Veterans

[enigma-2]

Just thought I'd talk to any fellow vets on the site. I go to the VA once a year for an annual physical, assigned to a great Nurse Practioner (she's as tough as any Marine I ever served with.) I use my Medicare for my medical but still maintain my VA status with an annual physical. (May drop my Part D drug plan and got with the VA next year inasmuch as all Plan D's are raising their rates, deductibles and moving drugs from lower to higher tiers in the formulary. 

 

She's been on me for a few years to file for disability. Don't believe that I'm disabled, but she finally talked me into filing for Agent Orange exposure, loss of hearing and tendinitis. Sent me to several doctors at different places and got results showing that I'm 80% disabled. 

(80% rating is worth $2k a month. Tax free.)

 

So the purpose of this is, if your a vet, you're entitled to VA Health care. Get a full blood panel and complete physical. You can get your prescriptions through the VA (really cheap) plus a bunch of other stuff, like insurance (can apply up to age 80,  no underwriting) college (for the younger guys, etc.)

 

So if you're a vet and not hooked up with the VA, look into it. You earned it.

[dabangsta]

I am glad it works out for you and assists you, thank you for your service!

 

I think I am the only veteran in my immediate circle that doesn't draw some level of disability. My neighbor is 50% for sleep apnea, my brother in law for sleep apnea and back issues at 80%. It is funny (ironic maybe) to hear they use a CPAP because it phones home and if they don't use it they might lose benefits. I see some that their only assistance is the VA and I thought my health care was bad, in regards to being seen or level of care.

 

I got jerked around when I got out, and really didn't want anything to with the bureaucracy of it all. I am proud I served, and don't shy away from that, but having sub par work done while in, fixed on paper while still broken, no thanks. I decided I might get my Veterans ID for free admission to national parks, that is about as far as I will go.

 

Pretty sure stuff from the Gulf War  (fatigue, chronic muscle pain, attention span, sleep, etc) and my severe hearing loss are related to my time served.

[edjunior]

I do pretty much the same thing.  See the VA once a year (or so), and use Tricare the rest of the time.  However, I will turn 65 in February, so I will be transitioning to Medicare A and B, and Tricare for Life (TFL).  Other vets I have talked with locally have their healthcare set up this way and have no issues.  I am 60 percent VA disabled (sleep apnea and tinnitus), so keeping the VA in the loop is good.  They also have free hearing aids, which is fantastic.

 

So, we'll see how the transition to Medicare goes soon.  I'm sure it will be fine, but I just hate having to change something that is working just fine.

[enigma-2]

@edjunior

You won't have any problems with Medicare. I'm on original Medicare with a Plan F supplement and a Plan D for drugs (although that may change. I'm going in on Monday fir my annual and plan on discussing the move to VA for prescriptions.)

I also use my family doctor for all my normal needs and only use civilian hospitals (under Medicare) when I have the need.) 

 

@dabangsta

You were injured during the Gulf War and are entitled to disability. Tendinitis is good for 10%. (At least thats what I got and mine is really bad - helicopters.) Sleep stuff etc. is hard to claim on, but there may be something, never know. Could be related to your combat experiences. I came back and had a wife and two kids so there was no time to work out my problems. Drank a lot, flashbacks, etc. Did drugs in Nam but haven't touched any after returning. (Haven't touched a rifle or handgun either - smile.) Shit passes slowly.

 

Anyway, for 10% you would get $171 a month and thats tax free. But Biden opened up easy to qualify for things like exposure to burn pits and a bunch of other stuff. Doesn't hurt to talk with your doctor at your next visit. 

[enigma-2]

Update.

Went to VA yesterday for my annual examination. Discussed prescriptions with the VA nurse practioner and she told me that as I now have qualified for disability, all of my prescriptions are now free. Even Jardiance (retail is $650 month) & Ranolazine (retail around $200a month). Couple that with the cost of the policy of $80/month going to $127 next year .... (Plus some of my meds are moving from a less expensive tier to a 15% copay tier for 2025.) 

 

But the cost without disability is only $11 / month. So if your a vet and haven't signed up for VA coverage, think about it.