Veterans' Healthcare Isn't as Ironclad as You Think, But Then Again Are You Really Surprised?

I've had the fortune and misfortune to experience our healthcare systems from many sides. Growing up in Maine, my family didn't participate in activities like ice-skating because it could land us in the emergency room - and we weren't insured. Today, I'm fortunate to have two jobs that provide one of the better healthcare plans our nation has. As a Maine state legislator and member of the Marine Reserves, I am better insured than most Americans.

Or so you would think. About two months ago, I received constant calls from an unknown number - and after I finally picked up, the first question was, "Are you Alexander Cornell du Houx? Can you verify the last four digits of your Social Security Number for security purposes?" He was calling to collect a medical debt from an injury I received while deployed to Iraq two years ago. My thoughts turned to "fraud," because injuries incurred while deployed are considered line-of-duty incidents and are 100 percent covered by the military. Yet upon further questioning, it became clear that the claim was for real -- someone thought I owed them money.

The purpose of the call was "to perform their due diligence before making a legal recommendation." I needed to call them back by 5 p.m. that day to avoid legal action and a diminished credit rating. After wondering how I would pay or fight them in court, this made me think of the 62 percent of bankruptcy cases that result from underinsurance and no insurance. Although nearly $400 is far from putting me in personal bankruptcy, it hits home how fragile the balance is between living a happy, productive life and being bankrupt because of how broken our healthcare system is. I know a veteran who had a stable job, but when he suffered a stroke, he lost his job, his health insurance, and his home. Another friend was hit by a car, laid off until she can work, and has to rely on charity care to cover her expenses. These are only two of the millions of hard-working Americans who have fallen victim to an outdated health care system.

In my own situation, I remember receiving some bills years ago, but assumed they were logistical mistakes, since this was a line-of-duty injury. Last year two logistical mistakes between the provider and insurance office were made that resulted in collectors calling me, but they corrected them before legal action was suggested. However, it did get me thinking about how ironic it was that private insurance agencies -- whose administrative costs are 14 to 22 percent, versus the 6 to 8 percent administrative cost associated with Medicare -- made so many errors, errors that may affect my ability to buy a car or house. I was lucky to have insurance, but for those who have no insurance, are underinsured and are working hard to raise their families in this recession, errors like this can ruin their lives.

I was shocked to listen to the person on the phone tell me that my case was not unique -- many assume their insurance will cover the cost and never know they are reported to a collection agency. And by that time fees and interest skyrocket their bills, not to mention their diminished credit. My case is still undetermined, but it has given me an inside perspective on how broken the current system is. Our health care system is a tragedy. Forty-seven million Americans do not have coverage and even more are underinsured. It was heartening to see Congress expand SCHIP to cover our children, but we need a national health plan, with a public option, to solve what is one of the most important social and economic issues facing our nation today.

Alex Cornell du Houx served in Iraq in 2006 with the Marines in Fallujah and represents Brunswick, Maine in the Maine State Legislature.

Comments

[demfriend]

Many areas of our fine country have no VA offices or places for treatment so those in need who qualify have long trips ahead of them to get care and no sure bet of getting appointments and still having them when it is time for them. The doctors are many times not trained in the areas needed. The mental health system is horrible as there are very few professionals available in the very few places that offer this type care. Medication changes for those who need it in mental health a constant issue, is a nightmare as the doctor, the pharmacy and getting the new meds covered when the old meds are in the system is not real hopeful. Sad but the vet we have leaving active duty are depending on this very system.

[codycap]

I have been in and out of Va hospitals since I was wounded in Viet Nam. This was during TET 1968.

In my experience the care was terrible all through the 60's. 70's, and 80's.

From the 90's on the care has improved 200%. During an emergency I went to a local hospital - it was as bad as the VA used to be.

I am lucky - I go to the VA in Muskogee, Oklahoma and given the choice I would rather get my care there as any private hospital.

Every hospital is different. I believe it depends upon the administration of each particular hospital.

I suggest that if it is all possible try different ones. If not - complain-complain and complain some more.

If you can effect change it will not only benefit you but all of the others from now on.

[schatsie]

Medicare insurance administration costs less than 3% and the providers have to do some billling...but you know in Germany the doctors bill the insurance themselves when they are documenting the care on their laptops in the patients homes.... So providers in this country are only paying administration because they have bought into the TRAVESTY of healthcare in this country...

[Mark Ancker]

i'm glad that i live in maine and don't have to be ashamed of my congress people, of both parties.

[mergina]

Oh yeah. Let the government run our health care. NO F*****G WAY.

[p-lady]

The issues Mr. du Houx had were clearly because of a miscommunication between the care provider and the insurance company (or, as has been my experience, an error(s) on the part of the insurance company). Insurance companies statistically make more mistakes that cost more to fix, which results in the 30% in administrative fees industry wide. Versus the 6% admin fees from, say, Medicare or Social Security.

I'm not saying the current government plans are perfect, or that a public option would be perfect, but that's why we have to be diligent, and make sure it's managed, reviewed and updated to meet the country's changing needs. The only thing Insurance Companies are in it for is the MONEY, and how many ways they can BLEED it out of you. And we have NO control over them, and NO say in the matter!

[morganraider]

Why is it conservatives are always so scared?

[OliverTwist]

It seems to be scientifically true that they are relatively more easily frightened.

They may be more angry and projecting an expectation of similar anger from others, essentially scare themselves.

[schatsie]

Look you, think about this.....WALL STREET is running your insurance programs...nuff said.....

[gaebolgaes]

the government is running your healthcare system. it is allowing insurance companys to make healthcare unaffordable or unavailable for 46 million people. obama s government wants to change that. what don't you understand about the fact that if obama s plan is not put into effect that in 7 years it will cost a family of four...25,000 dollars a year to be insured? the debate going on now is not about healthcare...its about a black president having his way..like all the white presidents had theirs.i lived in europe for 18 years in a country with national healthcare and free college tuition.everyone that has died in my family during that 18 years would be today if we had the same healthcare in this country.everyone in my family that is enduring a crappy broke life in america would be well off if we had free college tuition here in america.my son graduated magna cum laude 2 years ago from a well known liberal arts college in this country with a 50,000 dollar debt.wake up you fools.this is no time for racism...this is a time for survival.

[AZAFVET]

I have VA medical coverage and have a service connected disability. I live in Phoenix and I am fortunate to have a VA medical center in town. I never have to pay a bill except for medications that are not related to my disability. I have always had access to the services I required in a timely manner. I feel that for my needs the doctors are adequately trained. I also am covered under Medicare. Although I don't use my Medicare coverage, I am still billed each month for the premium.
I am very pleased with my Government Run Health care and I can't understand why every that want's it can't be included.

[lungfish]

I served honorably and was discharged with "veterans benefits"... most of which are entirely useless. I can't get dental care or any kind of medical help... even the injuries I received while in the service that I needed care for were treated with suspicion and disrespect to the point that I stopped going to them. The service itself was atrocious, slow and unproductive... I have a 25k home loan guarantee that most mortgage people would rather ignore or come up with a better work-around...
The VA, like the rest of our healthcare system, is mostly nonsense...

I don't understand how my father has benefits, medical care, etc... at 68years old but I am in my late 40s and can't get care from the VA or anywhere else without paying premiums that won't actually guarantee my treatment....

[WinterParkMom]

I am not sure where you live, but here in Orlando, the VA is extremely efficient and serves the needs of many vets. If I didn't have access as a vet to my VA clinic, I would have no healthcare whatsoever because I cannot afford a private premium. I don't mind not having dental, because I take good care of my teeth and I know if I have to shell out for an exam or a filling, its a one time hit. You should contact your local VA to find out about utilizing their services. I actually didn't know I could use the VA because I only spent 4 years in. When I had started a new job here and I was telling a fellow employee about the high cost of my portion of the premium our employer wanted to offer me, he told me that as a vet I could use the VA clinic. I looked up the number, made an appointment for enrollment, went down, enrolled and I've been happily healthy for the past 8 years using my VA clinic.

Shout out to the Orlando VA.

[MED1025]

Contact one of the Veterans Service Organizations for help with navagativng the system.

[DavidDial]

You know what? You are full of crap and you are guilty of trying to spread it. What you have said about VA healthcare is just baloney. I am a Vietnam veteran and have nothing but praise for the VA. Business Week magazine which is hardly a leftist propaganda instrument says they offer the best healthcare in America.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/06_29/b3993061.htm

It is pretty obvious that you are misrepresenting your experiences and disparaging VA healthcare to support your right wing political ideology and that, besides being dishonest, is a serious mistake. It's too often overlooked, but there's nothing partisan or ideological about this -- everyone who is not now eligible for government run healthcare... VA, Medicare, Medicaid, etc... is getting screwed by the status quo. We're all paying too much for too little. A huge chunk of the country is uninsured, underinsured, or uninsurable, and the system is blind to how you voted in the last election.

[larry278]

That is strange but I'm having the same experiencs with the VA refusing to pay for my medicines. The VA refused to send the medicine to the assisted living facility where I live. Pa state law forced my assisted living facility to obtain the medicine (which had been ordered by VA practitioners & were considered Dr's orders) to obtain my medicine from a private source. That was in 2007. The VA still hasn't paid that bill in full &, guess what, I'm being harrased by a collection agency to pay the over $1,300.00 bill still due since the VA hasn't paid the bill in full.
You are jumping to conclusions. Not every veteran, including this 100% sc disabled veteran, gets the care which you say that you have gotten.
Walk our path with us as we deal with the VA. Use our shoes on the walk. You might have a different view & experience with VA medical care we've gotten from the VA.

[Leigh49]

My husband and I pay $670 a month for a policy with a $3,000 deductible and it is going up in January. We won't be renewing.

[schatsie]

and that is on top of the taxes that you pay to fund Medicare, Medicaid, VA benefits AND government employee healthcare...AIN'T it great....To have the most expensive healthcare system in the world with the worst results.... That is why I am for single payer - cheaper and better quaility...

[Lavina]

Thank you, Mr. du Houx, for this story.

[jsgaetano]

It's truly shameful the way conservatives "support our troops" by leaving wounded soldiers and telling them they are on their own.

But that's very standard- conservatives have always been our national embarrassment, and always will be.

[pdxcarl]

Never, ever, ever give any additional information to bill collectors. Make them give you the four digits they are looking for. It's none of their business what yours are. They must prove to you, not the other way around.

[sufi66]

I have a good medical plan but it didn't prevent me from getting a $600 bill for blood work my insurer said was "experimental," their category.

In other words, they can invent categories of care to fatten their bottom line whenever they want, for in these PRIVATE plans you have to keep the stockholders happy and the 401k plans full.

We need a public option to prevent these word game abuses.

[Dosadi]

Anything that is not guaranteed to kill you is ruled experimental. Go figure.

[tompoe]

I'm sure you weren't deliberately casting aspersions on our VA health care system with this anecdote. I do fail to see how your headline ties into your article, though.

SCHIP is but a token gesture for covering some of our children. Single payer is the solution. Public option is not a solution, but just more token gesture crap coming out of our state and federal legislators. What we really need are legislators that understand what the public needs, and don't fiddle faddle with anecdotes that are meaningless gibberish. No offense, there, veteran.

[MED1025]

Agreed. If your care occured during a deployment in Iraq, it was not rendered by the VA. It was rendered by the DOD.