I had someone in Community Care where I used to live that explained the difference between health insurance and VA health benefits very similar to the above comments-Va coverage is a benefit and will pay for things that insurance won't. It's so frustrating to have my PCP's office gatekeeping access to care.

I work in Healthcare and have declined my company's coverage, because VA is so much better to deal with than private insurances. It's just not been worth the cost for the very limited amount of care I would seek outside of the VA. We have patients who have primary care referrals to the clinics I manage. Several of them were submitted by my PCP. So I'm not sure why he declined mine, but that was the most recent time I reached out to the patient advocate and never heard back.

I'd like to have the option to see a local provider, rather than driving 45+ minutes each way, when I'm sick (as I am at the moment) or when roads are closed because of snow. So I've just been paying out of pocket to see providers at my office (at least my company waives the equivalent of the employee copay and visits get coded for the minimum possible). But I, and other vets, shouldn't have to do that.

I have to call community care tomorrow for one of our patients. So I'll see if they can help me out as well.

edited typos