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 Medicare part 11 (currently 1 views) |
| Jim Armstrong |
| Posted on: May 19th, 2013, 11:56pm |
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Posts: 203
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I think that there are a few things to consider.
One is how confident you are in the quality of care you have expect from the VA.
Another is how far you are from a "main" VA clinic.
I am not sure, but I think that co-pays differ.
I have to travel nearly three hours each way to receive even the simplest of tests and procedures.
That is around $50 for gas, $6 for bridge tolls and varying amounts for food, etc.
I am not as fond of car travel as I once was and I know vets who have to travel twice as far.
So even with no copay, the service is far from "free."
There is a VA bus that leaves at 4 AM or so that has the perhaps underserved reputation as a multiple disease spreader.
More importantly, I am afraid I have literally never had an encounter with the VA medical system when there was not at least one screwup, sometimes serious and sometimes just aggravating.
My next necessary test is a kidney ultrasound and I am pretty sure I am going to have it done by a local radiologist and for a local specialist.
I guess that is an easier decision once Medicare has my $105.
I hope that helps and that others join in. |
Jim Armstrong
C, HQ, A 2/1
1965-1967 |
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| carlfryman |
| Posted on: May 22nd, 2013, 6:22pm |
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Posts: 29
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Jim, Medicare only pays 80%. Sometimes, doctors and Hospitals write some off. There is also an amount that Medicare pays that is sometimes much lower. If you have serious illnesses, you will need to buy a supplement to cover the other 20%. I live within 5 miles of the Cincinnati VA but never go. I use Medicare and a supplement that I get through my former employer at my primary care and any specialist I need to see. I think it depends on each persons financial status. Mine is such that I don't need the VA but it is my ace in the hole should I need it. I am 60% disabled with diabetes and heart disease and a wound in Vietnam. It's amazing that when you turn 65 no one tells you or advises you; only what you hear. I didn't know I had to make a choice when I turned 65. So good luck and I'm sure others here will give you some excellent advise.
Carl Fryman
C 2/1
1967-1968 |
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| Bob Kotch |
| Posted on: May 24th, 2013, 8:32pm |
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Posts: 187
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| Carl and Jim, you guys have hit the nail dead center on the head based on my experiences. Jim G. I don't think I had a choice on opting out of part ll, just pay your $105 a month. |
HHC, MP Plt. 9-67 through 9-68 |
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Reply: 2 - 6 |
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| MartyOdette |
| Posted on: May 25th, 2013, 1:59am |
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Medium Member D 2/1 july 69-70
Posts: 34
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| I suggest having medicare A,B&D. I am 60% IHD upgraded to 100% P&T for IU. I recently (end of march) went back to my outside heart doctor for my annual stress test with him for 2 stents 8 years ago. Turns out they were both blocked 100% and over the weekend following I was instructed to report to the local hospital on Monday @ 6:00AM for open heart. Turns out I had 3 100% blockages 1@ 60% and 4 others @ 50% that they could not get to yet. Four days later and a emergency re-opening to plate and screw together the breastbone after complications due to cancer radiation treatments from 12 years ogo(deemed-not agent orange connected) and to top it all off- VA takes no responsibility because I didn't call them and see if they could get me into their system first (as an emergency they "probably would have sent me to the same hospital anyway"!). Keep the Medicare going and never refuse VA treatment if they offer it. |
Marty Odette D 2/1 11B July 69-70 |
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| Jim Armstrong |
| Posted on: May 25th, 2013, 3:33pm |
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Posts: 203
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| I am curious as to what happened to Jim Gray's post that began this thread. |
Jim Armstrong
C, HQ, A 2/1
1965-1967 |
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| Jim Armstrong |
| Posted on: May 30th, 2013, 8:00pm |
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Posts: 203
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I hoped a forum moderator or someone would explain how a post disappears, especially the one that starts a thread.
This thread seems to appear out of nowhere and my first reply apparently does not refer to a question.
I also should add to that first reply that there is some kind of travel reimbursement that I have never been offered and never knew to ask for. |
Jim Armstrong
C, HQ, A 2/1
1965-1967 |
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Reply: 5 - 6 |
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| Ken McKenzie - Admin |
| Posted on: May 31st, 2013, 1:54am |
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Administrator
Posts: 16
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I have no idea what happened to the original post. Jim Grey made the post and he was on yesterday (May 29th), so maybe he deleted it.
The post probably should have been made on the General Discussion page, or a request should have been made on this page (Request for Categories) to create a new page for medical, VA, or Medicare issues. |
| Revision History (1 edits) |
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