Posted on Feb 21, 2016
Is there an upside or downside to using the VA for medical care over using Tricare and private doctors?
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Does anyone that uses Tricare also use the VA for medical treatment? If so, is there a upside or downside to using the VA for medical care over using Tricare and private doctors?
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)TRICARE
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)TRICARE
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 51
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I have a very unique perspective on this one! Having worked in side the Department of Veterans Affairs as a National Service Officer for a National Veterans Service Organization (VSO) at both the Regional Office Level and Board of Veterans Appeals Office Level I have found that there are some very good doctors, nurses and health care professionals at the VA Medical centers and some very inadequate (and I hate to use the term doctor here but I shall) doctors and others as well working for the VA. quite a few doctors as well as other health care workers go to work for the VA because 1) they do not need to be licensed or board certified in the state they are working in to work for the VA and 2) they do not need to carry liability insurance to work for the VA; also, many "doctors" on staff at the VA are foreign trained doctors and have a problem communicating in English (both understanding and talking or explaining), do not under stand the VA rules, do not care to understand the VA rules and, now this is the BIG ONE here, have LESS medical knowledge than the Registered Nurse on staff and yet are granted the privileges of DOCTOR over her because in Burma, Kosovo, Iran (yes Iran), Pakistan, Turkey or what other country they are from they met the level of DOCTOR in that country and because of the agreement for entry into this country and/or hiring arrangement there was they are the superior individual yet they are doing more harm because of less knowledge! The VA must hire ONLY Board certified Doctors and health professionals and demand that those doctors and health professionals maintain a license in the state where they work; hell you must have your air conditioning in your car and home worked on by a state certified and licensed A/C mechanic so why can the VA let you get worked on by a doctor that tis not certified and licensed.....I guess we know where Congress' priorities are.
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SGT G Raymond Raulerson
SFC (Join to see) - Yes you can "request" a different provider; however, that process can be limited to you at some point by the Director of the facility, through their Patients Advocate, who can, by regulation and procedure, deny you (or limit you to the number of times, a change of provider and there is not an appeal process for this. Regarding the Compensation and Pension , which is what I believe you meant by: " some of the other areas of benefits are far more frightful to navigate and get results" yes it can be I would recommend that you get a representative who is straight with you on what to expect, if one promises you "I can get you this or that" RUN! Make sure you have a representative or advocate who has been Accredited by The VA whether he or she is from a Veterans Service Organization or a Private Agent or Attorney do not be afraid to verify their credibility and ask others about them! After over 20 years in this business there are a lot of HACKS and "outhouse lawyers/liars" out there1 Cover your "six".
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SMSgt Lloyd Knopp
SFC (Join to see) - This process is not as simple as you portray it. It has to be approved above the doctor level, and can take 3 to 4 months. That said, I still use both. More recently I enrolled in the 'Veteran Choice Program,' because the VAMC is 100 miles. So far there seems to be a communication problems between civilian and VA care givers. My civilian doctor, as well as myself, are still learning.
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SGT G Raymond Raulerson
The "system" CAN be much simpler all the VA and Congress has to do is eliminate the CHOICE program and just put ALL the funds in the Fee Basis program which has been in effect since 1945 and is a proven program that has NO distance or other restrictions it is covered under 38 C.F.R. § 17 and it does not require any private or contract coordinators.
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If the VA has a service that is better tailored to your need, then it's worth it. They see a bunch of amputation and other cases that military bring in vs. the general population. They charge Tricare for the service. I know a few Tricare types that also use VA because there's no Copay and are closer vs. a military hospital.
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MAJ George Huley
I have ILS spine injuries. My input is dated as I have not used the VA for neurosurgery care, for at least a decade. Back then the VA could not pay neuro-surgeons what they could get on the outside. As a result local hospitals would detail one neuro-surgeon at a time for six months stints to assist the VA. Because of this and the fact that I am now close to Walter Reed and Ft Belvoir, I use the MTFs. I might add the the Military Neuro-surgeons at the facilities are the best care givers and they are very compassionate.
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he Commander-in-Chief Obama, ALL Sentors, Representatives and the Veterans Administration have Willfully and Knowingly allowed Veterans to die for years from lack of PROMPT medical care... REMEMBER, they were aware of the VA problems for years... I hope the FBI is looking into filing murder charges against them with the EMPHASIS on INDIFFERENCE to Human life... Abraham Lincoln would be ashamed of our Government's disgraceful treatment of Veterans... God Bless our Veterans and America...
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