View Full Version : Applying for VA medical
Due to current economical situation I am applying for VA medical. I will be hand carrying my app. and need to know what to bring. I am Cat 5 eligiable. I know I need to bring my DD214. Do I need to provide them with financial info or will they check the IRS and Social Security records. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks lined up so I can do this in one trip.
Rocky C
02-18-10, 11:03 AM
Due to current economical situation I am applying for VA medical. I will be hand carrying my app. and need to know what to bring. I am Cat 5 eligiable. I know I need to bring my DD214. Do I need to provide them with financial info or will they check the IRS and Social Security records. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks lined up so I can do this in one trip.
Joe,
Bring your DD-214, your last tax statement and Picture ID.
Get a Haircut and Shave cause your getting your Picture taken for your New VA ID Card :D.
I'll call you tonight and give you the scoop on bringing your Medical records from other Drs. with you when you get setup with your first appt. with the Primary Care Dr. I just don't feel like typing it all now.
Semper Fi,
Rocky
Thanks Rocky. Hang in there.
gelliott
02-18-10, 02:04 PM
Due to current economical situation I am applying for VA medical. I will be hand carrying my app. and need to know what to bring. I am Cat 5 eligiable. I know I need to bring my DD214. Do I need to provide them with financial info or will they check the IRS and Social Security records. I just want to make sure I have all my ducks lined up so I can do this in one trip.
We just had my husbands first appt at the VA hosp in Boise, Jan 7.
He is also Cat 5... We took medical records and prescriptions. We did not take any financial information, nor have we been asked for any, at anytime going through the process. My husbands meds are now being mailed to us monthly. Good Luck..
Phantom Blooper
02-18-10, 03:32 PM
The VA will give you a Means Test....to determine your financial ability to pay the co-payment. <br />
<br />
When and if you need continued treatment they will eventually get around to verifying the needed...
redman1
02-18-10, 04:33 PM
Hey Joe,
I'm not a expert but Rocky as helped me and never has he ever led me wrong.
I first went to a VA local office and that was a mistake
As Doc said on Morning Zephyr about the one day ID card I have never heard of that but all VA hospitals are different. Its been five weeks and waiting and they told me then it would take 4 to 6 weeks. Go figure!!!!!
After talking to Rocky I went to the VA hospital hear also
I took my DD214, All my doctors records from my local doctor and my tax records
They have to have something to evaluate your income they just don't take your word for it.
After filling out my paper work they took my picture for a new ID card and made a appt with a nurse a week later
Went and met the nurse and she did blood work and examined me even the finger in the butt. She put in my record right then that I had Diabetes Type II and that was it.
She sent me upstairs to see a Veterans Affairs person to help with other questions. He said he couldn't help me because I started my paperwork at the other VA office. So I had to go back to the first office to finish paper work.
After all that I'm in the system and now its hurry up and wait.
Because of my business and income I have to pay $8 for meds but anything for diabetes is free.
They will also assign you a primary care doctor but I didn't since I have my own doctor and that's what I want to do.
I will continue using the VA hospital for my drugs but that's all. I'll let the service men and women that really need it use it.
Guess I still don't like the hurry up and wait thing.
PLEASE MAKE USE OF ANY HELP YOU CAN GET!!!!!!!!!11
Semper Fi Redman
redman1
02-18-10, 04:36 PM
By the way Blooper that was some good information.
We need to help all Vets get what they deserve
I will only get 10 to 30% they say but any help these days is good.
I'm not going to get all my drugs from the VA hospital and that's my choice but what I will get will save me over $200 a month or more.
Semper Fi Redman
gelliott
02-18-10, 06:10 PM
I am a little baffled now why we were not asked any financial questions... Maybe because my husband had already been approved for social security disability? The only benifit from being in the system is the $8 prescriptions(Godsend for us), but our med bills are $4500 a month, after insurance we still have a hefty bill each month that I will be paying for the next several years.
We have not been told anything about an ID card, does he need one? Where do we go to get it? The VA hosp is 200 miles away.
I have been asking (since last July) for an appt to get his info in the Gulf Registry, but all I am getting is the run around. No one local has given me info, they put it off on the next guy (same thing when we were at the VA hosp in Jan)... Any help with that would be appreciated. I have been searching for other GW Marines that have been diagnosed with brain cancer, so far I have found 4 that are still alive, 7 in obits. I feel strongly that we need to get on the Registry so it may help others diagnosed.
Thank you for any help,
Candie
Right now I just need them for prescriptions. I'm just gonna bring everything with me, DD-214, W-2's and Dr.s records and hope the system does't get me first. Thanks everyone for your advice.
gelliott
02-18-10, 06:20 PM
Need to clarify.. His prescriptions are $4500 a month, right now his medical bills combined are over $44,000 a month (he is on Avastin 2 times a month... that is $17,000 a treatment, plus chemo, meds, doc visits, ct scans, etc.) it adds up very quickly!!!
Our insurance is paying 100% of treatments right now, but it will end in Nov (COBRA). So I desperately need to get his claim approved before Nov!
redman1
02-18-10, 06:40 PM
gelliot good luck on the Nov deadline. It has taken me over a year to get into the system. Don't know about the ID card since you probably do everything by mail but as far as I know he needs one. They take your picture there and fill it out and mail it to you.
Ask Rocky (RhodeIsland) these questions and he can help
Joe thanks for starting this thread I think it will help allot of Marines
Rocky reads this thread and will be glad to help anyone and not stear you wrong but Blooper gave some real good information and I appreciate it.
Good luck
Semper Fi Redman
Rocky C
02-18-10, 06:41 PM
Need to clarify.. His prescriptions are $4500 a month, right now his medical bills combined are over $44,000 a month (he is on Avastin 2 times a month... that is $17,000 a treatment, plus chemo, meds, doc visits, ct scans, etc.) it adds up very quickly!!!
Our insurance is paying 100% of treatments right now, but it will end in Nov (COBRA). So I desperately need to get his claim approved before Nov!
I will guide you through the process Candi, just keep reading this Thread OK???
I will post more info for you tomorrow and My Brothers and Sisters here will also help out with some Knowledge that they have.
That is what most of here do for each other.
Rocky
gelliott
02-18-10, 06:59 PM
Thank you!! We filed a claim Mar 09 which was denied...My husband was DX 12/09/08 when he had surgery to remove the tumor, so we were trying to do everything at once, radiation, Chemo, social security, VA, insurance it is all so overwhelming looking back I cannot clearly remember a single day of the past year.... I actually believed we would have no problems with the VA.. lol
We have filed an appeal after 3 months of research, letters, phone calls, and posting on every site I could find for information.
In the appeal we included:
Research linking brain cancer to the oil well smoke (Spoke to one of the docs on the research team)
Letters from Oncologist. Radialogist Oncologist. Commanding officer Col Buster Diggs.
Declassified doc showing the 1MEF did receive anthrax and Botulism vaccines, but records were lost/destroyed due to the ground war
Unit Chronological logs for Jan, Feb, Apl 1991 ( with notations from archivist that March 1991 is still classified)
Hopefully it will be all that is needed....
Thank you all so much for your help it means so much!!!
Candie
Phantom Blooper
02-18-10, 07:03 PM
You HAVE to go a VA Medical Center.....you can call the hospital and set up the appointment with the ELIGIBILITY section in the hospital since the distance is 200 miles from your home of record.
When you get to the hospital and go to eligibility you will be given numerous papers to fill out and the means test is one of them.....
Once you meet the standards he will be issued the Veterans ID card with his name...picture and barcode on it.....each time swiped they will verify the last 4 of SS#.
For the problems with he said...she said....go here...go there....call the medical facility and ask for the Patient Advocate and file a complaint....this is sort like Human Relations in a major company.
Good luck.:evilgrin:
Troutzilla
02-18-10, 07:04 PM
I am a little baffled now why we were not asked any financial questions... Maybe because my husband had already been approved for social security disability? The only benifit from being in the system is the $8 prescriptions(Godsend for us), but our med bills are $4500 a month, after insurance we still have a hefty bill each month that I will be paying for the next several years.
We have not been told anything about an ID card, does he need one? Where do we go to get it? The VA hosp is 200 miles away.
I have been asking (since last July) for an appt to get his info in the Gulf Registry, but all I am getting is the run around. No one local has given me info, they put it off on the next guy (same thing when we were at the VA hosp in Jan)... Any help with that would be appreciated. I have been searching for other GW Marines that have been diagnosed with brain cancer, so far I have found 4 that are still alive, 7 in obits. I feel strongly that we need to get on the Registry so it may help others diagnosed.
Thank you for any help,
Candie
You need the ID Card to pick-up prescriptions ...is your husband service connected for any medical condition? Did you ask to have a registry physical ? Check this link..http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/registry_exam.asp.... talk to the Patient Care Advocate at the facility you go to they should be able to help
Also...make sure you sign up for the travel pay...check this link...http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/FAQs/BeneTravelFAQ.asp#travel.... (http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/FAQs/BeneTravelFAQ.asp#travel....200) 200 miles is a long way to travel to get medical attention
Also try this link for info on claims and things...http://vets.yuku.com/
I sure hope things work out for you....
Semper Fi
:flag:
redman1
02-18-10, 07:05 PM
I got mad at them and told them they just hope we give up or die before we get help.
That said there's allot of good people that work there also
Just remember how active duty was be sure to dot all your eyes and always keep a copy of your paper work.
Semper Fi Redman
redman1
02-18-10, 07:07 PM
Joe see what you started your are going to help allot of Marines.
Semper Fi Redman
gelliott
02-18-10, 07:26 PM
Thank you
I will start going through the list first thing in the morning.
Prescriptions are being mailed to us.. We have already started receiving them.
I have asked for the Registry exam with our local VA rep, the nurse at the VA hosp, the doc my husband was assigned to at the VA hosp, and social worker at the VA hosp... They sent us to a desk jockey who told us it would be part of his C&P exam IF the VA required him to have one.
He is not yet service connected.
AND no one mentioned there was travel pay!!
A Patient Advocate will be hearing from me!
YOU ALL ARE AWESOME!!!!
Thank You!
I glad this helped others. I have been putting off going to the VA for a while now because I didn't want to deal with the potential of running in circles. It's shameful that the VA makes it such a stressful thing, put that's for the political forum. Thanks again everyone for your advice
gelliott
02-18-10, 08:32 PM
I glad this helped others. I have been putting off going to the VA for a while now because I didn't want to deal with the potential of running in circles. It's shameful that the VA makes it such a stressful thing, put that's for the political forum. Thanks again everyone for your advice
Thank You!!! I am so glad I saw your post!!
Good Luck
Candie
HereandThere
02-18-10, 08:36 PM
I've been in the Va system since 1999 about the same time I went in for a agent orange screening and comparing the system then to now is like comparing apples and oranges.Back then the system was well funded,plenty of specialist for almost any condition and you had the ability to get an appointment pretty damn quick,although you could always just show up at the clinic and wait your turn.But slowly the system disinergrated due to lack of funding,poor employee moral and a serious lack of doctors. It's been getting better the last couple of years but as more than one doctor told me the system is being rebuilt,as you may have noticed by all the advertisments on TV recruiting health care professional for the VA.
I drove for the DAV for about 5 years and have a little more insight than the average Veteran about whats going on with the VA and right now the system is overwhelmed.When I enrolled WW2,Korea and Vietnam veterans were being treated.Now Gulf War,Iraq and Afganistan have been added,but what I noticed recentley is the very large number of unemployed Vets who either were enrolled but never used the system or who have recentley enrolled and are using the system for primary care because they no longer have insurance.
My own experience would be funny if it wasn't so sad.I've been waiting for neck surgury since 4/1/09 and that was after I was treated for over a year by a VA neurologist who said she couldn't read my MRI because the resolution was bad but who never ordered a second MRI she could read.Then the nerve in my neck became completly compressed and knocked me on my butt for 3 months after which I was sent to Manhattan VA hospital for a neurosurgeon consult.He said I needed a operation to free the nerve and put me on the list,but while I was waiting the Va reorganized and Vets from Pa no longer go to Manhattan and now go to Hershey or Philly.Unfortunely for me I was not put on the new list so here I sit.
That was the final straw for me,about a year ago I bought a medigap policy for about 190/mo(late enrollee) and am now being treated by a orthopedic group with pain managment, physical therepy and drugs not available through the VA. I fell much better and if this treatment doesn't do the trick I will have the operation performed by doctors who went to Cornell and Harvard and not The university of Bombay.
The only advise I can give anyone is to take nothing for granted and check and double check that your case is being handled properly and that you have actuslly been refered to the specialist that they said you were.And don't be afraid to contact your congressman if you feel your case is not being handled properly.It's amazing how people start doing their jobs when the people who fund the program start to call.
As for me I may continue to see my primary care doctor for my service connected issues and for some of my meds,although it's a damn shame that I can get some of them cheaper at Wal Mart.Good Luck
clansman5
02-19-10, 08:44 AM
Hey Joe,
Are you going to Castle Point? I had Dr. Kim as my doctor. He was very good. I had my DD214 and my last earnings statement.
Walden Ny, hey neighbor, I'll be going to Castle Point VA. Thanks for the heads up.
redman1
02-20-10, 02:05 PM
I have another question
I was just thinking when I was on active duty I received glasses and have never had glasses from the military again. Since I had glasses on active duty can I get glasses now from the VA for free? Only thing I have as service related so far is diabetes and I'm still waiting.
Semper Fi Redman
Phantom Blooper
02-20-10, 02:47 PM
http://www1.va.gov/vhapublications/ViewPublication.asp?pub_ID=1789
http://www4.va.gov/healtheligibility/coveredservices/SpecialBenefits.asp
Buddy,
Read the 2nd URL 1st.
It explains what you can do and what % your have to be directly from the jackazzs mouths.:evilgrin:
redman1
02-20-10, 03:08 PM
Thanks and I'll check it out
Semper Fi Redman
HereandThere
02-22-10, 05:56 AM
Shinseki said he's often questioned why 40 years after the Vietnam war and nearly two decades after the Gulf War his agency is still trying to resolve issues related to those veterans' illnesses.
Vietnam veterans with B-cell leukemias, Parkinson's diseases and ischemic heart disease no longer have to prove their illness are the result of their military service. Shinseki determined after reviewing a study by the Institute of Medicine that the illnesses should be presumed to have come from the veteran's war service, making it easier for them to receive financial compensation. The VA currently presumes that twelve other illnesses are linked to Agent Orange are exposure.
Shinseki said he's looking ahead to make sure Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries don't have similar problems getting financial compensation.
This is a statement from the Veteran Affairs Secretary.