VA Medical facilities, including the VA/Federal Healthcare Billing System in North Chicago Illinois, are improperly billing private insurers for treatment of Veterans Military Service-Related injuries and disabilities.
The Veterans Administration is required under Title 38 of the U.S. Code to pay the cost of treating any illness or injury that either resulted from or occurred during Military Service. The practice, which is barred by Federal Law, is another sign of the dysfunction plaguing the VA's Flawed Billing/Co-payment Health-Care System. "Veterans should never be billed for CO-payments, for a VA Diagnosed Military Service-Connected Medical/ Mental Health Illness/Disability. "
“Only Veterans treated for non-service-connected conditions should see their insurance company billed for their treatment. Veterans who are treated for Service-Connected Conditions should not have their insurance company billed for treatment. VA encourages Veterans to contact the VA if they believe their insurance plan has been billed in error by calling us at 1-877-222-8387.”
Robert "Bob" La Foe
Veterans Affairs Representative
Northwest Illinois Area Local-7140
American Postal Workers Union
Illinois Union Veterans Council AFL-CIO