Hello,
I am scheduled in Sept for a health screening (physical) appt at the VA Palo Alto health division. I haven't been there since the Scamdemic. What do I need to know before going?

Never mind.

Why did you wait so long between visits?

Bob

I just started using the VA after finding I was eligible and my own health insurance plan stinks and it all seemed perfectly normal and professional. No Covid weirdness if that’s what you were worried about.

If you haven’t set up the VA app, I’d recommend it. Shows all your appointments and prescriptions etc in one easy to navigate screen.

They can vary quite a bit. One in El Paso was an absolute nightmare, they just didn’t care. They were understaffed despite being a military town where many active military retire there. But the one here in St Pete, Florida is awesome. Their lead times for appointments is very reasonable, staff is responsive to calls and emails and they get stuff done. El Paso it was 6 weeks just to see a general practitioner and then who knows how long to see a specialist.

A friend of mine suggested going for an annual physical to the VA even if you have no issues or no medications. He started in his early 50’s, and when he developed a cancer linked to agent orange exposure he was already in the system to access care easier.
I started last year, and I can actually say my experience with the Prescott AZ VA is very favorable. Easy to make appointments, got in within 30 days when I first called them, and after my last visit they even sent me an automated review and sent a message to pre program next year’s appointment for the same week. It does vary greatly from location to location unfortunately

The VA Clinic in Bangor, ME is awesome.

The Service Officer led me through the maze of qualifying for care and getting VA-provided hearing aids, the Audiology department was amazing, Optometry gave me the most thorough eye exam I've ever had and provided not only regular bifocals, but another pair ground for computer work and a third pair of safety glasses for the shop.

I enquired as to whether or not I qualified for a VA Primary Care doctor and they made that happen PDQ with visits every 6 months and bloodwork before every visit. VA prescriptions are mailed directly to me and refills are a snap.

Long story short it's every bit as good, and in most cases better than any civilian care I've ever experienced.

I had a similar experience at the VA Palo Alto last year. They had some new COVID protocols, so definitely check their website or give them a call to see if you need to bring anything specific or follow any new rules. Make sure to have your ID and any recent health records with you. The wait times might be a bit longer, so plan for that.

I went to the VA for a physical, a year later I got a bill for it.

They were the ones who said I had to go thru a physical to then go get hearing aids, then they bill my insurance..

Be aware if you have other insurance they will bill you.

I’m still pissed about it 3 years later.

Were I king, I’d do away with the VA. If you’re a vet-go see a doctor, send the bill to the gov.

Here in the Atlanta area I have a smaller clinic 5 minutes from my house close to a large civilian hospital. They take care of blood work and other minor stuff, they do a pretty good job. We have a larger VA hospital about 25-30 minutes away.

Here is what I have come to appreciate the most, the larger closer civilian hospital while it is close forget about the ER you will wait forever there especially on weekends, in a true emergency the VA says get help quick and just go there.

But me and my dad over the last few years have had to use the ER and while serious enough it could not wait till the clinic opens so we just went to the larger VA facility further away. No huge crowds just Vets, hardly any wait time and they took super good care of us. So instead of sitting in the civilian hospital waiting for hours, we just went to the VA ER instead.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
I went to the VA for a physical, a year later I got a bill for it.

They were the ones who said I had to go thru a physical to then go get hearing aids, then they bill my insurance..

Be aware if you have other insurance they will bill you.

I’m still pissed about it 3 years later.

Were I king, I’d do away with the VA. If you’re a vet-go see a doctor, send the bill to the gov.

That doesn't sound right at all

You aren't supposed to be billed like that

Been using the VA for a few years now. I’ve had good experiences with them. Primary care appointments every 6 months with complete blood work. They have found a couple of issues I didn’t know I had and taken care of them.

No Covid crap at the facilities around Richmond VA these days.

I retired in '79.
Went into the VA system in '86.
Truman VA in Columbia Mo. was excellent.
Got my Korean Vet pops to finally go in 2000.
He's thrilled with the care and concern shown him.
I'm in the KC VA system now and it's just OK, getting ready for my appt. Thursday and will get set up to see ortho Doc to give my 12 yr. old knees a checkup.

quote:

I started last year, and I can actually say my experience with the Prescott AZ VA is very favorable.

Good to hear, I know a couple of Nurse Practitioners that work there.
I’ll pass along the good review.

Came home from Vietnam the second time in 1971, left active duty in 1972. Multiple terrible experiences with VA health care in the 70s and early 80s, swore I would never go back.

Fast forward to 2002. Like many folks over 50 I was taking a half-dozen meds daily and spending $200-plus per month. Re-enrolled in VA (pretty simple as a Purple Heart recipient), annual check-ups and lab work, all my prescriptions taken care of, couple of hospitalizations and surgeries, eyeglasses, cataracts, more old guy stuff, generally good experiences with courtesy and respect.

Docs and nurses asked me several times about VA disability status, which I never applied for until age 70. Within a few months I was receiving 70% permanent service-connected (more than my Social Security every month), all my meds are free, no co-pays on anything.

Not perfect, but nothing else is either. Called last week to set up my annual, my appointment is 4 months away. But emergencies or urgent care require only a phone call and drop my VA card on the desk at the nearest ER.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
Were I king, I’d do away with the VA. If you’re a vet-go see a doctor, send the bill to the gov.

I've been saying it for years. It is a colossal waste of money.

I use the V.A. for my health care.

Best doctor's I have ever had.

The ones I see actually care about the patient. I asked my PCM why he came to the V.A.

"So I can do this, actually sit and talk to the patient."

I've said before I refused to go to the VA. My wife, a Nurse Practitioner at the VA, loved the VA but I hated it when her car was down and I had to drive her there for work and pick her up. I wanted nothing to do with them.

Eventually I went out for a try (Uhhh, OK-my wife called me and said they were giving big $ for agent orange victims) and I was so impressed, I go there for all my care except eyes, and that only because I have had some surgeries and want to stick with the doc who surgered me .

It's the best health care I've ever gotten and they've saved my life a couple of times.

Make my appointments either first thing in the morning or grab the last appointment of the day-almost always get in early, very rarely have to wait past my appointment time.

Best care I've ever had and the price is certainly right.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by straightshooter1:
I've said before I refused to go to the VA. My wife, a Nurse Practitioner at the VA, loved the VA but I hated it when her car was down and I had to drive her there for work and pick her up. I wanted nothing to do with them.

Eventually I went out for a try (Uhhh, OK-my wife called me and said they were giving big $ for agent orange victims) and I was so impressed, I go there for all my care except eyes, and that only because I have had some surgeries and want to stick with the doc who surgered me .

It's the best health care I've ever gotten and they've saved my life a couple of times.

Make my appointments either first thing in the morning or grab the last appointment of the day-almost always get in early, very rarely have to wait past my appointment time.

Best care I've ever had and the price is certainly right.

Bob

Very well said.