Disabled Veteran unable to get vaccine now has Covid.

[Desert grandma]

Our son, a US citizen, served in the US military for 25 years. He retired a few years ago (2019) and moved to the Philippines. When the Covid lockdown occurred, he was abroad and the borders were quickly closed. He was unable to travel to get a vaccine. The VA considers him 100 percent disabled. Disabled Veterans living in the US were able to get their vaccinations last January. Manila does have a VA outpatient clinic on the embassy grounds and our son registered there for the vaccine months ago. He received an email from the clinic a couple of weeks ago informing him that vaccinations would begin there on July 6 on a walk in basis. In the meantime, he had to go to Manila to check in with the VA center for other reasons 2 weeks ago. He lives in a different province and takes the plane into Manila. He has always worn a mask and has been conscious of the Covid danger. After his return home, he became very ill. When we spoke with him 2 days ago, he was having trouble breathing. I urged him to get to a hospital as soon as possible. He did so and has been diagnosed with Covid 19, and also Covid pneumonia. He is enrolled in a program called FMP, or Foreign Medical Program, which is supposed to pay for veterans traveling or living abroad for "service connected issues". It seems to me that catching Covid as a US military veteran who wanted to be vaccinated but wasn't able to should qualify for this treatment to be paid for. At least, that is our hope. Here in the US treatment is paid for all US citizens, vaccinated or not. I have called our Congressional representatives and asked them to look into this. Our son is in a private hospital in Cebu City where he lives, as it was the closest hospital to him, and my understanding is that you must pay as you go, for each day of treatment. one day has already been billed at USD $1397. We are hopeful that he can get the care he needs and will recover fully.

[chowder66]

1. Wow. I hope your son will okay. Please keep us updated. nt

[Desert grandma]

2. Thank you! We hope so too.

[Atticus]

3. This sounds like something Rachel Maddow might like to jump on with both feet. nt

[Desert grandma]

5. I had not thought of that, but it's a good idea.

Especially with the President saying that getting vaccinated is the "Patriotic" thing to do. It should be available to All veterans, no matter where they live.

[hlthe2b]

4. I truly hope your son is ok and gets the care he needs. That said it is NOT true that treatment

is paid for ALL US citizens. My sister, a 30 year ER nurse developed COVID despite all precautions taken in May 2020 and has been a long-hauler ever since, stacking up the medical bills. Her hospital gave her no paid leave except for the ETO time she'd earned and has not even discounted her bills despite being an academic training hospital with multiple satellite facilities. She is now in serious debt, having wiped out all her savings despite being fully insured and is now forced to work even despite ongoing issues and ongoing exhaustion. She has since received the Pfizer series, but unlike initial reports where survivors with long-hauler felt they experienced improvement-- for whatever reason-- after receiving the vaccine, that has not been the case.

So, no, it is NOT true that "US treatment is paid for all US citizens, vaccinated or not." Even with good insurance they will face big bills if they had any serious degree of illness. My sister deserves to have her work-related COVID covered, but no hospital is doing so for their employees. Heroes, indeed. They are being treated like expendable refuse at this point. My sister is very close to bankruptcy as are many of her friends and other HCW colleagues who became infected and several now have incredible ICU bills. I have a physician colleague in another state that has faced similar, but was better off financially than most.

I just wish the public realized how shitty has been the situation for infected HCWs who put their lives on the line for everyone and despite the early "hero" lauding, they have largely been left holding the bag.

But, again, I hope for the best for your son.

[Desert grandma]

6. Oh My Goodness!!

I had no idea they were doing that. EVERY health care employer should be paying these costs!

[Ms. Toad]

7. Correct.

There are a few states which have agreed to pick up treatment for the uninsured (or coinsurance for those who are). But I'm pretty sure that is the excepton, not the rule