What are some considerations when deciding between using VA healthcare versus a private plan?

2024-04-09T13:20:10-04:00

I'm a veteran thinking about enrolling in VA healthcare but also have civilian health care with Blue Cross Blue Shield. What are some considerations that should go into this decision?

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Apr 9 at 2024 1:20 PM

2024-04-09T13:20:50-04:00

One consideration is your family. Do you have others on your plan?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2024 1:38 PM

2024-04-09T13:38:49-04:00

I love BCBS because everyone takes it.
It doesn't hurt to enroll in the VA but if you only use the VA you have to go to the VA so it depends how close you are to them. I have to drive past maybe 10 hospitals to get to my local VA where I can walk to a doctor that takes BCBS.

Response by MSG Stan Hutchison made Apr 9 at 2024 2:01 PM

2024-04-09T14:01:26-04:00

I have Tricare for Life plus MEDICARE but I still use the VA whenever possible. I believe they are a little more in tune with the Veteran community.

Response by COL Randall C. made Apr 9 at 2024 2:06 PM

2024-04-09T14:06:51-04:00

First, if you're eligible*, there is no reason you wouldn't enroll in VA healthcare. There are no premiums that you would pay.

One big caveat. While all veterans who have met the basic criteria (i.e., 24 continuous months of active duty, reservist ordered to active duty, etc.) can enroll in VA healthcare, if you are a "Priority Group 8"*, don't have a service-connected disability (or don't have a rating of 10%+) and don't meet income thresholds, then you aren't eligible for treatment (you'll be in the system, but currently won't be able to get treatment for non-service connected issues).

If you are the only person that you need to consider healthcare for, and you're eligible for VA healthcare, the other considerations about getting BCBS come down to really one main factor - flexibility.

VA healthcare means you will be treated at a VA medical center or though the community care program. You can't go to a non-VA doctor unless the VA refers you there. BCBS on the other hand can be used at any participating doctor.

If you're looking at it from a purely cost basis, VA healthcare will usually win out because there are no premiums and in most comparisons, the co-pay* rates will beat out BCBS rates (even if they don't, remember - no premiums).
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* VA health care eligibility - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/
* VA co-pay rates - https://www.va.gov/health-care/copay-rates/
* VA priority groups - https://www.va.gov/health-care/eligibility/priority-groups/

Eligibility for VA health care | Veterans Affairs

Find out if you can get VA health care as a Veteran.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2024 2:33 PM

2024-04-09T14:33:54-04:00

As mentioned by COL Randall C., enrolling for VA Healthcare is the right choice. By enrolling, you will increase your healthcare options. Overall, my treatment at the VA has been better than what I have experienced on the civilian side.

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made Apr 9 at 2024 5:24 PM

2024-04-09T17:24:49-04:00

Means testing made my decision for me though I had already made the same decision

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Apr 10 at 2024 11:21 AM

2024-04-10T11:21:44-04:00

I have both VA and private (not BCBS) insurance. For me, the VA isn't really convenient because I have to drive over an hour to the nearest VA facility. I see a private sector provider that is 3 minutes from my current employment location. If I travel from home, the commute is about 15 minutes.

I still maintain my VA benefits because you never know when tragedy might strike and it become the only healthcare available to me. At least I'm already enrolled and established as a patient in the system.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2024 6:52 PM

2024-04-10T18:52:45-04:00

I have TRICARE for Live and Medicare but I am enrolled at the VA. I use the eye clinic to get a new pair of glasses every year. For me TRICARE, BENEFEDS and Medicare are working but I want to leave my options open.

Response by SP5 Arthur Vines made Apr 17 at 2024 8:56 PM

2024-04-17T20:56:45-04:00

In my case, the consideration boils down to how far away the VA facility is, but also on comparing VA care to the private HMO or PPO. I use VA and also keep my private insurance. I have a local VA clinic for routine care, but all specialists and the actual hospital is 45 minutes or more. I feel that I have received better care at the VA, honestly. But I would rather be hospitalized closer to home if I had to be hospitalized so that my family could spend more time with me, so I would use a hospital my insurance covers. And I pay a copay to see a nearby private podiatrist rather than drive to the VA every 3 months, just for the convenience. This visit takes 30-40 minutes to the local guy, where it could take 2.5 - 3 hours to drive to the VA, park, walk a long way to the VA hospital and wait for an elevator, check in, wait my turn, get treated, then reverse back through the giant parking lot to the car, and drive home in nasty traffic. So having VA as well as private insurance works for me, but then my private insurance is not too expensive (medicare advantage). I love VA medical, and I would choose it if I had to choose one or the other.

Response by PFC Clifford Kelley made Apr 18 at 2024 8:38 AM

2024-04-18T08:38:29-04:00

I only use the VA when I have no other choice. They had their chance to kill me and almost succeeded! They performed a colonoscopy without enough anesthesia. I was begging them to stop but they continued until I had a seizure. When I complained to the "patients advocate" I told "Mr. Kelley you get free healthcare I don't know what you are complaining about!" By the time I got back to my room on the 5th floor they had my discharge papers waiting. My wife had to rush me to the ER at 01:00 the Doctors had to remove 2/3 of my colon and 6in of my small intestines due to hemorrhaging. And the VA still didn't care! Luckily I live far enough from the VA to be able to go to outside Drs.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made Apr 19 at 2024 6:39 AM

2024-04-19T06:39:44-04:00

I’m a Brit nam veteran and I can tell you GO TO A CIVILIAN DOCTOR!

Response by Cpl Dale Nosbisch made Apr 19 at 2024 3:30 PM

2024-04-19T15:30:46-04:00

1st are you service connect? If yes go to VA if over 30% the VA will pay travel for service connected disabilities.
If you need mental health treatment always go to VA because even if you are not a combat Veteran Most Civilian Counselors do not understand what your life experiences are.
On the other hand Blue Cross is a good Insurance so for other care.
I would suggest to sign up for VA because if you change your employer you will still have coverage Between private insurance.

Response by Ray Barraquias made Apr 22 at 2024 10:49 AM

2024-04-22T10:49:27-04:00

Health care benefits how to get This A's Care giver of veterans from 1980 when I was 16 year old I help my mother to care the veterans full time I care then from hospital and our home us member of veterans house hold from 1980 up to his death in 1985 and how I can avail this as family caregiver of veterans from 1998 my mother was suffering of many illness I am a Care giver of spouse of veterans up to she died on June 2 2002;I am fully time to serve my mother.how I can get caregiver as family caregiver of veterans and spouse anyone to answer me

Response by 1SG Steven Malkowski made Apr 22 at 2024 12:54 PM

2024-04-22T12:54:45-04:00

I have a very good BC/BS plan from my former civilian employer (retired law enforcement). It's so good that I declined Medicare, thereby forgoing my eleigibility for Tricare For Life (I'm also retired Army, NG). I have never used the VA. My main consideration is that I consider my problems, service connected or not, to be minor compared to all those who were combat wounded and disabled. I keep telling myself to enroll in VA Health, but I keep putting it off. I don't want to avail myself of a system that I don't really need, but is so vital to so many others.

Response by CW2 Michael MacInerney made Apr 22 at 2024 3:55 PM

2024-04-22T15:55:33-04:00

I have Medicare and TRICARE for life and all care is without cost. Medications can be through a local military base or ESCRIPTS for $14. I am enrolled in the VA (70% disabled), but I prefer the flexibility of choosing a doctor that I feel gives me best service.

Response by Ray Barraquias made Apr 22 at 2024 10:00 PM

2024-04-22T22:00:46-04:00

It is competences VA health care and private plan

Response by PO1 Carole Speese made Apr 26 at 2024 4:04 AM

2024-04-26T04:04:17-04:00

They are improving, except that guy who told me.....You had plenty of time to get a pre-approval before your auto accident