On one hand we have the Veterans Health Care System under fire for not providing care in a timely manner and hiding the fact intentionally and on the other Medicare that processes payments with little scrutiny thereby inviting fraud and abuse.
So what’s the common thread? Government, bureaucracy, lack of accountability, massive size of the system and political motivation; none of which will ever be eliminated in any government run program and the larger the program the more risk.
And here comes the ignorance part. From a letter to the editor; WSJ May 23, 2014:
VA hospitals are so mismanaged that they should be closed and all veterans given health insurance that would allow them to be treated in the private sector. And if we really want to honor the men and women who served our nation with distinction, then we should exempt them from ObamaCare, as our legislators have done for themselves and their families.
What’s the ignorance part? Our legislators did not exempt themselves and their families from Obamacare anymore than the employees of Exxon, IBM, State governments, or employees of any other employer in the Country are exempt.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
As a Vietnam Veteran I have seen both the VA and the civilian health care systems at their best and worst. I would bet that most veterans, once they are in the system, would agree that they would rather be covered by the VA than by a civilian provider. My wife is so covered. She typically describes wait-times of up to 4 hours for a “scheduled” appointment; I wait no more than 15 minutes before someone comes out, apologizes for the delay, and tells me when I can expect to see my doctor. If I have a procedure requiring an escort and none is available when I am released, they send me home in a car service. I know of nowhere else in NYC where this is done. My records are available to me via the web; my wife has to fight tooth and nail to get hers, and that only in person.
I could give a LOT more examples, but bottom line?
There is NO WAY on EARTH I would willingly consent to being pushed back into the civilian system. Simply put, I am getting the best care I have ever received outside of the military.
As you remarked, no bureaucracy is perfectly run, and when abuses are found they should be (preferably summarily) dealt with.
MANY kudos to the medical and facilities staff at St. Albans and Ft. Hamilton, NYC. While we do our usual rush to judgement, and the usual political theater plays out, lets be careful we don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.
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Well that’s good to hear.
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