Is Privatization of the VA a Good Thing?

I was with my wife at a doctor’s office last week. Like most veterans we like early morning appointments and we chose the first appointment available. When we arrived the Doctors office there were only 3 people waiting, I thought, good this will be quick. The doctor did not see us for 2 hours. As we sat there, I was reading the news on my phone, the subject of privatizing the Veterans Administration (VA) came up. I asked myself, is this going to get worse if the VA is privatized. Are the civilian doctors going to get run over with VA patience? Waiting 2 hours to see a doctor is not fun, will it get worse? When we left 2.5 hours later, after a 15-minute consult with the doctor there were 20 people waiting, standing room only.

We all hear about the issues with the VA. Long drives, wait times of over a month, the inadequate care, failing facilities, the list goes on, but, is the private sector any better? Or do we just not hear about them because the VA is run by the government and people can complain? Unleashing an estimated 9.1 million veterans who utilize the VA health system on a fragile private medical system seems asinine when its looked at realistically. When was the last time you went to a private sector doctor and not wait for a length of time to see them? For me the last time I had no wait time was at the VA.  We don’t see media outlet doing a story on the wait times in private doctors’ offices, or a story on a shortage of doctors in the United States. They just hit the VA because it is an easy target, it is operated by the government and taxpayers fit the bill.

There will be an estimated shortage of 90,000 doctors in the United States by the year 2025. Many who might go into the medical field choose not to and look for other options due to the high cost and years of schooling required. Many doctors must work for free multiple years to gain experience before they can go into private practice or gain hospital privileges. For some working at the VA is a good option because the VA might pay off their student loans. People complain that doctors at the VA are making too much money, but for a doctor they’re not. That’s why so many doctors don’t want to work for the VA, they pay too little. Why would someone work for the VA if they can make 4 times the money in the private sector unless they are getting their student loans paid off and making a decent wage? Even when these doctors get into a private practice, as a doctor insurance companies control their income. So often insurance companies force doctors to place quantity over quality. Doctors must see more patience in order to make money because of what insurance companies pay.  

Insurance companies control the services we receive not the doctors. Next time you get an explanation of benefits, look at what was charged and what was paid for a doctor’s visit. That’s why doctor’s offices are so busy, they double book patience because they don’t get paid for patients who miss or don’t show up for their appointments.  Insurance companies pay only a portion of the charges, pay slowly, and make you have a staff to do all the required paperwork. It is true a patient can get an appointment with a civilian doctor next week, but you might wait 4-5 hours in their office to see the doctor. If the VA double booked like some doctors do there would be hell to pay in the public’s eye. The VA is a not for profit entity, their decisions are not profit driven, their patient driven.    

I understand the VA has its faults, I can be one of their largest critics, but the United States medical system has its flaws also. The VA is more transparent than insurance companies, and that is why they are always in the news. I use the VA for certain things, and tri-care for others. I take insurance in my private practice, including the VA choice program, but the VA choice payments go through insurance companies. I see firsthand how tough it can be to get paid for the services I provide because of insurance companies. How would you like to put a roof on a house and not get paid for it 2 or 3 months later? That is what it is like to take insurance. I have seen several doctors who stopped taking certain insurance because they might have to wait 6 months for payment, if they get paid at all.  Is that the kind of care we want for our veterans? Longer waits, inadequate care, and profit driven insurance companies making decisions on our health care. That is what 100% privatization of the VA would do. 

For questions or comments, I can be reached at bo@afterdutyvets.com or visit our website at afterdutyvets.com.