had.

Same here in Nashville. Generally much better than the "for profit" doctors my wife has to see. Mon she went to a new doctor (he left Atlanta in a hurry) for a recurring ear infection. He prescribed physical therapy - WTF!

A recent NPR special said that "50% of all medical research was done by the VA & 70% of all doctors received some or all training from the VA. The for profit systems do NO medical research."

If you are a Vet eligible for VA care, go get registered. You don't have to use it if you don't want to, but that way you're in the system and if you ever do need to use it you're not stuck waiting on any administrative hurdles.