VA Healthcare vs Medicare

A few weeks ago, I came very close to giving up my medicare. This was because the $96 I am paying for it is about 10% of my entire income. My income is all Social Security. After all I had better care under the VA and free prescriptions. If I had to go to a non-va facility in emergency the VA is supposed to cover it if they are notified within forty-eight hours. Notice there is an (if) in that last sentence. However, since this is a big step, I decided to research this some more on the net. I learned that there is another important (if) in getting VA care for emergencies. That is (if) the Va gets enough funds to cover emergencies. Considering the over extension of our forces in the War with Iraq and the need to support our troops this second (If) could be a big one.

A second consideration which I have experienced in the past is what I call a semi-emergency. This is where you need to find out what is going on with, a severe pain, strange bleeding, dizzyness, sudden vision change or anything that could be serious or not. If you go to the emergency room and it is diagnosed as not a true emergency we have another (if). Will the Va cover it. I have had emergency room treatment where the cost ran into thousands of dollars but was covered by the special medicare I had.

Another factor about keeping medicare is that all the Va Clinics that I know of have very limited hours, 7 to 4 and only five days a week. The Pahrump Clinic is the best I have ever seen, yet I have been there twice when Vets have come in with what they considered an emergency but could not be seen because of the understaffing.

After thinking about these considerations I decided to do further research. I learned two very important things. I learned that I might be able to get help with paying that $96 a month. I also learned that both Senior Dimensions and Secure Horizons have some very important advantages. I have used both of these services for years when I have been too far way from Va facilities. The final day for making medicare selections for the year was December 31. At close to the last minute, I found an important reason for keeping medicare and changing from Secure Horizons. I learned that both of these services have a facilty that is open seven days a week from 8Amto7PM.

Additionally, I can see the same doctor I see at the VA who is definitely my preferred doctor. Of course he is not going to be available 11 hrs a day seven days a week but my chances of seeing some doctor is far superior to seeing someone at the overworked Pahrump VA clinic.

The reason I chose to switch from Senior Dimensions to Secure Horizons was because they are the choice of AARP and Secure Horizonz had a medicare advantage plan that has no copay to physicians or specialists. They are able to do this because this plan has no prescription coverage. Since I get my prescription from the Va this is not a problem.

What Democrats Gave to America!

Article
by
Frank Hutchens
posted also on http://www.frankhutchens.info

SUPPORT OUR TROOPS

WHAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GAVE TO AMERICA!
Workmens Compensation
Unemployment Insurance
Civil Rights
Medicare Medicaid
Veterans Benefits

Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt's "New Deal" brought many reforms including "workmen's" compensation.

1934 Democratic President FDR appoints a Committee on Economic Security to study problems of old age and unemployment.
Most of its proposals are included in the Social Security Act.

August 14, 1935
Congress passes the Social Security Act. It contains two titles which lead to the adoption of state UI (Unemployment Benefits) laws and the expansion of state employment services. Title IX calls for employers to pay an excise tax on their workers. Title III provides federal grants to states to cover their expense in administering state UI laws, if benefits are paid solely through the public employment offices in the state.

July 2, 1964 : Democratic President Lyndon Johnson signs Civil Rights Act As the strength of the civil rights movement grew, Democratic President John F. Kennedy made passage of a new civil rights bill one of the platforms of his successful 1960 presidential campaign. As Kennedy's vice president, Johnson served as chairman of the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunities. After Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, Johnson vowed to carry out his proposals for civil rights
reform. The Civil Rights Act fought tough opposition in the House and a lengthy, heated debate in the Senate before being approved in July 1964

The Medicare and Medicaid programs
were signed into law on July 30, 1965 By Democratic President Lyndon Johnson. Pictured at the signing ceremony in Independence, Missouri at the Truman Library. Former Democratic President Truman is seated beside him. LBJ held the ceremony there to honor President Truman's leadership on health insurance, which he first proposed in 1945.

Veterans Benefits
Republican President Hoover authorized the clearing of the Bonus Army camp of World War 1 Veterans and their families by the military. The Veterans had not been paid their promised bonus. Troops under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, including a machine-gun squadron and a number of tanks, followed the orders of the Republican President the shantytown was destroyed and the marchers and families dispersed with tear gas.

In 1944, Democratic President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the "Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944," better known as the "GI Bill of Rights." This bill has been called by some historians the most important piece of legislation since the Homestead Act. Drafted by the American Legion, the bill provided for tuition, books and living expenses for up to four years of college or vocational schools. It made low-interest mortgages available to for homeowners, and farm and small business loans at low interest as well. There was also a twenty dollar a week allowance for returning vets looking for employment. The bill also established veterans' hospitals and provided for vocational rehabilitation for disabled veterans.
Without the benefits given to us by the Democratic Party we would not have to worry about the rising costs of healthcare. Why? Because so many seniors like myself would already be dead. With a Democratic President and Congress we won't not have to worry about future costs. Why? Because the Super wealthy can afford to pay the majority of the costs. What is left of the ever shrinking middle class will not be called upon to pay as much as they are now paying. The huge numbers of the poor of our people will not have to pay anything at all. Surprisingly, the Republicans don't worry about trying to fit through the eye of a needle. Since a camel can't do it to get to where we all want to go, I guess they don't mind heading on DOWN.