Any experience comparing VA healthcare vs Private healthcare

[Fmedges]

All,

My fiancée and I are both enrolled with the VA. She suffers from frequent migraines due to her proximity to a few explosions a few years back. Lately her headaches have been getting pretty frequent when we used to be able to control them through diet and other factors. I recently started a job a few months ago that I could get private healthcare coverage through. Do any of you have experience with both sectors? Is private healthcare any better than the VA system?

Thanks

[275RLTW]

Go see a private neurologist. While the VA is getting better at dealing with TBIs, they are no where near experts. When I was sent to a VA "neurologist" for my injury, the doc that saw me at the VA Denver was a pediatrician who took some neuro classes. When I asked to see someone else, they said that wasn't allowed. 5 years of dealing with the VA took a private neurologist 3 months to effectively treat. I'll go to the VA for my yearly meet & greet but that is it. Everything is handled through private healthcare where I can pick the best doc for my needs.

[Great-Kazoo]

My view might be skewed, but I will give it to you anyway.
I have VA. I get great care. I get treated with respect and compassion. BUT, I do not go to the Denver VA. You need to go to one of the outpatient clinics. I use Greeley and Fort Collins. If my VA providers wants me to go see a specialist, she sends me. No waiting around, no approvals, just go, now.

My wife and kids see private doctors. I go to appointments with them. They get treated like just another body. It allways seems to me like their doctors dont really give a crap. The staff in the privated doctors office seem to be there just to collect a paycheck. The VA locations I go to, the staff at least acts like they care for and respect the Veteran.

Just my opinion.

And my experience is considerable. I have had literally hundreds of appointments at the VA since 2002. Its easy for some to go once and bitch about it.

Friend of ours uses greeley clinic and cheyo VA, he lives in denver.

[275RLTW]

I could of told you that you had a brain damage. You joined the Army, isnt that proof enough? Moral of the story, DONT go to a big city VA.

I know. I tried for the Marines but I was told my test scores were too high after writing my name without looking it up.

[BlasterBob]

Moral of the story, DONT go to a big city VA.

Although I do live in Trinidad, I do go to the Albuquerque VA hospital and have absolutely NO complaints about their service, appointments, etc.
My private Doc that I had for about 14 years switched and joined the VA doctors so she has been my Primary for a total of about 20 years now.. I use the Raton, NM clinic and it is great and in a brand new building with very modern facilities.
Finally, I am a volunteer driver of the DAV van a few times per month making the 500 mile trek from Raton to Albuquerque and return the same day. Have been doing this for about 5 years and hear many many passengers comment on the treatment they get from the Albuquerque VA medical system/staff and I have NEVER heard any negative complaints although a good number have had negative comments about how they were treated at the Denver VA facility and for that reason, they switched from Dvr to the Albq. facility. I sure have NO complaints about how I personally am treated by the VA.[blaster]

[Ronin13]

I know. I tried for the Marines but I was told my test scores were too high after writing my name without looking it up.
ROFL! [ROFL1]

I've been through the family practice side of medicine- Pre-Army I had a doctor I have known since I was a child that I saw, but had to pay out of pocket. Post-Army, I have everything taken care of by the VA. Most of the time I'm treated well, but like others have said, I go to the Golden/Lakewood facility and thus avoid the Denver VA like the plague. When I do need to go there, I block out an entire day to do so and usually am out of there in a few hours (to my astonishment). Sometimes I have to wait to be seen, but the one occasion where I waited longer than a week I was told to let them know if it was urgent and they'd squeeze me in ASAP. So thus far, I cannot really complain. It sure beats the alternative considering my preexisting conditions. Also, since it's in my VA disability packet, when my knee and shoulder finally do give out on me, I'm covered. Bottom line, it's really up to you, but if you have service connected issues (that are documented and obligated to be covered by the VA), stick with the VA. [Beer]

[smokeyradio]

I go to the Greeley VA Clinic which is under the Cheyenne VA. I have no complaints, but
I also just go for annual eye exam and annual physical. All they have done has been fine
with me.

However, I also have a private doctor that I see every year.

[Fmedges]

The issues that she goes to the VA are not service connected (it's in the works). I'm wondering if the level of care is any better on the private side. We need to find a specialist and I'm wondering if it would be easier although more costly for us to do so and if we would have access to better doctors.

[275RLTW]

The issues that she goes to the VA are not service connected (it's in the works). I'm wondering if the level of care is any better on the private side. We need to find a specialist and I'm wondering if it would be easier although more costly for us to do so and if we would have access to better doctors.

Yes and yes. Having an outside specalist confirm injuries and their cause also needs to be with the disability claim as the VA will not be able to argue with it. The VA has very few specalists outside of their main centers in the US (MD, TX, & CA). Give them the chance to help but if they don't have the right doc for your issue, then don't hesitate to go see (and pay for) an outside specalist. Waiting for the VA to solve anything other than an ankle sprain, or thinking that they solved it correctly almost cost me my life. Both the VA centers in Denver and Cheyenne are teaching hospitals so expect medical students to be deciding your fate. Wrong medications, wrong dosages, wrong doctors, and your care being limited to "just checking a box" are common at both of those facilities.