Posted on Apr 23, 2019
Why does the VA wait so long to bill you for the Veteran's Choice Program copay that's due?
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My dad is an Airforce Veteran and is currently on the Veteran's Choice Program. He has been going to his heart specialist and eye doctor for outpatient care. He has never had to pay any copay after each appointment and now all of a sudden he gets a bill from the VA for copayments that's dated back 1 year. Why does the VA wait so long to bill you? Why don't they bill you monthly?
Posted in these groups: 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Veterans Choice
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Choice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 5
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While I am not an expert I have not heard of this situation, unless the individual has alternative insurance. If so the VA offsets the payment with the alternative insurance. In either case he should be able to make a call and get an answer. As for the delay, if he is to make copayments it is usually done at the doctors visit, therefore it would appear that the VA made the payment and is recouping instead of your father getting a late fee or otherwise. Can’t be sure be. Thank you both for your service.
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That is a great question SPC Darin Taylor - Can you have your Dad name you as Power of Attorney to handle these inquiries and find out what they have to say? This is the first I heard of a co-pay for over 1 year ago. I've heard of Veteran's getting charged for not following the proper procedures with First Choice, or they have to pay a portion of the debt because they have regular insurance through another carrier. The only thing I can think of is they don't have their act together and their cleaning up a mess after the fact. I'm curious to see if you or your Dad can get a straight answer from someone on this.
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Does he pay a copay for care at VA facilities? If not, I don’t believe that he should be required to pay through the VC program. How far to the nearest care for the condition? So many questions...
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SPC Darin Taylor
He is over 40 miles to his specialty care doctors and VA Primary care doctor. He doesn't have to pay a copay at time of service and the VA is supposed to bill him for copay after services are rendered. The problem is that the non-VA doctors did not send the billing information to the VA until 12 months past which added up to a large amount due. I did find out that the VA is planning on changing who the do their VCP through in order to correct this issue with late surprise billing.
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SGT Thomas Seward
SPC Darin Taylor check with the local fee basis office, you can’t just not bill for a year and then decide to start billing again. There are time limits on billing and they may have exceeded them.
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Most Interesting...... Thanks for the Share Some Facilities are Not all that efficient...
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