for almost 40 years. I'm happy with the socialized medicine at the VA.
Ever since Musk took an ax to it wait times are longer and the doctors look fatigued. Musk's doge cuts can't be blamed on Biden.
When was the last time Trump or a member of the cartel visited a VA hospital? How veterans can get behind Agent Orange is beyond reason.

They can be wonderful and I have encountered some great doctors and even better nurses and staff there.

On the other hand, administration is poor. Typical government operation where the administrators fight for power (since they can't fight over salary) and cover up mistakes rather than own up to them. That happens on the outside but it's easier to say "I want another doctor or go to a different pharmacy or whatever".

In my over 20 year experience with them, there has been good and bad. The problem I have found is that, unlike private medical service, quitting a bad provider is a lot harder.

I would have been using the VA a lot longer if I had thought about myself more. I suffered for 20 years because of a mistake when a military doctor sewed my up after an operation, and it never hit me to go to the VA for disability or care during that time.

I was getting jerked around and reported to the patient advocate . In five minutes the matter was settled . Many veterans are unaware of the patient advocate.

from an outside doctor.

Doctor's office: We sent it.

VA: We never got it. Tell them to resend it.

Doctor's office: We re-sent it.

VA: We never got it. We get a thousand faxes a day, all electronically stored. Tell them to resend it again.

Me: Will you call the VA?

Doctor's office: Tell them to call us.

VA: Tell them to call us.

I contacted patient advocate.

She got on the phone. Talked to someone at doctor's office and asked to send it directly to her at her machine with a printer. Within a few minutes, it was there and printed. She hand carried it to VA doctor's office.

It isn't the same any more.