More veterans benefits taken away.

[rhino 2]

Why would anyone vote them out, Were living in a ''Give Me'' Society.
The only time people bitch is when something is taken away from them.
The truth is most people will take all they can whether or not they ''Need'' it, And to hell that their Grandchildren will go broke paying for it.
And that includes Retirees, welfare, unions, And some veterans...

[willom]

May be a little confusion about the promise of health care, retirees and their families were promised and provided free health care under champus. I enjoyed these benefits for a couple of years after retirement, suddenly champus evolved into tri-care and was outsourced to civilian health care programs and the rates have now increased to nearly that of its civilian counter parts. Don't even want to comment on the VA but to say it is nothing like it was when I left the military more than 20 yrs. ago.

[pcombe]

The VA is not what it was 20 years ago. It's much better! I know the VA gives me the best available health care and really have nothing but good things to say about them.

I don't have an opinion about V.A. either way my friend.
I have private ins. It pleases me the care is there for you and others.

Best wishes and health to you!

[icedad]

When I lived in N/E Il, I chose to use my VA insurance back in the late 80's because I did not have any due to the fact I was in the construction field and was not working during the winter months. During that time, the union would not cover me, so I had to pay out of my pocket or I had the option to use my VA insurance plan. Up until then, I never used it. Anyways, decided to use the benefit I thought that I had Earned the privelege. I was quite pleased at the the care I received, to quote a nurse there, "they did not treat you after looking at you judging you, by your ability to pay, they diagnosed you after they ran every available test they possibly could because you as a veteran deserved it"! I was astonished and I used the VA for my primary care until the mid 90's when the Clinton administration cut our benefits and I no longer could use them because I made TOO much money. Well, I now had to use use my own insurance, because my own deductible was cheaper than paying $48.00 to see a PA at the VA.
Now fast forward to 2006. Owning my own tractor/trailer and running the road, I once again needed to use the VA, because this time time I could show tax wise, I was earning little enough money to qualify to get under the requirements to use the facilities. Great. I still had to travel 45 miles to see my primary care Dr. each way, 96 miles each way to get cat scans, podiatry care, and etc, 165 miles each way to Atlanta, twice a year, and a 4 hour trip each way to Augusta to see an arthritis Dr. twice a year, now with no travel reimbursements.


2009 comes along and I'm told that I have to prematurely retire because of my bad back, an injury which was service related, but they could not find any record of it due my records being "lost?" while I was overseas. They have all my stateside records but nothing from my tour of duty overseas. Ok, now what? I tried to persue it and got nowhere. I have all the paperwork, but it has fallen upon blind and deaf people in the VA and govt. administration. Bitter? Hell yes. Ok, nothing to fret about as long as I'm being taken care of, until last year and now. I didn't want to go into all this crap and divulge my personal problems, but some people really have to be made aware of what so many veterans were promised and are now having those benefits they had being taken away.

The VA will not let you use an outside DR. as well as using them. You have to use either or. You are NOT entitled to a second opinion anymore. I had to sign a contract to that fact, besides a pain management contract.
Oahe, I'm glad you are being taken care of to your satisfaction, but beware, they will catch up to you eventually. I pray that they don't, it was a good ride while it lasted, but I feel as if us Vietnam era vets and all other returning vets are being spat upon once again by our govt. Would I do it all again? Hell yes! In my travels to 13 countries and 42 states, this is still the best country to live in! I LOVE MY COUNTRY, BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY GOVT.
Dam, enough said.

Ranting and raving about this will accomplish nothing other than raising my BP, better shut my mouth and stop my fingers. I don't need this. lol

[pcombe]

When I lived in N/E Il, I chose to use my VA insurance back in the late 80's because I did not have any due to the fact I was in the construction field and was not working during the winter months. During that time, the union would not cover me, so I had to pay out of my pocket or I had the option to use my VA insurance plan. Up until then, I never used it. Anyways, decided to use the benefit I thought that I had Earned the privelege. I was quite pleased at the the care I received, to quote a nurse there, "they did not treat you after looking at you judging you, by your ability to pay, they diagnosed you after they ran every available test they possibly could because you as a veteran deserved it"! I was astonished and I used the VA for my primary care until the mid 90's when the Clinton administration cut our benefits and I no longer could use them because I made TOO much money. Well, I now had to use use my own insurance, because my own deductible was cheaper than paying $48.00 to see a PA at the VA.
Now fast forward to 2006. Owning my own tractor/trailer and running the road, I once again needed to use the VA, because this time time I could show tax wise, I was earning little enough money to qualify to get under the requirements to use the facilities. Great. I still had to travel 45 miles to see my primary care Dr. each way, 96 miles each way to get cat scans, podiatry care, and etc, 165 miles each way to Atlanta, twice a year, and a 4 hour trip each way to Augusta to see an arthritis Dr. twice a year, now with no travel reimbursements.


2009 comes along and I'm told that I have to prematurely retire because of my bad back, an injury which was service related, but they could not find any record of it due my records being "lost?" while I was overseas. They have all my stateside records but nothing from my tour of duty overseas. Ok, now what? I tried to persue it and got nowhere. I have all the paperwork, but it has fallen upon blind and deaf people in the VA and govt. administration. Bitter? Hell yes. Ok, nothing to fret about as long as I'm being taken care of, until last year and now. I didn't want to go into all this crap and divulge my personal problems, but some people really have to be made aware of what so many veterans were promised and are now having those benefits they had being taken away.

The VA will not let you use an outside DR. as well as using them. You have to use either or. You are NOT entitled to a second opinion anymore. I had to sign a contract to that fact, besides a pain management contract.
Oahe, I'm glad you are being taken care of to your satisfaction, but beware, they will catch up to you eventually. I pray that they don't, it was a good ride while it lasted, but I feel as if us Vietnam era vets and all other returning vets are being spat upon once again by our govt. Would I do it all again? Hell yes! In my travels to 13 countries and 42 states, this is still the best country to live in! I LOVE MY COUNTRY, BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY GOVT.
Dam, enough said.

Ranting and raving about this will accomplish nothing other than raising my BP, better shut my mouth and stop my fingers. I don't need this. lol

Rant all you want old son!
You at least deserve that right. Its part of what you fought for!

As i stated before i took my daddys words to heart perhaps a little to much where it concerned the Govt. The opinion of people or the curren't political scene. Hell wait a couple years and that will change the same as it has always done?

For too many years i was just to bitter about everything. I was just like an old prostitute! I just couldnt force myself to give a **** for nothin. Especially an Amercia that seen the Nam vet as a criminal.

My answer was self isolation and that suited me just fine. I was also in a position to do just that!

Men such as ourselves don't beleive we deserve any extra credit for doing what we percieved a man should do such as raising our children to do what is right, and providing for ourselves and our loved ones or doing what the country demanded of you Sir, as carrear military?
Many of us were raised in that mind set and could do no more to escape that than we have already done.

We have just never known any other way?

You need not appoligize for that old son and i see that you are not appoligizing for it ! "Bully for you! as Teddy would say."

It took me a few years to realize that i was feeding myself poison and hopeing someone else would die from it?
( In my mind, I was living on the fringes of society!)
This country is just fine for this old outlaw to live out his life i reckon.

There are a few problems i see concerning just myself (not any other than myself)
problem 1.
is that i worked my ass off all these years ( as i was supposed to do) until i just wore me out!
I have always been fortunate to work in various blue collar industries as well as pursue my love of ranching and the like.
I have gained a retirement from one of those jobs in the coal mines after 16 years that i have not claimed the benifits for yet because the money is not near what it will be should i live long enough to let it fully mature.
The truck driving was a great life as long as you don"t weaken and i hated to give that up!

I have paid into the soc.sec system all my life right?
Now i really don't mind paying taxes, hell i have a stake in this country!

I really never needed any medical benifits to speak of, And politics were not much of a concern to me until they made themselves paramount?
Problem two:
Having wore myself out along comes the heart attacks and like, wich force me into early retirement and life has changed . In many cases not to my liking.

I am now on soc.sec. dissability.


Now, I beleve i have EARNED those benifits.
Suddenly politics becomes important to me because now i have politicians playing games with my means of support and that causes me FEAR!

Fear, that for the first time in my adult life i am no longer master of my own destiny?
Yes! that is the fear i have! ( And trust me it comes to those who live long enough)
There is really not a whole hell of allot i can do about that, Except to exercise the means at my dissposal wich is the vote and to watch the politicans like a hawk as Goldie Hawn once said?

( That, may also be a great life if you don't weaken, but who among us can do that without some degree of burn out?)

I rely on private ins. because to even access V.A. care one must travel about 300 miles in any direction from here.
I now live in town because 60 miles is just to far for critical care should i need it again ( wich i will) this heart disease mandates that.
There is no point lamenting the fates or banging on my high chair about it.

Problem 3:
You may understand that i am somewhat bitter because having surrvived some things i probably should not have, There are folks who would make me feel that i am now asking something for nothing.
I really do not give a Damn what they may think? So save your breath!

I did the best i could over my life time and have paid the due's for the right to express my opinion same as any and all who read this.

Ice dad: I call you friend and I do see your plight.
Unless i miss my guess old son, there is big difference between ranting about something and the inability to see it through?
I will just bet you are not made any other way!

[pcombe]

Pcombe, there is a community based outpatient VA clinic in Casper.
Casper VA Outpatient Clinic
4140 South Poplar Street
Casper, Wy 82601
Phone: (307)235-4143 or 1-866-338-5168

Thanks i will keep that in mind.
As i said i really never had any serious need before.
I guess i will stick to private ins. as long as possible, It may save a benefit dollar for others, maybe not?
I guess i was thinking more along the lines of the facilities in Sturgis, ( about 5 hrs from here probably about the same for you unless there be one in Souix Falls?),Colorado and montana.
I have visited the V.A. outside Sturgis. lots of history for the viewing there.
Cavalry post etc. intresting to me! Beautiful grounds also.
My wife was working there as a dietician before we married and i hauled her off to Wyoming,
fates be what they may may we met in a campground in Custer state park in the black hills through mutual friends.

Sometimes, life is grand,No?

[pcombe]

Come to think of it you live in Pierre and are centrally located in S.D.
I pass thgrouh every now again.

[tfdoug]

Never heard of anyone getting free medical for life and I am medically retired from the Navy and have been for the last 46 years. I have medical but I pay for it.

[pcombe]

I'm assigned to the VA at Ft Meade (Sturgis) but there is a community clinic in Pierre and for visits with a specialist (cardiology in my case) they either do telemedicine or send me to Minneapolis.

My wifes mom and a sister live in Minniapolis thats a good jaunt for you!
Speaking of Sturgis i used to live about an hour from there and so attended the rally for many years in a row.
It's hell to get get old and realize that if it wasn't the same half naked girls i had seen 20 yrs. before they had turned into their mothers. Hah Hah!
After that i only went for day trips and to take in a concert at buffallo chip campground.
I guess i decided that it was nice to visit the zoo once a year but i no longer had to sleep with the animals?
I haven't even been over there in several years. I always seemed to head in a different direction at that time of year?
Fishing or yellowstone or cody,Wy. and the cheif joseph hiway always seem to call out to me a might louder these day's.
Im retired and after i convert my trike ( i am doing it myself the same as iron dad ) and see that it's sound i want to head over to montana and run the highway to the sun again and on up to calvary and Banf canada. Past the columbia ice feilds to Jasper and then head to the coast and Vancover,
Put the bike on a ferry and do victoria island. The plan is to land in Nanimo and head accross the island along the Pacific Rim Hiway and over to a small fishing village by the Name of Tofino. Lay around on the beach, cram some fresh sea food in my face and do some Whale watching. ( that is a rush!) God i love that ride I did it 1989 and haven't done it in 24 years since my wolf was brand new. Time i did it again don't you think?
Go for the Gusto ? Make life Grand?

[pcombe]

I feel i must appoligize to all who commented on this thread.
My last posting was way off topic and my wandering away from it was dissrespectful.
I guess i will just have to watch myself in the future.
Thanks for your understanding.
pcombe

[meredog]

"I hate say that many who bitch about this crap goverment are those who were to lazy to get off their a-- and vote ! nuff said."

My issue with the above statement (and I always vote) is that the majority of canidates we get to choose from are part of the system already or they would not be "offered" to us

[pcombe]

"I hate say that many who bitch about this crap goverment are those who were to lazy to get off their a-- and vote ! nuff said."

My issue with the above statement (and I always vote) is that the majority of canidates we get to choose from are part of the system already or they would not be "offered" to us

I dont beleive anyone can dispute that bit of wisdom!

[icedad]

I feel i must appoligize to all who commented on this thread.
My last posting was way off topic and my wandering away from it was dissrespectful.
I guess i will just have to watch myself in the future.
Thanks for your understanding.
pcombe

It made me feel better, like I wasn't the only one going off on a tangent and venting. I'm just amazed at the different stories that have been told to all the different veterans. Plus, the different VA clinics and hospitals tell you different things and treat you differently.
Thank you pcombe sir for making me feel like a brother again. I needed the reassurance. Thank you all for your input, it reassured me that our govt and VA still haven't changed throughout the years.
Mr. oahe, I qoute "I'm rated as 70% service-connected disability by the VA. My primary-care doc at the VA has no problem with me continuing to see a private cardiologist providing copies of their findings are included in my VA record. They have both cautioned me that all medications should go through the VA due to both cost and medication contraindications.
This is another thing I talk about, you were told this and I was told something completely different just 2 months ago. Unbelievable at what these people will tell us. I am glad for you sir and I sincerely hope the best for you brother. I'm sure I'll see you ya'll out there on the road sometime and until then.....
God Speed to all my fellow brethren, thanks for allowing me to vent.

[Lakota]

If you want to know what's really going on with some VA Hospitals, rent the movie "Article 99". It's an older movie all about this topic, but the practice is still going on in some VA Hospitals

Both my wife and I are 100% DAV. Mine is combat related and I get full disability check every month. Hers are not combat related, so she gets nothing. Both of us have full VA medical coverage. Here in San Antonio at the Audie Murphy VA Hospital, most of the minor medical services we need are outsourced to private clinics. Most of our check ups, and minor medical needs are done at the private clinics. Our meds come directly from the VA hospital via the mail, all we have to do is make a phone call to keep our meds coming on schedule.

The Audie Murphy VA Hospital learned years ago, instead of building a multi million dollar wing for one specific ailment, out source it to a local private clinic. Let the local clinics bid on it. The lowest bidder gets the patients. The trick is, if the Vets get bad service, the contract is ended and the next higher bidder gets the contract. It's a win/win situation.

[eighty80]

Just a little correction. It does not have to be combat connected, just service connected.
But I think that is what you mean?

[Lakota]

Yes, the correct term is Service Connected. I said combat related, meaning there's no way they can weasel out of paying me a disability check. There are still many that were injured while in the service both overseas or stateside and didn't have a problem until after they were discharged. Sometimes these injuries would keep a Vet from holding down a full time job. These poor Vet's are still jumping through hoops trying to get some kind of compensation.
Yes, they do get full medical, but no cash benefits.
Their VA paper work was filed years ago. Each time it comes up for approval, it's always missing a page, a signature, information can't be verified, or lost completely and they have to start the whole process over again....sound familiar?

[eighty80]

If your asking me, no it does not sound familiar.

[CSCguy]

My issue with the above statement (and I always vote) is that the majority of canidates we get to choose from are part of the system already or they would not be "offered" to us

I dont beleive anyone can dispute that bit of wisdom!

If you look at the candidates from the Republican Primaries, and then look and who was chosen "RINO" Mitt Romney, the ONLY people to blame for the choice is the voters. Newt fought the government and won, Rick Perry's Texas is booming, and several other excellent choices were thumbed for the "establishment". You had FOOLS watching alphabet networks (ABC/CBS/NBC) thinking Diane Sawyer was "cheering" on Mitt for the good of the country when they were baiting the fools into putting an easy match against "that guy".


As far as veteran benefits; I certainly feel for the older guys but seeing the military interest in domestic drones and these domestic terrorist training drills in TX and other cities, along with stark evidence of FEMA concentration camps being built all over the country, and the intentional gov't buy-out of ammo suppliers I can't help but not give a crap about the imbeciles who are managing the brainwashing and fear-mongering our government is organizing.


There was a day when attacking your own was off limits.

[Bill Reber]

"I hate say that many who bitch about this crap goverment are those who were to lazy to get off their a-- and vote ! nuff said."

My issue with the above statement (and I always vote) is that the majority of canidates we get to choose from are part of the system already or they would not be "offered" to us

Point is why did those folks get in office in the 1st place not to mention gettin right back in office after been proven to be dumber than a mud fence ? Now back to the subject the VA is now 279 days behind on veterans claims and as more of our brothers and sisters come home the longer the wait will be.

[earlyriser4444]

I am a vet and I do use the VA medical system. Frankly, I find it pretty good......and I have had a LOT of tests to prove it. I'm not retired, but I do know several vets who DID retire and are now losing a lot of their "Tri-Care" benefits.
We all know, that "it" rolls down hill. It starts at the top and the "low information voters" fell for the BS, so now we are all screwed.