Thursday, March 14, 2013

Why No VA?!

For those who are not tracking, Chaz had an abscess next to his spine. We discovered the problems Sunday and sought medical attention on Monday. He is doing better thanks to my instance and reactions to what was going on with him. 

The question that keeps being asked is "Why didn't you take Chaz to the VA for medical attention?" I am going to take the time to spell this all out for those who are confused. Also I want to help those who will separate from the service and need to know this information. But let me make this clear, DO NOT LET YOUR TRICARE LAPSE!!!! Make sure you enroll your service member in Tricare with you and your family. Make sure you have all the paperwork in and have your premiums paid up. I cannot stress this enough. Tricare has been our saving grace.

We tried to go to the VA. We called the Murfreesboro, TN VA first thing Monday morning. They could not see Chaz until Tuesday at 3pm at the earliest. Chaz needed to be seen pronto. I knew in my gut Chaz needed immediate attention. I was not going to make him wait any longer. Chaz had a ticking time bomb in his back, waiting was not a possibility. You might be thinking ER, but I knew he'd get better attention by seeing our Primary Care Manager and I was right.

We are all four enrolled in Tricare. Thanks to Tricare I was able to get Chaz seen immediately. Then he was able to have an MRI immediately and admitted into the hospital immediately. We discovered later that had we gone to the VA. Chaz would have been transferred from the Murfreesboro VA to the Nashville VA and then to a private hospital, more than likely Vanderbilt. Basically taking him to the VA for what was going on was not the right answer. He needed care, not shuffled around then care.

Chaz is currently classified as a Category 6 to the VA. He retired from the Army on January 19, 2013. The letter from the VA dated March 11, 2013 and signed by Tony Guagliardo, the Director of Health Eligibility Center, Chaz is still listed in the lowest category they have. This means he is eligible to receive services from the VA, but we are expected to pay out of pocket. Here's the letter front and back.




So you're thinking wait, he's 100% service-connected disabled. Yes we have some paperwork here that says that. Until that paperwork goes to Seattle WA for verification, then to Nashville for processing Chaz will remain in Category 6. As you can see we are approaching 60 days. There are some service members who have waited a year for the verification process. (More about this later).

Now we have co-pays with Tricare. Even if Chaz stays in the hospital for 90 days we are still coming out cheaper with using our Tricare option. Tricare charges us $11 each day that Chaz stays in the hospital. The VA charges $1184 for the first 90 days. that $13 a day for Chaz to be there because he is still in Category 6. Is this all making sense now?

We didn't go the VA because it was in the best interest of Chaz's health to go through Tricare. We pay for it, so we're going to use it. We didn't go to the VA because they couldn't see him that day and I am actually thankful they couldn't. Going through Tricare was the best thing to do for Chaz. It is better for Chaz's health and our household budget. Tricare not only helped Chaz receive excellent care, but the cost share expected of us put Chaz's mind at ease. So let me pose this question why should we go to the VA for anything besides preventive care?!


6 comments:

  1. Not sure I understand why people are questioning this. You two know the situation the best and everyone should accept that...
    Still praying hard in Seattle!
    Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
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  2. These words give such hope. Praying!
    John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
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  3. Always here praying!
    Isaiah 63:7-9: I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
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  4. Lifting up prayer!
    Psalms 56:3-4, 13 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me...For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?
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  5. I just found your blog! I don't know how I haven't seen it before - and I'm sure you don't remember us, we left WR last April. Anyway, we are going through the rating process right now, and ended up having to go to Seattle for a formal board hearing. Apparently, since coming back to Colorado, and I don't go to his appointments anymore so I have no idea what's going on, I'm really out of the loop. Did you guys do it in a different order? Jason will retire once he has his official ratings back...and who knows how long that will be. Will we still face the same category situation you all face? I had no idea. And honestly, I think I just don't want to have any idea. It's all so overwhelming, I just don't even want to deal with it and I know I have to. Ok, that was off topic. We were/are so sad to hear about Derek! I hope his family and everyone at WR is doing OK. Anyway, it seems you all are doing well! I'll have to catch up on your blog soon :)

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  6. Stephanie, tell me how I can help. Email me through the contact button that's on here somewhere. ;) -Jess

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