Here Kathy is swearing me back into the Air Force Reserves after resigning my Regular Air Force Commission in 1986.
Kathy was a Flight Nurse in the middle east in C-130's when we met for the second time, turns out we were in ROTC basic together in 1976. Kathy resigned her active duty commission in 1985 to start our family and remained in the inactive reserve till her late 40's as most medical personnel were required to.
At the time of the photo I had just resigned from active duty after eight years to start a business and was planning to go back into the reserves. They could never get my reserve assignment orders together so I never did get reassigned. It worked out OK.
Will Put Veteran Related Information Here
Remember this will be our opinion only. You will need to verify the facts for yourself.
August 2014
Have my free "My Healthy Vet" account set up and my basic e benefits account open. However turns out I cannot upgrade to a free premium account without calling a national V.A. 800 number or stopping in at a full V.A. facility for a special code. I have an outreach site here in my main town but they do not have access to what I need. The nearest full facility is over four hours away so I have tried calling several times and have always been put on hold. I am gone this week but will leave an after hour message and see if I can get a call back once I am back.
I really have all I need with what I have, but the premium e benefits account will let me also access most of my military records as well DD214 and beyond. So it will be a nice to have item.
My Healthy Vet shows my appointments, lab results and more. Also allows me to email my providers and also view and share some of my medical records with others if I needed to. For traveling this is a great medical records site for my wife and I.
Veteran Health Guide put out by the VA
I was reviewing the Veterans Health Guide. In chapter one it states " If you are traveling or living temporarily at an address far away from your primary treatment facility, you can seek care at any VA health care facility across the country-without the hassle of having to reapply. They also give an assistance number 1-877-222-8387.
One of my old Duty sites, a Missile Launch Control Facility is 50 to 100 feet under this facility in Nebraska.
Below is a photo of a C-130 with medical ward insert about to be loaded on like one Kathy sometimes flew with.
Checked with the V.A. on traveling and received some good information while we are on the road here is the reply, it may help others.
Thank You V.A.
Thank you for serving our country.
Veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system are eligible for care at any VA facility. Veterans are asked to identify a preferred facility at enrollment and should normally coordinate care with their primary care provider.
The VA medical benefits package allows enrolled Veterans to receive medical care while traveling. Veterans' VA health records are available at any VA medical facility where they may seek care.
If you anticipate extended travel, you should do the following:
Notify the preferred facility (primary care and pharmacy)
Give a temporary address and phone number including the starting date and anticipated date of return
Request prescription refills in sufficient time to arrive at the home or temporary address (approximately 2 weeks)
If you are traveling and are close to running out of medication, please contact your preferred facility pharmacy to request your prescription refill. Every effort will be made to expedite the prescription delivery to your home or temporary address.
If you are out of medication and there is not sufficient time for delivery, you should seek assistance at the closest VA medical center's pharmacy to see if a one-time temporary prescription can be issued. This is usually an amount of medication (generally 10 to 15 days' supply) to fill the gap until you can receive a refill/renewal from the preferred facility pharmacy.
If you need medical attention, contact your primary care provider. If you are unable to contact your primary care provider, then seek urgent/emergency care at the nearest VA facility.
Each medical center has a designated Traveling Veteran Coordinator (TVC) for assisting Veterans needing care at non-preferred VA medical centers. The TVC will coordinate care with the specialty care and mental health teams to ensure traveling Veterans receive timely and consistent care.
Thank you for visiting our website,
Veteran Health Guide put out by the VA
I was reviewing the Veterans Health Guide. In chapter one it states " If you are traveling or living temporarily at an address far away from your primary treatment facility, you can seek care at any VA health care facility across the country-without the hassle of having to reapply. They also give an assistance number 1-877-222-8387.
One of my old Duty sites, a Missile Launch Control Facility is 50 to 100 feet under this facility in Nebraska.
Checked with the V.A. on traveling and received some good information while we are on the road here is the reply, it may help others.
Thank You V.A.
Response By Email (Dept of Veterans Affairs) (12/12/2016 10:22 AM)
Dear Mr. Kisiel:Thank you for serving our country.
Veterans enrolled in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system are eligible for care at any VA facility. Veterans are asked to identify a preferred facility at enrollment and should normally coordinate care with their primary care provider.
The VA medical benefits package allows enrolled Veterans to receive medical care while traveling. Veterans' VA health records are available at any VA medical facility where they may seek care.
If you anticipate extended travel, you should do the following:
Notify the preferred facility (primary care and pharmacy)
Give a temporary address and phone number including the starting date and anticipated date of return
Request prescription refills in sufficient time to arrive at the home or temporary address (approximately 2 weeks)
If you are traveling and are close to running out of medication, please contact your preferred facility pharmacy to request your prescription refill. Every effort will be made to expedite the prescription delivery to your home or temporary address.
If you are out of medication and there is not sufficient time for delivery, you should seek assistance at the closest VA medical center's pharmacy to see if a one-time temporary prescription can be issued. This is usually an amount of medication (generally 10 to 15 days' supply) to fill the gap until you can receive a refill/renewal from the preferred facility pharmacy.
If you need medical attention, contact your primary care provider. If you are unable to contact your primary care provider, then seek urgent/emergency care at the nearest VA facility.
Each medical center has a designated Traveling Veteran Coordinator (TVC) for assisting Veterans needing care at non-preferred VA medical centers. The TVC will coordinate care with the specialty care and mental health teams to ensure traveling Veterans receive timely and consistent care.
Thank you for visiting our website,
I found this to be very helpful and will discuss more in future blog posts.
The Following are my thoughts/opinion not the VA's
The Following are my thoughts/opinion not the VA's
Also I have heard (non VA) do to their size small clinic's (not VA medical center's) may not be able to provide service unless coordinated in advance by your primary provider. Sometimes the clinics are set up to take care of their area vets and are not staffed for walk-ins. Also the VA online web site has forms you can download and submit for reimbursement, if you are covered and need emergency treatment outside the VA. For me I plan to use the local "Doc in a Box" or ER if an emergency while traveling outside the area of a VA Medical Center and apply for re-reimbursement. Just my opinion do your own research to verify.
November 2017
Veterans can now use the BX/PX online and make online purchases from them. Read about in in an American Legion Magazine in early 2017. No commissary or on base privileges. Took me about 3 minutes to sign up on their website and gain access. A quick look through did not show me any special bargains but one never knows what we could need in the future.
January 2018
The VA just re-approved Delta Dental and Met Life Dental plans for any honorably discharged veteran. Kathy and I will be signing up (we are both veterans) since we cannot take our employers plan into retirement. Check out the options and who else can be covered at the VA website. Go to dental insurance and read on to see if it will work for you.
November 2017
Veterans can now use the BX/PX online and make online purchases from them. Read about in in an American Legion Magazine in early 2017. No commissary or on base privileges. Took me about 3 minutes to sign up on their website and gain access. A quick look through did not show me any special bargains but one never knows what we could need in the future.
January 2018
The VA just re-approved Delta Dental and Met Life Dental plans for any honorably discharged veteran. Kathy and I will be signing up (we are both veterans) since we cannot take our employers plan into retirement. Check out the options and who else can be covered at the VA website. Go to dental insurance and read on to see if it will work for you.
February 2018
The benefits for year one are good enough for us since we are having all known needed dental work done now while also under the states plan. We think the VA approved plan will be a good fill in for retirement. Our son has had it for a few years and has had now problems. This will let us continue to have free teeth cleanings every year as well.
Here is the link to the VA Fact Sheet https://www.va.gov/healthbenefits/VADIP/vadip_ext_fact_sheet_2017.pdf
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