What's your view on doing away with the VA health system?

This would be the worst thing to do. I was am R.N for 13 years. Our wounded veterans are the most important asset we have. So many of our V.A employees have respect and allegiance to our veterans that the private contractors do not have. Our wounded veterans would lose some of their respected status. Our wounded veterans need to be treated differently than our non veterans. Our wounded veterans have a special status!!!

I almost think it would. Having VA hospitals is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, for people like my family - we live in Northern Minnesota and North Dakota - the closest VA hospital is now a 9 hour drive away!! Going to the VA hospital is pointless. There is a VA office in Grand Forks, ND... but they do NOTHING but some paperwork. I have been told that the VA hospital in Fargo (over 100 miles away) has been CLOSED. The VA hospital in St. Cloud - 4 1/2 hours drive at highway speed - has also reportedly been closed down. So, that leaves us with a facility in Minneapolis/St. Paul. And that's just not do-able. My son - an Afghanistan veteran - does not use the VA system, and gets no health care for his damaged shoulder. My daughter - also an Afghanistan veteran and a wounded warrior - may not BE ABLE to come home when she is released from Walter Reed because of the distance for health care.

It certainly would avoid a lot of hassle and delays regarding prescriptions especially for those whose primary care physician is outside of the VA system. I have MediCare and a supplemental policy that combined cost me almost $300/month. I get my prescriptions through the VA because I have a 60% disability, but when there are prescription additions or changes, it's a real hassle having to get a VA doctor to approve it again before it can be provided by a VA pharmacy. In addition, virtually all civilian hospitals are struggling to stay afloat because they are forced to provide service for so many at no charge. If vets were able to seek medical care at facilities of their choice, with 100% paid by the government, it would certainly help to alleviate that situation as well. Finally, those responsible for the recent VA scandals very probably could not have survived in a civilian hospital where everything is reviewed very closely and regularly, especially because of the financial strain they are constantly under.

Eliminate the VA healthcare system.

I have researched the cost of a VA healthcare facility, and if my calculations are right the salaries alone in one hospital exceed $250,000,000 per year. 60,000 veterans visit the Indianapolis VAMC annually, these salaries alone would provide over $4,000 per year to vets. We could have extraordinary insurance if we eliminated the VA health careless system.

I think the VA should be kept for certain things but overall I think going to a local doctor would be a lot better. Veterans choice is also a PIA...

Not a good idea. The VA is geared specifically for vets and their conditions. I am totally under VA care with 90% service connected disability. I have received care from GA VA, So. Cal VA as well as Nor Cal VA. In all my dealings with these entities, I have never had a bad experience. Invariably, the volunteers are terrific. The medical staff for the most part, is dedicated to providing the best care and I think most vets appreciate their efforts.

I think going into the civilian medical system will put vets in the same waiting lines as everybody else. Since the doctor or hospital knows that the government will be paying them, they may balk at taking on vet patients because of the hassle of negotiating costs and fees for services rendered. What the provider asks for is not what they get. I don't think that civilian doctors or hospitals have the experience in handling military-related medical issues. Of course, there are exceptions.

As an example of providing for vets, at the Sacramento Mather VAMC, there is a new facility for vets from the Afghan/Iraq war. The emergency admitting area has been expanded and modernized. Prescriptions are ordered online and delivered to my door in 3-5 days. I can get non-emergency medical questions answered by secure email usually within one day. I live pretty close to an out-patient clinic (at Travis), but the VAMC is 44 miles out. Although a medical emergency will be handled by a local hospital thru Medicare, they would not have access to my records and history.

After all that, I do believe that the VA system can and should be improved, especially in upper management. Along those lines, I think that here are some well qualified vets who could fill those slots. And along with that responsibility comes accountability.

so how is this gonna work, 50 percent combat related, i go mainly to the va and i'm covered

From my point of view I can vouch for V.A. Health System in Nashville Tn. They give proffecional care. What has to change is the attitude of veterans who abuse of the system.

I think the system would work if the Va would stop dictating how the doctor do their jobs. The C & P system need to be over hauled, you see this doctor once and he can make a decision on your health, I don't think so, and this is why there are so many appeals.

It has been well documented that the VA health system has failed veterans miserably. Clearly something must be done. The VA health system is so far gone that I do believe that blowing it up and moving veterans to the private health care system is the answer. Even if the system was not broken, many do not use for simple lack of access. As with most government agencies it is bloated with waste and no one is concerned with the bottom line. With private healthcare the veteran would be able to choose their doctor and get the care they need when they need it. Why should those in this country illegally have better access to healthcare than those who served to protect the nation?