Veterans: Consider Ditching the Veterans Administration for Obamacare

Veterans: Consider Ditching the Veterans Administration for Obamacare

Corrupt, Inept and Polluted, the VA is an Ironic Cause of Soldier Suicide

With the recent findings made public on how VA whistleblowers are getting harassed for pointing out ways to improve the Administration, it’s time to start hammering nails into the VA’s own coffin. But is there an alternative healthcare option for our vets? Is Obamacare a veteran alternative? Sort of.

Not only are these whistleblowers standing up for what’s right; they’re also standing up for our vets. They deserve our praise and attention, not getting fired and legal battles. All the while, we continue to talk about veterans’ PTSD, about their low income and their isolation. All these topics raise themselves when we talk about soldier suicide, or veteran suicide. Now we’re talking about how the Veterans Administration is the #1 cause of veteran suicide and a viable solution: Obamacare or the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

But there’s a hitch. One of the stipulations for Obamacare is to answer the question about whether or not other healthcare is available to you. The word I’m looking for here is fudge; as in fudge-factor, or to fudge an answer. To be eligible for ACA, you would need to make a mistake on that one.

It’s not too great a leap to accept the premise that no-show mental or physical health care is the #1 cause of soldier suicide. PTSD, suicidal thoughts, depression, lack of sleep, income and hope can come from anywhere, but we feel like Obamacare needs more attention. With the VA as the primary care giver for American veterans, they are killing themselves in record numbers. And there’s little reason for optimism for the VA to improve as rapidly as we need it to, no matter who’s in charge. All the same, good luck to Robert Wilkie.

A viable solution is found in Obamacare for Vets. Yes, you can sign up for it and you can get your kids covered, too. Every case is different, so you have to try to find out. It’s not a long application or complicated process and it’s online. You can start here:

header from ACA veterans page

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Here’s an except that confirms this, direct from their page:

If you don’t have veterans coverage

If you’re a veteran who isn’t enrolled in VA benefits or other veterans health coverage, you can get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Depending on your household size and income, you may be able to get lower costs on monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs on private insurance. Or you may qualify for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

If your dependents aren’t covered

If you’re a veteran enrolled in (or are a beneficiary of) a VA health care program, you may have dependents who aren’t eligible for a VA health care program. They can get coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Depending on household size and income, they may get lower costs on monthly premiums or out-of-pocket costs. Or they could be eligible for free or low-cost coverage through Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

That’s it. The mistake that many vets make is to get VA coverage first because of the cost. As someone once said,”there’s a difference between the cost and the price of something.”

My Experience with Obamacare

Excellent. That’s how it’s been using Obamacare. As a self-employed veteran suicide philanthropist, I have no other financially viable option other than ACA. It is easy to apply for, easy to get on the phone with someone for help; THEY ACTUALLY CALL ME when something’s up. I pay my fair share and like any insurance, it renews every year. You get levels of monthly fees and get offer the same coverage that folks in big corporations can consider.

I have Florida Blue – the Silver Plan – which affords me to pick any doctor I want since it is the most accepted insurance in my area. I have very affordable co-pays for any family physician visit and for prescriptions. What more do you really want? My wife and kids are covered under my wife’s policy, so I can’t speak to how CHIP and the other programs work, but in the past we have investigated their plans, and while the choice of doctors is limited, it still gave us people who cared about our kid’s health and peace of mind.