VA Charging my insurance!! WTF??

[RaginCajun]

I got an "Explanation of Benefits" from BC/BS informing me that the VA charged them for my meds for my Service Connected disability. I am rated at 70% and always thought that the services, and meds, provided by the VA for Service Connected disabilities was "free". WTF??

[blackflagg509]

What I advise is that you contact the DAV Office and explain your case to them. It's they're business to help Disabled Vets wade through the BS that the VA throws up at us. Office's number should be listed in the Phone Book and once contacting them you'll get a much clearer picture of what your dealing with here.

[RaginCajun]

Thank you!!

[blackflagg509]

No problem Bro, I'm glad I could be of help.

[lz_NorthPole]

I am also at 70% service connected and the VA will go after a private insurance if you have one for any funds they can squeeze out of them. The VA on a regular basis hit the insurance my wife has. If you are 70% service connected you will not have to pay for any meds or treatment even if you have no outside insurance. That is untill the rules change, Again...

[Mortarman11c]

Service connected should be paid by the VA "Irregardless" of ANY insurance you have.

[zuluzerosix]

They may be able to under federal law. Actually, I think they can. If you don't have insurance then they obviously can't. I think it is one of those deals where if you got it they can use it...They bill mine too. And it is great because they write off my deductible.

So when I do go my regular doc, of if I needed emergency care from the E.R., my deductible is already paid!

[Mortarman11c]

Yeah but your claim affects other peoples rates.

They pass that deductible onto other consumers as a rate increase.

Tell the VA you don't have insurance.

Ooooo but that would be lying......FUCK THEM!

[LOOON]

Service connected should be paid by the VA "Irregardless" of ANY insurance you have.

That's not how it works.

If you have private insurance, they can bill that insurance to recoup some of the cost. If you have private insurance, you are supposed to tell them so.

If you don't want that to happen, just tell them you have no private insurance.

This info is in ALL of the VA literature.

[VoTrooper99]

Service connected should be paid by the VA "Irregardless" of ANY insurance you have.

Ahhh...my favorite "non-word".

That being said...

If the VA billing your private insurance doesn't force your premiums to go up and they would provide you the same level of care if you had no insurance, then what is the problem here?

Theoretically, if the VA can recoup some cost from a private insurer at no cost to you, they would have more money to handle uninsured veterans.

Of course, if it costs you money, that's a whole other story. Sure, there is the principle of the matter, but I'd be far more concerned with getting care then who pays for it in the end. Provided it doesn't affect my bottom line.

[Skyshark]

That's not how it works.

If you have private insurance, they can bill that insurance to recoup some of the cost. If you have private insurance, you are supposed to tell them so.

If you don't want that to happen, just tell them you have no private insurance.

This info is in ALL of the VA literature.

Yep. Also when you get your ratings, you are given paperwork that states this as well. I am rated at 50%. Service Connected. I have no out of pocket charges when I use the VA at all. However, when I had Health Insurance I got a monthly statement telling me what my Insurance from work paid them. My son is on my wife Insurance because it is a better plan. Once we did that and I took him off of mine I cancelled my work Insurance.

Again, The Loooon is correct, you are given that information when you get awarded your rating.

[Mortarman11c]

Yeah but why should YOUR insurance company pay for a service connected disability that the Goverment is responsible for??

I have Tri-care Reserve Select for my family so it's gov-mint insurance either way for me.

[AbnJack]

I paid partial costs on prescriptions out of pocket....something like $7 per script. I'm sure that's because there was no service related determination.
As I understood when it was explained to me, no matter your rating, no matter service or non service related, you did fill out a annual form where you were supposed to declare any other medical insurance so they could hit them up for some of the money.

[AbnJack]

Is this an open thread or is it restricted?

[Ops NCO]

Is this an open thread or is it restricted?

Open, I believe.