Aa
The ultimate
Today I got a letter from the VA informing me that they are changing my inhaler from a 4 hour one (which I use as needed) to a once a day version (Spiriva). It is not my doctor that is changing it, but the VA administration. The VA is turning out to be as bad as an HMO ib ny opinion. Interfering with the doctor patient relationship by deciding what medication I should be using without any input from my doctor, YES the letter actually states that they are going to inform my doctor that they have changed my medication.
END OF RANT!!!!
Dennis
END OF RANT!!!!
Dennis
My problem is the Specialty Pharmacy and Drug maker will not let me get off my DMD. I have been rediagnosed with PPMS.
They stand to lose over $2,500 a month. I get calls everyday. They assured me my account was closed. Now they say a Dr. I no longer see refilled. I explained I have a new Dr. and the FDA does not approve of DMDs for my kind of MS.
They say have them put you on another drug?
If they ship three months without my wanting them and my insurance does not cover it because I am rediagnosed with PPMS and DMDs are not FDA approve I am stuck with a $9.000 bill.
I hate this private system of greed. I wish I had never been on a DMD it has been nothing but bureaucratic hell.
I think the year of stress I have been through with these two agencies has done my disease more harm than good.
I bet I have spent as many hours on straightening out problems between the pharmacy and the drug maker as you have with the VA.
Alex
I
They stand to lose over $2,500 a month. I get calls everyday. They assured me my account was closed. Now they say a Dr. I no longer see refilled. I explained I have a new Dr. and the FDA does not approve of DMDs for my kind of MS.
They say have them put you on another drug?
If they ship three months without my wanting them and my insurance does not cover it because I am rediagnosed with PPMS and DMDs are not FDA approve I am stuck with a $9.000 bill.
I hate this private system of greed. I wish I had never been on a DMD it has been nothing but bureaucratic hell.
I think the year of stress I have been through with these two agencies has done my disease more harm than good.
I bet I have spent as many hours on straightening out problems between the pharmacy and the drug maker as you have with the VA.
Alex
I
sorry dennis to hear of that. but i know all too well how that operates. the wear down and frustration they cause veterans is inexcusable.
and the verticle climb a vet must endure to "try" to change those type of situations is a hard feat.
healthcare reform? the federal gov built, manages and dictates the VA. good luck on this new heathcare.
reform yes! my hope is thin that will happen.
and the verticle climb a vet must endure to "try" to change those type of situations is a hard feat.
healthcare reform? the federal gov built, manages and dictates the VA. good luck on this new heathcare.
reform yes! my hope is thin that will happen.
Dennis--I know the VA fails its "customers" consistently. It needs to be fixed. You probably don't even have the energy for this, but your congresspeople need to know--from you and anyone else--how the VA is trying to jerk people around. Like I said, their faults are endemic. The things going down at Walter Reed were just awful. They need to take care of those who served, and they need to do it by doing the right thing.
I'm sorry about all the red tape and the frustration for you. But as you and anyone else on an HMO knows, it can get even deeper and more frustrating and time consuming and painful and costly with those folks, too. It's a pain all around. I was never so demoralized in my life as when Blue Cross denied me private coverage at the age of 38.
Bio
I'm sorry about all the red tape and the frustration for you. But as you and anyone else on an HMO knows, it can get even deeper and more frustrating and time consuming and painful and costly with those folks, too. It's a pain all around. I was never so demoralized in my life as when Blue Cross denied me private coverage at the age of 38.
Bio
While you are right about many things with an HNO, the VA also does some of the same things. They have denied meds that my doctor want me to take and on top of that they won't even allow my doctor to write out an Rx for them so that I can get them through my Medicare Rx. Right now I also think that I could be paying a lot less for my medical bills using Medicare than the VA. Most of my Rx's cost double the amount I would have to pay with Medicare as are the doctor visits. When using Medicare my copay for my PCP was $16 while at the VA it cost me $50. But the VA doesn't have a deductible you have to meet first. I also get to see for the most part better docotrs at the VA. Using Medicare I was getting no where in finding out what is wrong with me. They VA on the other hand sent me to Vanderbilt MS clinic. Also the VA can at any time and for any reason stop providing me with health care as I am still trying to get service connection for at least part of my health problems.
I have alway been in favor of the health care reform because of the way HMO and other private health insurance companies operate.
Dennis
I have alway been in favor of the health care reform because of the way HMO and other private health insurance companies operate.
Dennis
Medicare
Medicaid
VA
Federal health insurance
CHIP
None are worse than the HMO who decides they won't cover a med for me that I need or the private insurance company who outright declined coverage for me; in fact, for many many people, far far better. The VA has endemic problems, but the veterans in my family receive excellent health care and coverage. And if memory serves, no one wants to lose their Medicare coverage, and those who are covered under federal health insurance seem to like it.
I am on my knees in gratitude for the fact that where private insurance once declined me, they will have to take me now and that my husband no longer has to be beholden to a job just to make sure I have coverage. And that my children with developmental disorders cannot be denied coverage for preexisting conditions. The options on the horizon make an enormous and positive fiscal, quality-of-life, and psychological difference to our family.
That's the end of my discussion.
Bio
Medicaid
VA
Federal health insurance
CHIP
None are worse than the HMO who decides they won't cover a med for me that I need or the private insurance company who outright declined coverage for me; in fact, for many many people, far far better. The VA has endemic problems, but the veterans in my family receive excellent health care and coverage. And if memory serves, no one wants to lose their Medicare coverage, and those who are covered under federal health insurance seem to like it.
I am on my knees in gratitude for the fact that where private insurance once declined me, they will have to take me now and that my husband no longer has to be beholden to a job just to make sure I have coverage. And that my children with developmental disorders cannot be denied coverage for preexisting conditions. The options on the horizon make an enormous and positive fiscal, quality-of-life, and psychological difference to our family.
That's the end of my discussion.
Bio
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