Common sence
I think there needs to be a way for the Vets to use their VA ID card to see someone outside the VA. My husband has had problems even getting someone to answer the phone at the VA healthcare center let alone getting an appointment. Why can't they (if it is a service connected issue or if you have a rating high enough to be seen at the VA for anything including sevice connection) use the VA ID card like a medical card. In our case it could be used as a secondary insurance, but in other cases it could be used as a primary such as medicare is. I have been told on more than one occation that they awear no one aswers the phone and that they are overwhelmed with patients. So this would take some of the load off the VA hospital, and with the rise in Gulf War Illness it only makes sence to do something like this. Instead of telling patients you have to wait 6,7,or 8 months for an appointment. My husband waited 11 months to see his PCM at the VA and by that time they kicked him out of the system. How is that his falt??? Wake up WASHINGTON!!! It is not fair to let our Vet suffer like this.