The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates the largest health care system in the country, with over 1,400 sites of care nationwide. When you become enrolled in the VA health care system, it's for a lifetime. You are instantly and automatically entitled to receive care at any VA location without ever having to register for VA health care benefits again.
Learn more at: http://www2.va.gov/directory/guide/division_flsh.asp?dnum=1
After you enroll, you can immediately start receiving your health care at a VA facility, or at a later date - the choice is yours. Enrolling in the VA health care system is quick and easy - just complete an online Application for Health Benefits online at:
https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/
Need help enrolling? Contact the VA toll free at 1-877-222-VETS (8387).
VA Health Care used to have a bad rap with poor service. Things have changed dramatically after Pres. Trump help us vets. Every vet can use VA health care system with confidence you’ll get the best care. Don’t live near VA healthcare service, that’s ok. You may need to travel to the nearest VA facility now and then however, once you get fully integrated into the system you can receive care near you.
Pres. Trump pushed for vets to get top notch medical care. VA offers offers community care
https://www.va.gov/communitycare/ Once your primary Dr. gives a referral to go to your community you can choose your Dr. or use the Dr. the VA assigns your local area. My experience with this- I use the medical facility assigned several times. My VA sends me to the “ritzy” rich people Dr’s. It is the best care available in my area.
They also offer video appointments with your primary care Dr. so you don’t have to commute if you live a distance from the VA.
Sign up for MyHeatheVet https://www.myhealth.va.gov/mhv-portal-web/home
For access to all your medical records, communicate with your Dr., get scripts filled & sent to your home, make appointments etc…. (edit) Once signed up, get the premium upgrade for full access to all your information & message service.
VA provides all your medical needs at no cost to the veteran if you have qualified disability rating. At worst, if you don’t have a disability, you pay a co-pay for good care.
As a new member of the MGB forums, I'll add my first 2 cents to the Military Veterans forum here.
I retired from my civilian job in 2008 and went looking for a healthcare provider, since I wasn't old enough to qualify for Medicare at the time. Can you believe they wanted $700 a month through an insurance company, and that was for catastrophic only insurance with huge deductibles. I had heard that the VA wouldn't accept me because I either made too much, or owned too much, as that was their way of thinning the flood of veterans under the Clinton administration. It turned out that wasn't true as long as I could check one of the special boxes on the 1010EZ form. Agent Orange got me in the door, and after a dozen years of using the VA as my primary care provider, I can complain little!
I've found they have top notch doctors in my area, as many of them come from the nearby Loma Linda Medical University, but I've also heard other areas of the country may have terrible service, so the VA may be hit or miss in that regard. For the price of admission (which was paid for long ago) I'll be sticking with them from here on out, and Medicare will just be my backup.
When I first signed up with my local VAMC, they sent me down the hall to choose a doctor, but down the hall they said no can do until you need a doctor. And I couldn't make an appointment with a doctor, either, but then I was told I could make appointments and could choose a doctor if I used one of the nearby satellite clinics, which is the route I took. So keep that in mind if any of you are new to the VA game.
As a disabled vet that uses the VA system, I want you to know that you have to stay on top of the VA so they don't drop you in between the cracks. Make sure that you use your Patient Advocates if you feel that you are not getting the care that you need. But beware. They too can leave you hanging. The system can be hard to navigate at times but stay after it. One of the most important things to remember is to make sure you document everything, get copies of everything, and take plenty of notes. You will find that at some point in time that you will come to need it.
Very cool, and MUCH deserved. Hopefully, Pinhead in charge keeps his grubby hands OFF!