Navy Vet, just diagnosed and wondering about options through the VA

[Live040314]

I was just diagnosed on April 3rd and have started to receive care. My employer sponsored insurance is less than adequate and I'm wondering if there is assistance available through the VA? When I separated in 2011 I was recruiting and did not have an opportunity to complete my disability paperwork and evaluations. Can anyone provide guidance or input? Thank you.

[zach]

a starting point

http://www.hiv.va.gov/

[Live040314]

Thanks Zach, I also set up an appointment with my local VSO. Hopefully they can help guide me a bit.

[JR Gabbard]

Welcome Live040314!
If you have at least 3 years active duty time and got an honorable discharge, you can access VA Healthcare right now.  Just apply online through VONAPP after you set up an account.  Or you could just go to the nearest VA hospital and sign up there.  Take your DD214.
Also, if you were infected on active duty, it is service-connected.  If that's the case, you should secure that status with the VA right away.  You'd get a 0% disability rating, but it will save time and trouble later.
Most of the vets who post here, myself included, would tell you that our VA care is excellent.
Best of luck.

[J.R.E.]

Welcome live040314, 


As JR stated you can enroll online through the website that he provided. I enrolled in the VA Healthcare system around November of 2009.  I don't know if the online enrollment into the VA was open in 2009, But I had no problem enrolling in person at the Bay Pines VA medical center in St. Petersburg, Florida.  It gives you an opportunity, to be face to face with someone to answer all your questions or concerns. Bring all necessary paperwork with you if you decide to go to a VA center.

And Like you, after our group healthcare plan at work became expensive and unaffordable, that is when I decided to enroll, and I dropped my insurance at work.

Everything has been great, and the care I am receiving has been phenomenal !  There are still occasional flaws in the system, but it is constantly improving.

I get my labs done every 4 months, and then the follow up consultation with the infectious disease Doctor.  I see my primary care twice a year, or if I am sick, I can easily  schedule an appointment.

You will also get a primary care doctor, besides the ID Doctor, that will take care of other needs that you may have. I get my eye exams through the VA, see a dermatologist, get a colonoscopy when needed, get all the vaccinations when needed, If you need Xrays, MRI's EKG's ECG's, this will be all available to you. They will take good care of you.

Once you are enrolled, you will go through an orientation program,, which will help familiarize you with the VA system. You may also give some blood during the orientation.  During orientation, you will get your primary care doctor assigned, and most likely they will tell you to use a VA clinic, if there is one available to you in your area.

My clinic is about a mile north of where I live, when I see the ID doctor, I have to go to The VA Hospital.

But,  First things first,.!!  You need to get yourself enrolled.


Good luck---Ray

[Live040314]

Thanks Ray,

I hope to have the ball rolling starting next week. I do have a question. Will I be able to keep my primary care provider and still possibly use the VA for medications? Probably a long shot but it would be nice if me and my partner could both keep the same doctor.

Thanks again for all of the information.

[JR Gabbard]

Live040314,
No.  The VA pharmacy can only fill prescriptions from VA doctors.  But VA will accept your private insurance to cover medication co-pays.

[J.R.E.]

Damn,.. !! I just opened up an EMAIL and read about this. Somebody better be charged and held accountable.  This is not good at all.

Check out the video:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/23/health/veterans-dying-health-care-delays/

Ray

[JR Gabbard]

Damn,.. !! I just opened up an EMAIL and read about this. Somebody better be charged and held accountable.  This is not good at all.

Hi Ray!

You're right, that is a very disturbing story.  I don't think it is a system wide problem, just localized incompetence.  But there have been similar complaints about other VAMCs, so every vet needs to be on the lookout.

If you ask the VA for an appointment, they have to schedule that appointment within 30 days (by law).  If they haven't scheduled that appointment within 30 days, document your request for an appointment.  The easiest way to do that is on myhealthevet.  Send a secure message asking for the appointment, and it becomes part of your medical record.  A written request sent by certified mail, return receipt requested will work too, if you keep a copy of the request you send ( )  Then if they still don't make the appointment, you can take it to the VA in Washington, and the local VAMC can't say you didn't make the request.

As for what happened in Phoenix, the IG has started an investigation, and several careers will probably be ruined.  Pity.  I can also see a bunch of wrongful death/medical malpractice suits coming out of this.  And the VA ought to be on the hook for survivor's benefits for every one of the vets who died waiting for care.

Grrrr.  Makes me angry.

[J.R.E.]

  The easiest way to do that is on myhealthevet.  Send a secure message asking for the appointment, and it becomes part of your medical record. 

I've used the secure messaging about 4 times so far, with no problems and quick responses. Used it last week to get some BP medication.  I had no more refill's on it, and was running low.

I heard back the next day, and was informed that the doctor would refill the prescription. Now I am good for a year.


Ray