We do have some chores to catch up on and one was another visit to the Veteran's Administration (VA) Office in Colombia, South Carolina. Sometimes I think I'd rather have a root canal.
Why do I keep "fighting" with the VA? Many have asked why put yourself through all that effort that seems for nought?
Two reasons, the first is that since I served in a combat area (Persian Gulf) during time of war I am automatically entitled to free health care from the VA for five years. Already a year has lapsed and I still am not in the system to be able to be seen. Yes, I have Tricare (the standard military healthcare for retirees) but there are deductibles and if I can use the VA with no deductibles, that is worth it.
Secondly, I have some service connected permanent injuries that should entitle me to some monetary compensation and if I am rated high enough, the five years free health care turns into a lifetime benefit.
So after more than six hours at the VA and meeting with five different people, we're at the same place we were before, you have to wait to be notified of further instructions. Sort of "The check is in the mail".
It is pretty sad how poorly the VA system works, the VA staff has been friendly and sympathetic, but it sure is a system mired in red tape. I'm looking at this as helping me to learn to be more patient in life.
Speaking of patience, we have not been too patient in our travels this first year of our fulltime life. Seems that the PDD has been very much in control. As I studied the fulltime lifestyle from other RVer's blogs, usually the first year is very much traveled in "vacation" mode, with subsequent years slowing down and smelling the roses. At the speed we've traveled, we haven't even seen the roses! :cO
Well, we are right on track (or maybe a bit ahead of schedule) for our first year of travel. I looked at my travel log notes and found that since last December 5th, when we hit the road, we've covered 17,200 miles around the country and we still have a little over another month to go, with a trip to Myrtle Beach (The Carolina Clan Gathering) and another one up to New Jersey/Pennsylvania with a return to South Carolina still on the agenda.
At this point, I'd advise anyone that is looking to increase their stock portfolio earnings, invest in the oil companies that supply diesel fuel, I'll make you rich! ;c)
Still on the agenda is a trip to the local Camping World. I need to make an appointment with them for December to get our awning motor replaced and I want to pick up the hose assembly to be able to use an external propane tank. We are going to be staying in some less that warm areas and using an external tank means we won't have to move the Journey to fill with propane.
Not every day as a fulltime RVer is exciting and on the cutting edge of excitement, but we are thrilled to have made the transition. Life is good!
Thanks for visiting and feel free to leave a comment.
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ReplyDeleteI think we have beat you on the other side of the coin! We are within five miles of what was our sticks and bricks! And we started full timing July 3rd. Still awaiting for physicians and tests
ReplyDeleteWhat scares me most about the VA medical system is will this be the norm when the government takes over all healthcare in this country?
ReplyDeleteAs for your PDD, rest assured it will slow down n the years to come. There are roses out there to be smelled.
Maybe when you finally do get your appointment with the VA they can give you meds for the PDD.:)
ReplyDeleteSure hope PDD is not contagious :-))) Hope to be well under that number ... but who knows!!!
ReplyDeleteWe are still in the house repair stage of or journey. Our Alfa does not look happy sitting uphill waiting for us to take her out for a trip. The big disadvantage is that it is so hard to get out of here we are not tempted to take short trips. For me a week at a time in one place is about right.
ReplyDeleteWe are coming in second in the PDD syndrome. Someone told us that we are in vacation mode too. We really aren't, we just have places we HAVE to be! You know, SD, then Myrtle Beach...geez, what are we supposed to do?... ;-)
ReplyDeleteThat's a heck of a lot of miles for one year! It sounds like you've both really enjoyed it so that's all that counts. Hope your medical coverage problem is straightened out soon.
ReplyDeleteI continue to be surprised at how much trouble you are having with the VA. My father has had no trouble. He just moved from Florida to Colorado and still had no trouble. I just can't get why SC is treating you so badly. Come down to Bay Pines in Florida, it's not far.
ReplyDeleteTo Joe, I think there are few people who will refuse to have the government's health care called Medicare, IF it isn't scraped by that time. We've found it has saved David's life literally and kept us from total bankruptcy. They've done a great job for us. I only wish I could have had this sort of government health care for my entire life.
You certainly put on the miles this last year. It'll be interesting to see how year number two measures up. Maybe we should send you a picture of a rose so you'll know what it looks like when you see one.
ReplyDeleteSure sorry you keep getting the runaround with the VA. Hope that gets straightened out soon.
ReplyDeleteHaving had one surgery at a VA facility, I chose to run not walk as far away from them as I can get. I understand what you have said, but frankly I just do not have any faith in that system and your current experience only validates that feeling. Now that I am on a roll, I know a number of folks with limited service and no combat related conditions that seem to get all kinds of care form the VA, so I am appalled that a full career military cannot even get his foot in the door:(
ReplyDeleteIf anyone should get top of the line health care, it should be our service people (not our congress people- sorry, couldn't help myself).
ReplyDeleteenjoy the transition into year two!..gosh, can't believe it has been that long already!!
ReplyDeleteNow I'm curious to know how many miles we went in our first year. When we have a little more time after our trip, we'll sit down and figure that out.
ReplyDeleteJust so 17,200 isn't the number of days until you get into the VA system. Or the number of phone calls you have to make.
ReplyDeleteI am a lighthouse, worn by the weather and the waves.
ReplyDeleteI keep my lamp lit, to warn the sailors on their way.
I heard this song by Nickel Creek and thought of you. You may not be guarding our coasts, but you've shown your willingness to be the lighthouse for the RVers that enjoy your blog.
Thanks to both of you for sharing your experiences. For lighting the way.
It seems like the VA is doing everything they can to avoid signing more people up. You are not the only one. My father went in and refused to leave until they gave him a card, and he did get one. But he's a lot older than you and probably whined better...
ReplyDelete