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pinger

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Posts posted by pinger

  1. VA Doctor vs Non VA Doctors

    in Veterans

    Posted

    On 11/1/2022 at 10:53 AM, RV_ said:

    My VA required me to sign a disclosure permission form but it is likely online today.

    It is not either/or. You do not drop your civilian doc or insurance unless you want to. I have EARNED all three since I have TFL which is military and Medicare, as well as the VA. I have no other insurance and non needed since I retired coming up on a quarter century ago. My Primary Care Doc is a civilian but is paid for by TFL.

    Regardless of whether you decide to keep your civilian doc you should go ahead and register with the VA and get ratings on your disabilities. If your disabilities appeared during active duty or as a result of on duty injuries they are service connected if they are in your military medical records during the time you were serving on active duty.

    That is the best I can explain it and you would do well to schedule an appointment with a state VA representative. I had one in Louisiana but I have not tried to find one here yet until I re-approach my VA ratings, and I will. If you just search for VA state or county counselors you may find a dud or a great rep as I have found. They are not online you have to meet in person.

    Here's the offices here:

    "Veterans Services

    El Paso County / Justice Services / Veterans Services

    The El Paso County Veterans Service Office is responsible for assisting residents of the State of Colorado who served honorably in the United States Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy, Marine Corps or any other armed service of the nation.

    The El Paso County Veterans Service Office was established by State law to advise and assist veterans, their dependents, and their survivors concerning any Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits which such person may be, or may have been, entitled to receive under the laws of the United States or the State of Colorado. The office is not a part of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which is a Federal government agency, but serves as a liaison between the claimant and the VA.

    The primary purpose of the office is to provide personalized local service to veterans and other claimants, and to assist them in cutting through the maze of red tape frequently involved in direct dealings with government agencies.

     
    The important part is that they, like the one in Shreveport LA, are not part of the VA. They are part of our state insuring the federal government is kept honest in regards to earned benefits not charity. And you are getting any state services you may need or want that you EARNED.
     
    You Earned your benefits, they are not being on any dole. And yes when you go in most of the folks look old and grizzled. Ever look in a mirror? 😮🖖
     
    The wait times here are about the same as for a specialist. But I can get in for routine appointments within a day or two with my civilian doc. But I can actually get appointments for specialists with the VA about the same as civilian specialists.
     
    My advice is to go and get registered despite a bit of hurry up and wait. If you make too much for free services your co-pays with the VA may still be substantially less than your insurance AND co-pay costs.
     
    Regardless you have nothing to lose but a few hours buddy. Because you are my service buddy regardless of how long or short your service was. And you earned it, just like I did. If your bank account earns interest do you decline it because it is a handout? Heck no! You earned it by depositing your hard earned monies into their system. Just as you gave your country a blank check for any amount of your life for a set period, like a CD, an amount up to and including life and limbs.
     
    For those who have fought for it, freedom has a taste the protected will never know. And for those willing, a camaraderie, like family, that few who never served can understand.

    I essentially do not use them for anything but hearing aids at this point. But I am registered and in the system. I really like the folks here and at the Denver VA. I use them if I want to, not if I don't.

    Make an informed decision, go see what you've earned. Have it as a back up, that costs nothing but the few hours it takes to get registered and evaluated for disability rating. Then you can ignore it unless you need it.

     

    Thats all I use the VA for is hearing aids and the tumor in my ear to get MRI's every 6months to see if the tumor is growing. I'm 50% service connected disability in priority one for some time but I do get my yearly physical at the VA to stay in the system.            

  2. VA Doctor vs Non VA Doctors

    in Veterans

    Posted

    6 hours ago, RV_ said:

    Expand Kirk's post. That is why I asked about service connected.

    That section quoted also includes:

     

    "What if my health insurance provider doesn’t cover all the non-service-connected care that VA bills them for?

    You won’t have to pay any unpaid balance not covered by your health insurance provider. But, depending on your assigned priority group, you may have a copay for non-service-connected care.
    Learn more about eligibility priority groups

    Does my current health insurance status affect whether I can get VA health care benefits?

    No. Whether or not you have health insurance coverage doesn’t affect the VA health care benefits you can get.

    I would check with the VA and take a look at what Co pays you would have for non service connected treatments, you may be able to use VA alone. But also check for minimum/maximum income levels for co-pays. Make an appointment with a benefits counselor to explore your options.

    I think that I'll just keep my private insurance

  3. VA Doctor vs Non VA Doctors

    in Veterans

    Posted

    22 hours ago, RV_ said:

    Are you retired military?

    I have both. It is less complicated when you are retired military with a military retired ID card and full privileges. and on Tricare For Life or TFL.

    Tricare picks up the copays and Medicare is the primary. But not VA Copays for meds. But those are 100% covered on base.

    I am retired USAF and have both a civilian Primary care doctor, and a VA Primary care Nurse Practitioner. They use them here at our clinic. I just returned from the Denver VA to pick up my new hearing aids and there is no issue with my choosing one or the other or both for a second opinion.

    I have had more mistakes with my civilian docs over the years than with my VA docs and Practitioners. But I have used the civilian docs most often. Not because they were better but I did not have to wait for appointments as long.

    I am 30% disabled with more severe back and cervical issues on active duty and after than folks with 100% disability ratings.

    I may go more VA as my civilian ones since I moved here have been pretty sorry doctor but great medical group computer and reception/appointment/support, and now a great doc with terrible communications in the medical group I moved to. The VA clinic in the Springs and the big VA in Denver have been excellent! Still longer waits for appointments.

    The key to using both for me has been to share my records back and forth or I set up one or the other for making mistakes. 

    So are you a veteran or retired Military? As well are you disabled and rated at a percentage by the VA. The disabled vets, even with less 30% and are service-connected VA approved disabilities wait less time and are prioritized. So that can make a difference.

    I hope that helped.

    Veteran 50% service connected priority 1 Navy Aircrewman SAR and Sonar operator in Helicopters The reason I asked was that my private  insurance(KAISER) keeps going up One of my kids is a CRNA at Kaiser and said that when I go to the VA that the VA bills Kaiser.. is this true?

  5. Tax season is upon us

    in General RV Information

    Posted

    On 2/5/2022 at 5:36 AM, Kirk W said:

    We do not make enough to hit the $73,000 income limit so can go to the "Guided Tax Preparation" and so looked through what they offer. After looking through the choices I browsed my records of past years when I have mostly used either H&R Block or TurboTax products. Because I had used them, both had sent emails to me promoting their free editions. After some discussion with Pam we decided to give the TurboTax Free edition a shot and did so. In past years there was a fee for the actual filing but that was not the case this year. Our income tax situation is very simple nowadays with 2  1099RSS's, another 2, 1099R's , and a 1099INT. With the increased standard deduction we don't have enough deductions to even come close to needing any forms other than the standard 1040SR. The process was very easy and there were no fees. 

    As a footnote, just now I received a text from my bank that our refund was deposited today. 

    Filed 2 weeks with turbo tax and received my refund within a week..today I get an E-Mail form turbo tax that says you haven't filed your income tax yet ..log into turbo tax and we will guide you thru the process..SCAM alert I tried to reply but there was a mailer- daemon

  7. Satellite Challenged

    in Satellite TV and Radio on the Road

    Posted

    On 5/31/2021 at 2:48 PM, docj said:

    With all due respect, the SK3005 is designed to lock onto 101, 110 and 119.  When it is locked to those three the LNB for 99 and 103 will be in the correct position.   There are two different kinds of LNBs on the Sk3005 because 101, 110, and 119 broadcast on the Ku band and 99 and 103 use the Ka band.

    The Sk3005 can easily be converted to use with the H25 receiver and the SWM configuration by the addition of a SWM8 switch and a PI29 power inserter.  All of this is detailed in a Winegard publication which can be accessed here:  Use of Winegard satellite systems with SWM   

    Thanks to docj  He saw your comment and ordered a swm8  and a Pi29 and he only wants to hook up one tv.. after he gets them I will let you know how it works..again Thanks

  8. Satellite Challenged

    in Satellite TV and Radio on the Road

    Posted

    On 5/10/2021 at 2:11 PM, Big5er said:

    Winegard is has technicians that can walk you through most issues with Dish and Direct and are very knowledgeable in both carriers, whereas Dish and Direct have no knowledge of Winegard products and are no help whatsoever if you are not using their equipment. 
     

    He found out that it takes a H24 or older receiver.

  10. Satellite Challenged

    in Satellite TV and Radio on the Road

    Posted

    On 5/4/2021 at 9:15 AM, Twotoes said:

    He needs to call his satellite provider (Dish or DirecTv) not Winegard. 

    He called Winegard and they said to talk to DTV..so much for passing the buck  anyway he pulled the 4 wires from the LNB and the turret and 2 of them were open (no continuity) so he ordered a new cable..I hope that is his problem..

  11. Satellite Challenged

    in Satellite TV and Radio on the Road

    Posted · Edited by pinger

    My neighbor just purchased a 5th  with a Winegard Travlr sk3005 satellite dish..When it's raised it locks in on 101 110 119 instead of 101 99 103  He called winegard and they had him on hold for 45minutes until he hung up..Does he have a major problem or is it something he can fix.

  15. Wintering in Yuma

    in Day's End

    Posted

    22 hours ago, bobsallyh said:

    Yes, pinger it is open. Dentistry and meds. Border crossing open 6 AM to 2 PM. No exceptions!

    Also does California Quarantine you for a fews days after entering the state . I had a friend that moved to Idaho and the state had quarantined her for 14 days..  

  21. Los Algodones

    in General RV Information

    Posted · Edited by pinger
    add on

    My dentist in Los Algodones  is open only 1 day a week..She said the border is open from 6am-6pm and not very many people are there..She said call first if someone needs an appointment..Dr. Guadalupe Montoya Garcia..I have her phone # if someone wants it..

  22. Los Algodones

    in General RV Information

    Posted

    2 hours ago, bobsallyh said:

    pinger, have your friends check with the dentists in Algodnes before going. A friend was called by their dentist in Algodones canceling their appointment. Next month, who knows? If I hear anymore I'll post the info. Have a great day!

    Thanks

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