The VA has long been plagued by controversy. Long wait times for patients to be seen, poor bedside manner from physicians that wouldn’t be tolerated in private practice, long drives to clinics/hospitals, misallocation of funds, etc.
As a Veteran, I will never use the VA for healthcare ever again, and am blessed to have Tricare through my husband’s reserve employment. We pay a premium and co-pays which are minimal compared to other private insurances. This allows us to see doctors of our choosing, to fire physicians who are not providing the standard of care we expect, and more control over our healthcare.
There should be an option for Veterans to purchase a “PPO” type insurance, that mirrors that of Tricare Select. This would allow Veterans the choice in their healthcare journey, open up space for Veterans who opt to stay in VA care reducing wait times, will allow Veterans with complex medical issues to get the care the deserve and need in a timely manner with the decency they deserve, and other positives.
Veterans deserve to stop being treated as the forgotten few and should have control in their healthcare without the cumbersome bureaucracy of the VA.