Hello Everyone. I pray that you are having the greatest day possible. When I started writing this blog I knew that I was going to have to be transparent in some things, but I really didn't realize how much. As I've progressed, I've found that the best way to tell you about a subject is to share my own experience. I've probably told you all more than some of my closest friends but that's what this blog is all about.
So today, I would like to share my experience with you about the Choice program. When I was initially approved it was for a mammogram, because the wait to get one at the VA clinic was too long. Many of you may think that the only way to get approved to use Choice is because of the distance you may live from a facility, but both of the times I have used it, it was because of the long appointment wait times. Anyway, as usual I digress. :-)
When I first used the Choice program for the mammogram, everything went pretty smooth. The only hiccup was that the facility where I received my mammogram had double-billed the VA for my services. This resulted in me getting a bill, even after Choice had paid. Now this wasn't their fault but of course my first assumption was that it was, but we all know what they say about assuming.
The second time I used Choice was because of the length of time it would take me to get an appointment in podiatry. I had hurt my ankle back in January 2016, and to this day it still hurts. I was seen in podiatry initially and given a cane and a brace but this didn't fix my problem. So in December 2016, I was given a Choice appointment for January 2, 2017. I went to the appointment and the podiatrist told me that the reason my ankle couldn't heal properly was because of my flat feet. He told me that we should first try custom inserts before trying to surgically repair the damage. His office did the molds of my feet and ordered the inserts that day.
GUESS WHAT EVERYBODY!!! Yep, you guessed it, I still don't have the inserts. Why you ask? Well that's a good question. I don't have them because the VA has not paid for them. You see when you get any kind of devices, other than those that are surgically implanted into your body, Choice won't pay for them. These have to be paid for directly by the VA. So even though I was given a timely appointment, the devices needed to assist in my healing are still M.I.A. I call the podiatrist's office at least once a week to see if they've received payment and they haven't.
I'm sharing this so you can make an informed decision on whether to use Choice or not, if you are eligible. If I had waited on a VA podiatry appointment it would have been in February, and if I had needed the inserts they probably would have already been done by now.
Anyway, I hope this helps someone with their "CHOICE".
As always, thank you for your support.
TTYL - Be blessed.
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