Why do we have veterans' hospitals?

[MaggieD]

Think about it. Why do we have veterans' hospitals? Are not private sector hospitals good enough? Why not simply enroll veterans in the AHA? Depending on a means test, all veterans could be entitled to an "X" subsidy, resulting in many of them receiving it completely free.

Why not?

 

[CalGun]

If the VA were run properly its care would exceed that of private.

I guess we've already shared the middles classes quality health care system with the poor now thanks to obummerscare lets burden it some more with the Vets. No doubt we'll need a panel to weed out who really needs care faster that way right? Be careful what you call that - wouldn't want someone being called a liar.

Instead of ruining the middle class health care system (as we are) why not fix the VA and not fix the public health care services (you know county hospitals).

Think about it. Why do we have veterans' hospitals? Are not private sector hospitals good enough? Why not simply enroll veterans in the AHA? Depending on a means test, all veterans could be entitled to an "X" subsidy, resulting in many of them receiving it completely free.

Why not?

 

[MaggieD]

If the VA were run properly its care would exceed that of private.

Baloney.

I guess we've already shared the middles classes quality health care system with the poor now thanks to obummerscare lets burden it some more with the Vets. No doubt we'll need a panel to weed out who really needs care faster that way right? Be careful what you call that - wouldn't want someone being called a liar.

Instead of ruining the middle class health care system (as we are) why not fix the VA and not fix the public health care services (you know county hospitals).

Your post makes no sense.

 

[radcen]

Think about it. Why do we have veterans' hospitals? Are not private sector hospitals good enough? Why not simply enroll veterans in the AHA? Depending on a means test, all veterans could be entitled to an "X" subsidy, resulting in many of them receiving it completely free.

Why not?

Being that VA has been around a long time, I think asking why it isn't attached to AHA isn't relevant. Too soon, at least.

Might be just me, but I would be offended... and I don't offend easily... if we required our veterans to be means tested for qualification. They've already been tested and qualified, if you know what I mean.

I was just talking with someone about this last night, and I would like to see the VA contract with private hospitals for the more basic care and treatment. It would be more convenient for the veteran.

 

[sawyerloggingon]

Think about it. Why do we have veterans' hospitals? Are not private sector hospitals good enough? Why not simply enroll veterans in the AHA? Depending on a means test, all veterans could be entitled to an "X" subsidy, resulting in many of them receiving it completely free.

Why not?

The VA was originally about treating war wounds and you need doctors who specialize in those kinds of injuries but I agree after they patch you up you should cycle into civilian health care.

 

[MaggieD]

Being that VA has been around a long time, I think asking why it isn't attached to AHA isn't relevant. Too soon, at least.

Might be just me, but I would be offended... and I don't offend easily... if we required our veterans to be means tested for qualification. They've already been tested and qualified, if you know what I mean.

I was just talking with someone about this last night, and I would like to see the VA contract with private hospitals for the more basic care and treatment. It would be more convenient for the veteran.

It may not be relevant. But the fact that we have VA hospitals at ALL is relevant. Why did we ever have them? Why not free hospitalization insurance for life after an honorable discharge? And I completely agree with you that private hospitals need to be in the equation no matter WHAT -- some people have to travel hundreds of miles for their medical care. Sucks.

 

[CalGun]

Baloney - so you are saying the VA health care system can't be made to exceed the qualities of private care? Are you really that silly?

If my post made no sense to you either you didn't care to understand it or didn't want too - either is fine. I don't think you so ignorant as to not understand there is a private health care system that just got handed to the poor in this nation, and that there was a public health care system the poor use to rely upon? That public system will now serve a smaller population of extreme poor until the left wants to incorporate them into the private system as well. You are asking why not put the Vets into that as well and since we're going to ruin it for everyone why not them too?

Baloney.



Your post makes no sense.

 

[CalGun]

It may not be relevant. But the fact that we have VA hospitals at ALL is relevant. Why did we ever have them? Why not free hospitalization insurance for life after an honorable discharge? And I completely agree with you that private hospitals need to be in the equation no matter WHAT -- some people have to travel hundreds of miles for their medical care. Sucks.

Why not move? Why should society have to provide for someone that won't?

 

[MaggieD]

Why not move? Why should society have to provide for someone that won't?

Do you have any idea what it costs to move?? Unbelievable.

 

[Manc Skipper]

Veterans' healthcare and other bennies is a perk of the soldiering job established with the first colonists, and widened and improved on ever since.

 

[radcen]

It may not be relevant. But the fact that we have VA hospitals at ALL is relevant. Why did we ever have them? Why not free hospitalization insurance for life after an honorable discharge? And I completely agree with you that private hospitals need to be in the equation no matter WHAT -- some people have to travel hundreds of miles for their medical care. Sucks.

I would guess that when the need to treat veterans first came up, and the VA established, that pubic healthcare was not really a viable entity. And once a government bureaucracy gets established, it's virtually impossible to dismantle.

 

[Crosscheck]

Think about it. Why do we have veterans' hospitals? Are not private sector hospitals good enough? Why not simply enroll veterans in the AHA? Depending on a means test, all veterans could be entitled to an "X" subsidy, resulting in many of them receiving it completely free.

Why not?

That is a damn good question. For one thing you know that if it is government ran they are going to pay triple what private sectors pays for buildings or equipment.

Just provide the vet with good health insurance. Almost every reasonable sized city has a hospital but not every reasonable size city has a VA hospital which puts a burden on the vet to have to travel to sometime out of state VA hospitals.

 

[azgreg]

What's wrong with Tricare?

 

[MaggieD]

What's wrong with Tricare?

What is Tricare? I know it's for the military; is it insurance so that the military can use private sector medical services? If yes, then I'd echo what YOU said: "What's wrong with Tricare??"

 

[CalGun]

So society should pay for my individual choice to live 3 hrs from the nearest medical facility ? Seriously ?

Do you have any idea what it costs to move?? Unbelievable.

 

[Manc Skipper]

That is a damn good question. For one thing you know that if it is government ran they are going to pay triple what private sectors pays for buildings or equipment.

Just provide the vet with good health insurance. Almost every reasonable sized city has a hospital but not every reasonable size city has a VA hospital which puts a burden on the vet to have to travel to sometime out of state VA hospitals.

Is there any evidence for this triple rate claim so often bandied about? If so, why does it only apply in the USA which lacks a universal healthcare provision, and not to other countries which have such a system, at lower cost than the very expensive US provision.

 

[Wiggen]

Think about it. Why do we have veterans' hospitals? Are not private sector hospitals good enough? Why not simply enroll veterans in the AHA? Depending on a means test, all veterans could be entitled to an "X" subsidy, resulting in many of them receiving it completely free.

Why not?

The answer to your first question is actually the same as your answer to the second. No, they aren't good enough.

Independent 2013 Survey Shows Veterans Highly Satisfied with VA Care | Veterans Today

 

[Wiggen]

That is a damn good question. For one thing you know that if it is government ran they are going to pay triple what private sectors pays for buildings or equipment.

Just provide the vet with good health insurance. Almost every reasonable sized city has a hospital but not every reasonable size city has a VA hospital which puts a burden on the vet to have to travel to sometime out of state VA hospitals.

Triple the cost? Really? do you have a link for that?

 

[Wiggen]

Is there any evidence for this triple rate claim so often bandied about? If so, why does it only apply in the USA which lacks a universal healthcare provision, and not to other countries which have such a system, at lower cost than the very expensive US provision.

It's a canard thrown out by anti-government right wingers to bolster their argument that the Federal Government is naturally bad and should be eliminated if at all possible. They tried it by force of arms about 150 years ago and that didn't work out, so now this is the new tactic.

 

[imagep]

If the VA were run properly its care would exceed that of private.

I guess we've already shared the middles classes quality health care system with the poor now thanks to obummerscare lets burden it some more with the Vets. No doubt we'll need a panel to weed out who really needs care faster that way right? Be careful what you call that - wouldn't want someone being called a liar.

Instead of ruining the middle class health care system (as we are) why not fix the VA and not fix the public health care services (you know county hospitals).

So you believe that government ran healthcare, otherwise known as socialized healthcare, can be better than private sector healthcare.

Interesting. I never pegged you for a socialist.

 

[imagep]

Baloney - so you are saying the VA health care system can't be made to exceed the qualities of private care? Are you really that silly?...

Apparently we aren't all socialist like you.

 

[Crosscheck]

Triple the cost? Really? do you have a link for that?

No, don't have a link . Just my own personal experience of seeing the price tag the military paid for items and also during my time as a steelworker seeing the price tag for any steel used in a government building

 

[imagep]

Why not move? Why should society have to provide for someone that won't?

So we should forceably relocate different groups to different areas for healthcare needs. Got it.

Heck, while we are at it, let's start housing factory workers in dormatories, that way it will be easier for their masters to keep track of them, and they can put in more work hours.

 

[imagep]

The answer to your first question is actually the same as your answer to the second. No, they aren't good enough.

Independent 2013 Survey Shows Veterans Highly Satisfied with VA Care | Veterans Today

If our VA system is so good, then why is anyone complaining, and why are tea party types trying to create a scandal?

 

[Fearandloathing]

Think about it. Why do we have veterans' hospitals? Are not private sector hospitals good enough? Why not simply enroll veterans in the AHA? Depending on a means test, all veterans could be entitled to an "X" subsidy, resulting in many of them receiving it completely free.

Why not?

Private sector hospitals are too expensive.....

I believe, while receiving my wonderful American education [not kidding - it was miles ahead of Ontario at the time] I heard that the VA program began after the Civil war under another initiative, and then expanded after WWI.

But, you are right, VA hospitals are a rather strange way to do it. Then, with my experience with government and bureaucracy, the VA is probably like so many aging bureaucracies and a general waste of money providing at best mediocre service