Anyone here depending on only VA healthcare for their prostate cancer?

I'm wondering if there is anyone here that only has VA healthcare and how their prostate cancer care has been.

Currently I have both Kaiser and the VA, but I am losing my premium assistance through the ACA because I have the VA now. Without the premium assistance, I can't afford the Kaiser plan so will either have to drop Kaiser or the VA.

I'm a bit nervous about relying on the VA only since everyone I know who is using it also has another plan.

I would appreciate hearing the experience and opinions from anyone who currently or in the past has used the VA healthcare for their prostate cancer. Thanks.

Thanks Joe. What part of the country do you live in? I know you can switch hospitals, but thought you could only use one hospital for your care.

This VA page mentions Risks of Giving Up Your Private Insurance.

/www.va.gov/healthbenefits/cost/insurance.asp

I currently go to a VA hospital that's about an hour away. And there are others about 2-4 hours away.

One of the risks mentioned is that lower priority VA patients such as me could lose their coverage if congress decides to cut funding. I think that's a low risk at this point, but I guess it's possible.

My VA primary care provider referred me to the VA urologist contractor (who ironically just quit his private practice for a permanent position at my VA facility) after my PSA was elevated and my DRE didn't feel right. I used that urologist for the biopsy as a private patient otherwise it would have been an 80 mile drive to the large VA hospital (Audie Murphy.)

Then I had a decision to make. I could consult with the chief urologist at Audie Murphy, use the private urologist in our small town or go big-time and make the five hour drive to Houston (MD Anderson.) I chose MD Anderson since they are a recognized world-class facility.

If you stick with the VA, you might or might not receive best-in-class care like Joe1 mentioned. I had Mohs surgery on my cheek (cancer) done at Audie Murphy and the lady M.D. with the knife was a resident or was in some training mode/program. Nothing against that, she did a good slice and dice on my face.

I was hesitant to trust the VA system when MD Anderson was reasonably close. I do get good primary care at my VA facility, good enough to where I'm staying in the system.

Starfinder: I am 100% service connected disabled vet. That makes a major difference in care from the VA. BUT!!!!!!!!!! any Vet any where any time is entitled to FULL health care whether from the VA or from private sources. That said..............the Vet may have to fill out a "financial disclosure form" and based on that info may have to make co-pays but the care will not be based on the Vet's income level.

I have spent the last 15 years learning the ins and outs of the VA system to include the "choice" program. There is the VA system where you go to a VA hospital or clinic for your care. Then there is the VA system where the VA directly will pay an outside provider. This is usually where the local VA care facility does not offer the care you need. Then there is the "choice" program where you can decide which Dr. or Facility you want to go to. Now depending upon your "classification" or "level" of VA care you may or may not qualify for any of the above.

If you would tell me a bit about your service, dates, war zones, injuries ( however minor.....like falling in the latrine on a bar of soap......even if there was never a report made ). location as far as how far away is the nearest VA hospital................not clinic for PCP but real deal hospital and do they offer EVERYTHING you need. Also do you have a choice card ID number? Are you on the 40 mile program?

The standard for the Choice program and the VA outside provider program is this...............IF medicare/medicaid pay for a procedure so does the VA/Choice. If Medicare/medicaid does not usually pay then the Va/Choice may or may not.

Bottom line with the VA as it is with any insurance or even the SSA. NEVER NEVER NEVER TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER. Always appeal then appeal again and then appeal again. These Companies/agencies/entities will always try to wear you down. They will flood you with paperwork but if you persevere and never take no for an answer you will finally get to sit down face to face with a real person and will most often win your appeal. When you are dealing with a GS?????clerk by mail you will only get the bare bones minimum.

Feel free to contact me by my email ( see my profile ) or put it in this thread.

May all beings be well.

Roger

My husband only has VA and Medicare -- which the VA bills of course.

We are using the choice program for SBRT --

The VA is about 45 miles away and the cancer clinic is probably 60 miles away.

Fairwind said...
... the WW-2 and Korean War guys pass away, the number of patients using the VA seems to be decreasing..I have received services at both the Denver and Tucson VA hospitals and have no complaints...

There was an hour-long segment on PBS in their Veteran's weekend marathon. They made the same comment regarding the number of WWII vets, but did point out that the individual costs for those still living were increasing dramatically with their ages.

They also had some figures from the VA that anticipates a huge annual increase in number and costs because of the Kuwait / Iraq / Afgan wars that will not slow down until about 2050.