It has come to my attention over the years that most people do not realize that the Veterans Health Administration is the only national health insurance program in the United States. Whether you live in a large city like Los Angeles or a rural area in a smaller state, if you are a veteran signed up with the VHA your medical needs will be taken care of under their nationwide system. There are of course numerous requirements depending on the medical condition as well as the percentage of disability of the veteran, but for most all practical purposes if you are a vet they will take care of your condition.
Like most things there are pluses and minuses to being the only game in town and the VA most certainly falls into both areas.
The vast majority of VA personnel belong to the American Federation of Government Employees, and that includes the majority of the doctors and nurses. Obviously that helps in keeping costs down but it also results in many younger, less experienced doctors and nurses using the VA as a stepping stone to get experience so they can move into private practice.
Like it or hate it, federal government-run national health care is most certainly going to be a HUGE issue in the upcoming elections across the country and taking an unbiased and in-depth look at the VHA could be very helpful in deciding what to support or not support on that issue. And I have yet to hear what the proponents of national health care plan on doing with the VHA, which would not really be needed if what they are proposing is put in place.
Rick Barker
Valencia
