Medical

[Dick7Access]

Correct me if I am wrong

The difference between socialize medicine and private health care, is as always follow the money.

Recently I fell and as a result ended up with back and hip pain.

Now the VA (government run basically socialize medicine) took X-rays and recommended physical therapy.

physical therapy department doesn’t have an opening for next 92 days.

Why? They have a limit on funds, they can't hire more people, so everyone has to wait in line

I can go private and pay for it myself and get it right away, which I will probably do.

Why? Can private medicine accommodate more people. They don’t have a budget; they can hire more people. Follow the money.

Now, in case there is at least one, bleeding heart on this forum, I understand there some people out there that can’t afford private medical. Then I am also trouble that maybe they for most of their life lived, for wine, women, and song, and gave no tough to their after years. Just a thought

 

[Mark_]

Condolences for having to deal with the VA. Last time I tried getting an appointment was after I returned from deployment. Had 180 days support from the VA. First appointment for allergies was after the end of my benefits.

 

[Dick7Access]

Condolences for having to deal with the VA. Last time I tried getting an appointment was after I returned from deployment. Had 180 days support from the VA. First appointment for allergies was after the end of my benefits.

I am retired so my befits are for life, actually even death, I already had my wife in national commentary.
Don't get me wrong, the VA has been a good benefit tor me. $100,000 operation thru VA at civilian hospital, cost me nothing, and much more.
Just please try to force the whole country to wait in line.

 

[DickyP]

As an outsider I can only say that however much I complain about the NHS in UK it sounds better than this. Mind you we do NOTHING for veterans.

 

[Dick7Access]

As an outsider I can only say that however much I complain about the NHS in UK it sounds better than this. Mind you we do NOTHING for veterans.

Are there long waiting lines with NHS. Can you get an appoint within 5 or 6 days like I can with my civilian doctors.
I hear Canada also has extreme back logs, but don't known this as fact. Anybody on blog from Canada

 

[moke123]

The current administration cut 30,000 jobs from the VA last year and I think another 35,000 of unfilled positions.
It was part of project 2025. No surprise that it will take months to get an appointment.

 

[Isaac]

Correct me if I am wrong

The difference between socialize medicine and private health care, is as always follow the money.

Recently I fell and as a result ended up with back and hip pain.

Now the VA (government run basically socialize medicine) took X-rays and recommended physical therapy.

physical therapy department doesn’t have an opening for next 92 days.

Why? They have a limit on funds, they can't hire more people, so everyone has to wait in line

I can go private and pay for it myself and get it right away, which I will probably do.

Why? Can private medicine accommodate more people. They don’t have a budget; they can hire more people. Follow the money.

Now, in case there is at least one, bleeding heart on this forum, I understand there some people out there that can’t afford private medical. Then I am also trouble that maybe they for most of their life lived, for wine, women, and song, and gave no tough to their after years. Just a thought

I'm sorry to hear of both your primary trouble falling + your bad experience with VA. I have actually heard a LOT of these 'horror stories' about people struggling to get decent help from a VA hospital. If I were a veteran I think I'd just get private insurance like everyone else, unless I lived near a VA hospital that was unusually effective.

These types of examples are things people sometimes cite when speaking out against socialized medicine.
I for one have begun to wonder if government provided healthcare maybe IS a decent idea. Maybe there is something else existing that we can do without and have healthcare instead, but it's the costs that's the root of all our trouble...the costs being charged by hospitals and professionals.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Moke's point about the VA layoffs is a contributor. Staff cuts play hell with treatment schedules. Also, the private care folks can charge more and pass along some of the extra money to attract more employees with bonuses and (slightly) higher pay.

 

[Dick7Access]

I'm sorry to hear of both your primary trouble falling + your bad experience with VA. I have actually heard a LOT of these 'horror stories' about people struggling to get decent help from a VA hospital. If I were a veteran I think I'd just get private insurance like everyone else, unless I lived near a VA hospital that was unusually effective.

These types of examples are things people sometimes cite when speaking out against socialized medicine.
I for one have begun to wonder if government provided healthcare maybe IS a decent idea. Maybe there is something else existing that we can do without and have healthcare instead, but it's the costs that's the root of all our trouble...the costs being charged by hospitals and professionals.

I have other insurance but it doesn't cover my hearing aids, my blue tooth, my electric scooter, the lift om my truck etc, VA does. I am looking in to see if my other insurance covers my physical theopathy.

 

[pbaldy]

Maybe it depends where you are as well. My daughter is retired USAF and has pretty good experiences with VA, including physical therapy. She's in ID.

 

[Dick7Access]

Maybe it depends where you are as well. My daughter is retired USAF and has pretty good experiences with VA, including physical therapy. She's in ID.

Right on. Traveling as I do, I have visited a few different VA. One in Texas could not make a minor repair on my hearing aid that they do at my home VA in 5 minute at the window without an appointment. One in VW could not check me for covid. Another TX VA in TX look at the infection on my arm and rushed me in without an appointment.