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Old 14-03-2016, 15:19   #46
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

A friend of mine is 100% service connected disability and he gets $5,000/mo. plus fantastic medical and dental care. That includes a gastric bypass, plastic surgery, physical therapy, psychotherapy, free prescriptions, porcelain fillings, etc.

I'm living in my own 4 BR 3 BA house with 2 car garage and my total monthly expenses are $2500/mo. including cable, phone, all utilities, etc.

If you do a check of the climate in Chula Vista, CA, you'll see it's only a few mi from the MX border, but it has the mildest climate in the US.

CLIMATE Chula Vista, Ca United States
Rainfall (in.) 9.2 36.5
Snowfall (in.) 0.1 25
Precipitation Days 37 100
Sunny Days 261 205
Avg. July High 73 86.5
Avg. Jan. Low 44.8 20.5
Comfort Index (higher=better) 46 44
UV Index 5.9 4.3
Elevation ft. 228 1,443

Notice the July high of 73 in the daytime and low of 45 at night in Jan. Basically it's t-shirt weather 10 months of the year, maybe a windbreaker the other 2 months.

The point I'm making is that there's no reason to live like an animal in a trailer there when you can live in the perfect climate here. Sell your boat, move into a 1 or 2 BR apartment in Chula Vista and buy another boat and keep it at the J St marina in Chula Vista, or SWYC, or on a mooring ball. Fight to get your monthly checks increased to $5K a month and you could easily live here on $2K/mo. or less with $3K/mo. for monthly fun budget.

I grew up in CV and all I remember was sunshine, a few sprinkles that didn't even warrant a raincoat or umbrella, and a constant onshore breeze perfect for kite flying 90% of the time. Never hot or cold, just spring and fall. The very low humidity really helps, too. Then there's the authentic Mexican food....

Or if you prefer to liveaboard and save even more money, you can do that too, since the climate is perfect.
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Old 14-03-2016, 23:14   #47
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

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Originally Posted by SURV69 View Post
I'm retired. get my SS, a small state pension and VA supplementary pension(non-service disability) ... I've been somewhat disabled since being about 13 years old ... Air Force said I never should've gotten in and got a 35-4 in 1971.

In the winter, I live in a mobile home, with freezing pipes, no refrigerator/freezer and high heating bills ... I muddle through, since it's only temporary(5-6 months), before launch time(Ohio), but in my older years, I hate winter, it's demoralizing to me and my physical & mental health suffers.

The cost of living in this trailer with the bills and everything included takes up almost all my sum of pensions ... hard to save money. Monetarily, I'm on the edge

On the boat, in summer, I have a much physical & mental better life and can save a substantial sum of money monthly. I feel re-invigorated and more financially fit. I have a fridge/freezer and feel secure in my cucoon(Bristol 29).

I want to liveaboard full-time. My medical care is VA., but VA medical clinics have given me a hard time(really, really hard time), for showing up at a clinic that was not my primary care ... they even gave me a hard time for showing for a procedure(scheduled by the Cleveland VA, to that clinic).

I'm a war-time veteran, and my care is financially based, for no co-pays($1071).

During the winter, I live like the pauper I'm supposed to be and have almost no excess money after bills and all ...During the summer, when I'm on my sailboat, I'm no longer live like a pauper ... I have some excess money.

When I ask a VA patient rep about VA care, the first impression I get, is that I'm doing something almost wrong or immoral ... almost like I have an obligation(or something), to live like the pauper I'm supposed to be.

I'd like to hear from veterans about how they resolve(or resolved), problems with VA care while transiting from one place to another on a nearly daily basis. I assume that if I find a nice marina in South Carolina(a little bit of winter doesn't bother me), and STAY PUT ... it's no problem, and I might stay put ... but I might not ... I hope to like a turtle, slowly going from place to place with my shell on my back.

I'm 66 and this "sojourn", is a part of my un-written bucket list ... something I've wanted to do for years ... I really want to do it and I want my medical care to kinda follow me not feel "guilty" about having too much fun.
Hey Brother! Thanks for your service! I also am a Veteran, rated 100% total and permanent. If your having trouble with the V.A. , I would not ask the V.A. to resolve it, they most likely won't. But don't despair, don't let them run you off. You have a rating and benefit's and they cannot deny you. The V.F.W. can help. National # 1-800-839-1899. Tell them what's going on and ask for a case manager to look into it. Also the Vietnam Veteran's of America, 1-800-882-1316 , they are the moving force behind our right's today. Here is a link to MyHealthyVet that can help you understand your health benefit's and your right's to them. My experience with the V.A. has been nothing short of exceptional, but I know other's that have had a very difficult time of it. One of the thing's that I believe helped my own situation was staying at one V.A. hospital (I moved to the town to have better access) and over time developed what I call my team, a core group of Medical Dr. , Psychologist's, Psychiatrist's, Social Worker's, Peer Support Specialist's and anyone else working within the V.A. system that took interest in my case. The treatment I have received has been top notch, only because of my "team" and continues to be so. The sad fact is, 99% of all V.A. employee's are there for the pay check and don't give a tinker's damn about you or any other Veteran. V.A. Patient Advocates have been the worst that I have dealt with, they are damage control for the V.A. and do not have your best interest at heart. Hang in there brother, don't give up hope.


www.myhealth.va.gov/index.html

Also CBOC. link.www.legion.org/veteranshealthcare/outpatient
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Old 15-03-2016, 08:42   #48
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

I had to go back and look at the original post. I don't fully understand what problems you are having with the VA? My suggestion would be to contact (write) your Senators. Don't write to Washington write to their in state offices. They will probably never see it ever way but you would be surprised how much clout the local aide has. Solving in state problems is his job. JMHO
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Old 15-03-2016, 11:22   #49
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

I'm another disabled veteran...and can't understand why you're living like in a trailor in winter and seasonly in summer aboard your boat? Must be family or something grounding you to these geographical places???

Florida sounds like a good fit for your situation, ft myers specifically. If getting your bristol 29 down there isn't an option I'd sell off for something in the Atlantic...

Feel your pain about dealing with V.A. Though...
99% of the workers IMO are in it for the paycheck, bennies and pension???

Seems so sexist there LOL. How is it that a facility that treats 91% males is staffed by 60 plus percent females??? That's the real problem at the V.A. IMO, the sexism women who work there bring to work with them...wish I had a nickel for every V.A. Female who copped a snarky attitude over my V.A. Checks and my being a divorced man about town & a desire to seek happiness via travel...plain ol jealousy IMO.
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Old 15-03-2016, 11:48   #50
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

I dealt with the VA extensively for
my father (wwll) 10% disability,
service related.
I found that there was a huge
difference in how service related
Disabled were treated both in
Broward Fla and Dallas Tx as opposed
to none service related anything.

Surv69 if you need help moving your
boat south PM me, I met great vets
With my Dad, least I can do is help
you with the cruise.
Cheers
Neil
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Old 15-03-2016, 12:48   #51
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

A friend lives in Venice, Fl.. He has to drive to Clearwater for an annual physical however he can go to a local facility for immediate needs. I'm not sure it is a VA facility, I think it is farmed out. It Doesn't sound that bad, for nada.

Maybe investigating the options would pay.

I'm sorry the whole thing sounds like a poor me.

I may be an A hole but god helps them that help themselves.
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Old 15-03-2016, 21:25   #52
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

SURV69:

If the medical problems you need help with are not service connected, and the VA is reluctant or legally unable to help you with them, then you need Medicare. See about that, and then, maybe, with good luck, you can get the living situation sorted out.

None of us posters here can know all the factors of your situation, and what you tell us may be only part of the picture. Still, Medicare is there for you to use, if you are old enough, and failure to do so will only make you suffer more. And other vets have shown they can deal with the transient issue, and explained how!

It is your choice to make some moves to improve your lot. Suggestions for help from AmVets, VFW, even an offer to help you deliver your boat further south. My suggestion comes from the "tough love" school. Yes, you've had it tough; but so do many of us as we age and old injuries plague us. But no matter how rough it is, you are the only one who can fix this, to whatever extent it can be fixed. So get off the pity pot and back to work. Medicare, and perhaps outside assistance, and then, freedom beckons.

This IS do-able. Good luck, man.

Ann
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Old 15-03-2016, 21:50   #53
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

My dad is a'92 year old disabled wwII vet and I am a desert storm vet we both live on sailboats and have had no issues with getting any medical services thru the VA also our meds are 100% covered and mailed to us 90 day supply no cost. Talk to your local american legion vet rep they take care of problems for vets in ref to the VA.
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Old 16-03-2016, 06:21   #54
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

amazingly there are some folks with your similar issues here cruising mexico. as the requirements for visa turistica in mexico are that one return north to country of origin every 6 months and as this is a good time to see mds, they do so.
as medicare is not adequate for coverage , keep the va as that is your best health care option. besides you earned the privilege.
merely make appointments that correlate with your return time.
this seems not to be a huge issue with those cruising out of country.
btw--if you hit san diego, there is a marina for military active and retired and no longer serving-- the hierarchy is defined in the office. i believe kurt( sp--?? curt) is the manager of marina. see him in office which is also a store.
from san diego you can go south comfortably. there are also boats for sale in this marina.
check it out.
there is a va in san diego.
research well before leaving. you will find that for military fiddlers cove is a lot less pricey than is chula vista marina or any other in san diego, where all is so high in price you will NEED the military marina.

ps there are more military based marinas in usa-- check that out also. you have a right to be able to use these, as a former active duty serviceman.
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Old 16-03-2016, 14:05   #55
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

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Originally Posted by oldragbaggers View Post
If you are 66 why are you not accessing your health care through Medicare instead of the VA? You would have much more flexibility and Medicare Advantage Plans can be found pretty reasonably to cover your drugs and copays. My husband is also a vet but hasn't stepped foot in a military medical facility since he separated from the Navy in 1993.
Medicare paying co pays or Get it free via VA? mmmmmmm

I gone to local Hospitals for emergency cases, and being on disability make life hard. If I can get t the VA, coast me nothing So which is Cheaper? 150.00 Medicare co pay or $0.00 Oh the 150.00 is the cheapest I ever had it in the USA. Most of the time I had to pay 350.00 or more, one wanted me to pay 650.00 for a 50.00 checkup just cause I had Medicare.
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Old 16-03-2016, 14:11   #56
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

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Originally Posted by SURV69 View Post
I'm retired. get my SS, a small state pension and VA supplementary pension(non-service disability) ... I've been somewhat disabled since being about 13 years old ... Air Force said I never should've gotten in and got a 35-4 in 1971.
.

.
My only suggestion would be is move to the South weather it on East Coast or west coast, but to a Area with a VA, then transfer you VA to the local VA.

I am service Connected and I perfer VA over local Medicare sux cost to much
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Old 16-03-2016, 14:38   #57
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

anyone saying medicare is good has never had to use it.
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Old 16-03-2016, 15:13   #58
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

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Originally Posted by zeehag View Post
anyone saying medicare is good has never had to use it.
I find no problem with it. Yep, the supplement is pricy.
And yes the donut hole on over priced drug is deep.

I would have to see what comes out of my SS and what I pay for the supplement. Sure would beat the hell out of not having it

So yes I have used it Sure would beat three days in a hospital or three weeks.

So know from whence you speak.
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Old 20-03-2016, 13:58   #59
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

Your comment sounds a bit racist but I get it. I had a male Phillipino doctor here in Portland Maine who was clueless. Previous doctors before that (dating back to 2001) were all Caucasian and were just as incompetent. Idiots kept me on antibiotics unnecessarily on and off and now I have a systemic candida infection, fibromyalgia, scoliosis, chronic pain, chronic fatigue and my immune system is worthless. I started with PTSD, depression and anxiety and the "health care" I received from these idiots over the years have about kill me. I was so sick since winter started I didn't think I would make it to spring. Recurrent bronchial infections and pneumonia meant more antibiotics and suicide was looking better by the minute.

I moved out of a lakefront cottage and into a Trawler and I am now preparing to cruise south. Yeap. Maine to Florida in the Spring. I know. Crazy.

All things considered, I do wonder why all the non-Caucasian doctors in Maine (the state with the most Caucasian population in the country). It makes me concerned about the VA importing doctors from other countries and the quality of their training and level of experience. I am a Hispanic (originally form the Caribbean) and naturalized American citizen, so you would think I would be the last person to care right? Well, to me it means if I continue to get bad care I might die before my 40th birthday, or I get good care and I have a fighting chance. I am first and foremost a human. We are all one human race as far as I am concerned. The training and level of experience is that worries me.

Recently requested a new doc and was assigned a female (brown skin, born and raised in Boston and of some ethnic background) but this gal seems to have a slightly better clue about what she is doing. After almost two decades of living with chronic pain I am finally seeing a chiropractor. Lovely white male who I saw once and makes me want to be Indian so I can call uncle. So many years of poor care and my health forces me to move south when I finally have decent care through the VA. Getting ready to move to FL and cruise on a trawler in hopes the better weather will help my depression, which should help my immune system and everything else. So, Florida here I come. Doctor’s orders. Hate to leave Maine when I finally found a decent primary doc through the VA system here. Praying for even better doctors wherever I end up, whatever their skin color.

39 year old disabled vet. Service connected. No chance at getting any other form of health care so I do pray the better doctor here is an indication that the VA system is getting better at screening and training these people, whatever the color of their skin.

Hey, and speaking of skin color, Donald Trump is orange. What kind of human race does that make him? I think he should be make up a new one and call it "Floridian" because of the oranges. Get it? Lol Just trying to put some humor into the mix 
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Old 20-03-2016, 14:10   #60
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Re: Veterans/VA Med ... liveaboard in transit

There are different forms of disability. Mine is PTSD., then a whole list of physical problems followed (fibromyalgia, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, immune system shut down, etc). I currently live in Maine and as per VA doctor's orders will be moving south in order to have a chance at getting better. Cruising on a Trawler with my boyfriend (who is a captain). Couldn't cruise or sail on my own due to lack of know how but physical activity and good weather is often times the best medicine there is. I think our fellow veteran will be wise to follow his heart too. It sounds like much like myself, for him is "get busy living or get busy dieing". Living on a trailer and freezing your old bones off for months at a time is just another form of slow death. I say go out there and choose life!
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