By law and good service as a Marine Corps veteran during some bad times in bad places I am entitled to free health care from the VA and when necessary medical care is recommended by the VA that the VA CANNOT PROVIDE I am entitled to seek it with the provider of my choice.

The VA told me that I could consult with a cardiothoracic surgeon and that all my consultations and necessary testing would be covered by Uncle Sam. Maybe I wanted some lung cut out and with no VA cardiothoracic specialist on staff I could consult with the head of cardiothoracic surgery at nearby NYU/Winthrop. And so I did. I was instructed to present my photo/ID VA card as my primary insurer and to forget about Medicare. I was covered in full by my beloved country that I had served so well as a U.S. Marine. The VA had set up the appointment with "private care" and I presented myself as a "VA referral". A backup letter informed me that pre-surgical tests would also be covered by the VA and I went ahead with a pulmonary function test and a CT scan with NYU/Winthrop.

This afternoon while diddling the ponies at Tampa Bay and sipping a beer while wearing my wife's underwear I received a bill from NYU Medical services for more than $1,200.00 for "consultations". I can't wait for the bills for the CT scan and pulmonary function tests.

Medically the VA may have saved my life but with the U.S. Government involved I just knew I was just going to get f*^&$# sideways administratively with seeing private care medical people and the costs involved.