VA Hospitals & Insurance

[Guest guest]

Dear (and all),

It makes me mad that the VA rheumy will only see you every 6 mos. I think

our vets health insurance should be the best. Not the Congress and Senate!

My father-in-law is a WWII vet in Lakeland, Florida - if you'd like, I'll

get the

name of his doctor there (VA) he seems to like. Helped him get backpay for

his frostbitten toes while he was " over there. " Also, I am so sorry about your

mom ><

>The VA rheumatologist only sees you every 6 months and i see him tuesday

>finally. it was cruel to go so long without seeing a rheumatologist. i look

>forward to chatting with the people from before and meeting all the new

>people here.

> in Orlando

And insurance? Don't get me started... maybe some of you have heard about

the insurance company here in Okemos,Michigan, Weyco, that told it's

employees if they

wanted to keep their JOB, they would have to quit smoking? And submit to drug

tests to make sure they weren't smoking at home! I don't smoke, but this is a

dangerous precedent in my mind. This is to keep Weyco's health

insurance

bills down for his employees. It is a private company, but smoking is not

illegal...

His argument is since employees who smoke drive up the health insurance

costs, and

since his company kicks in for those costs, he gets to decide how the employees

live their lives!! What if he decides they should not use birth control, go

on a low-fat

diet, had to be married (studies show married people are healthier),

etc. Maybe

he can take away their benefits if they are found to have been speeding and got

into a car wreck? Scares the heck out of me. I'll get off my soapbox for

now, but

i feel like I have to do something, somehow.

Well, it's time to renew the health insurance here at the office, and

>they are going WAY up on the premiums, like $1,000. a month for a

>tiny office, maybe 10 people.The boss has already laid down the law

>about cutting overhead, so it's very possible that they will drop our

>health coverage. Of course, it's just being whispered about since the

>supposition is that I'm the reason the rates are going up due to

>being on Remicade. I don't know what kinds of arthritis are

>considered " ininsurable " , I'm just trying to mentally prepare if that

>is indeed what happens. not working is not an option since I still

>have one to get through college, and I don't know for sure how much

>help Chas' dad will be. Things are like walking on eggshells around

>the office, I will be so glad to get home and hug my baby girl. Any

>thoughts from my wall of wisdom here at the Group?

Take care all,

Joyce in (freezing) Michigan