[Equipment] Does Anyone Use VA Healthcare?

[ZZDave]

I'm a veteran and used to go to the VA hospital/clinic near me but went to Medicare about 10 years ago for several reasons. Anyways, I'm going back to the VA and am waiting for an opening at the local clinic. Are there any other Vets here that use the VA for their CPAP supplies?

[s5mons]

I'm a veteran and used to go to the VA hospital/clinic near me but went to Medicare about 10 years ago for several reasons. Anyways, I'm going back to the VA and am waiting for an opening at the local clinic. Are there any other Vets here that use the VA for their CPAP supplies?

I do. Retired military and use Tricare now that I'm back overseas.

[ZZDave]

I'm a veteran and used to go to the VA hospital/clinic near me but went to Medicare about 10 years ago for several reasons. Anyways, I'm going back to the VA and am waiting for an opening at the local clinic. Are there any other Vets here that use the VA for their CPAP supplies?

I do. Retired military and use Tricare now that I'm back overseas.

That's good to know. I doubt that I will be leaving the US of A. and haven't considered signing up for Tricare but everyone I know here that has Tricare is retired military, like you, so that might not be an option for me. I'll give them a phone call and get more info on Tricare. Thanks.

[me50]

I'm a veteran and used to go to the VA hospital/clinic near me but went to Medicare about 10 years ago for several reasons. Anyways, I'm going back to the VA and am waiting for an opening at the local clinic. Are there any other Vets here that use the VA for their CPAP supplies?

I do. Retired military and use Tricare now that I'm back overseas.

That's good to know. I doubt that I will be leaving the US of A. and haven't considered signing up for Tricare but everyone I know here that has Tricare is retired military, like you, so that might not be an option for me. I'll give them a phone call and get more info on Tricare. Thanks.

care at the VA hospital/clinic scares me. I don't know much about Tricare but I would think an independent insurance carrier would offer a little more security than just relying on the VA.

[trish6hundred]

Hi ZZDave,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hang in there for more responses to your post and best of luck to you.

[ZZDave]

I do. Retired military and use Tricare now that I'm back overseas.

That's good to know. I doubt that I will be leaving the US of A. and haven't considered signing up for Tricare but everyone I know here that has Tricare is retired military, like you, so that might not be an option for me. I'll give them a phone call and get more info on Tricare. Thanks.

care at the VA hospital/clinic scares me. I don't know much about Tricare but I would think an independent insurance carrier would offer a little more security than just relying on the VA.

There's nothing to be scared of now because everything has changed at least here in Florida and Bay Pines VA Hospital. While waiting for appointments I talked with older vets, than me, that had surgery for different things and they were healthy and happy! Still no answer on CPAP supplies. Back in about 1999 I was going to the VA and had a previous sleep study that showed my need for a CPAP machine; they gave me some kind of antique thing and don't remember if the pressure was correct but I couldn't use it. I'll stay with my current sleep d/o doctor and Medicare if I have to but the costs for Medicare seem high to me. At least in Florida, Medicare takes about 10% of my Social Security from my check before I get it and then there are the deductibles that have to be met every year also. The Medicare costs seem high to me and when I read and heard that the VA had changed dramatically I decided to try them and will possibly cancel Medicare if everything works out.

[me50]

That's good to know. I doubt that I will be leaving the US of A. and haven't considered signing up for Tricare but everyone I know here that has Tricare is retired military, like you, so that might not be an option for me. I'll give them a phone call and get more info on Tricare. Thanks.

care at the VA hospital/clinic scares me. I don't know much about Tricare but I would think an independent insurance carrier would offer a little more security than just relying on the VA.

There's nothing to be scared of now because everything has changed at least here in Florida and Bay Pines VA Hospital. While waiting for appointments I talked with older vets, than me, that had surgery for different things and they were healthy and happy! Still no answer on CPAP supplies. Back in about 1999 I was going to the VA and had a previous sleep study that showed my need for a CPAP machine; they gave me some kind of antique thing and don't remember if the pressure was correct but I couldn't use it. I'll stay with my current sleep d/o doctor and Medicare if I have to but the costs for Medicare seem high to me. At least in Florida, Medicare takes about 10% of my Social Security from my check before I get it and then there are the deductibles that have to be met every year also. The Medicare costs seem high to me and when I read and heard that the VA had changed dramatically I decided to try them and will possibly cancel Medicare if everything works out.

Depending on your age, you can get medigap to supplement medicare OR you can get a medicare advantage plan. In 2013, you should only have $105 from your Social Security check for medicare.

[mikeh99]

Go for it. I tried years ago like ZZDave and got a leaf blower from the VA. Couldn't use it. But now they offer state of the art equipment and, in my experience, great support. It does seem to matter which VA hospital you use however. Where I am they are excellent.

[s5mons]

I do. Retired military and use Tricare now that I'm back overseas.

That's good to know. I doubt that I will be leaving the US of A. and haven't considered signing up for Tricare but everyone I know here that has Tricare is retired military, like you, so that might not be an option for me. I'll give them a phone call and get more info on Tricare. Thanks.

care at the VA hospital/clinic scares me. I don't know much about Tricare but I would think an independent insurance carrier would offer a little more security than just relying on the VA.

That really depends on the VA hospital and even then clinic to clinic.

I worked for several years in the Albany NY VAMC in the IT department and saw it all there. Some clinics I would have no problem going to while others there would be no chance. I guess that all comes down to funding and on what clinic they want to spend money on.

Tricare basically acts like a private insurer. In the US I was able to get seen by any doctor that accepted it (which is most) and as long as my primary care manager referred me to a specialist, Tricare had no issue with it. Now that I'm back overseas it is quite different. I have to file a claim with them and then cross my fingers hoping it will be accepted. If it is, I'm subject to an annual deductible and 30% comes out of my pocket. With the dollar so weak and everything here in Euros, it is quite expensive waiting for them to reimburse you the 70%. My last claim took 7 months.

If you have any service connected issues I believe that the VA will cover those. From what I've heard, Bay Pines is a nice facility and the VAMC in Orlando is new and a state of the art hospital.

[ZZDave]

Hi ZZDave,
WELCOME! to the forum.!
Hang in there for more responses to your post and best of luck to you.

Thanks for the kind greeting! As it turns out all my questions have been answered or I was led to check out other answers.