VA Choice Card eligibility expands

2015-04-27T09:45:41-04:00

I thought the 40 line-of-site rule was a bit of a non-starter. Around here the roads never follow a straight line!

"In a final rule published in the Federal Register, VA made good on a promise it made in March to change the mileage requirement from a straight-line, "as the crow flies" measure to actual driving distance from a VA medical facility."

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/veterans/2015/04/24/veterans-choice-40-miles/26295537/

Rules governing VA's choice program are changed to expand program to more veterans.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2015 9:58 AM

2015-04-27T09:58:54-04:00

I got lucky on this. One of the best hospitals in town is LITERALLY right across the road from the VA here in Columbia. Another one is just up the road & around the corner. There's a reason people from Nebraska come down to Columbia for the VA appointment. It appears to be a real outlier in the general population of VAs, even with it's own issues of keeping good medical staff.

Response by LTC John Shaw made Apr 27 at 2015 11:28 AM

2015-04-27T11:28:42-04:00

Columbus, Ohio has a great new clinic, the wait times can be more than 3 months some times or not when you want them. I find the VA personnel try to work with Veterans to figure out how to make the appointments happen and provide the needed care. I have not had the need for the Choice program. I can see it being a necessary option for Veterans with no clinics or clinics that are being non-responsive.

Response by SSG 91 B40 00 J50 made Jul 12 at 2019 8:49 PM

2019-07-12T20:49:34-04:00

How do we get a new Choice Card......I live in Moses Lake, WA which is about 100 miles and more from any VA facility........I got one in the mail about 3 years ago, but no one would take it. I'm retired with 20 years service, and used the VA when I lived in Olympia....great people, great service. But now I need a Choice Card.