KayacerNC, I suggest you not praise the VA system until you have been in it. My personal experience is with the VA Hospital Gainesville and VA support for needed drugs. I was transfered to VA Gainesville, when I was diagnosed with double pneumonia here in the Villages. I was patient 5 in a 6 bed ward. While my temp spiked between 104 and 105, there was virtually no nursing care. As I got better, I realized that there were others in the ward that were in worse shape than I. The staff was upset that I was doing that which was needed and that which they were unwilling to do. As to drugs, I have taken Plavix for several years now to control a series of TIA's. It worked and both I and my civilian Neurologist felt it should be continued. The VA 'guidelines' require that Plavix be eliminated after two months wo further problems. My neurologist described this as malpractice and provided me with continuing prescriptions until such a time as I was able to go on Medicare. My brother, a highly decorated vet of WWII (Silver star and three purple hearts) and intense combat in Korea had similar problems when he became ill with brain cancer. His son, who had the actions to act took him to the Mayo Clinic in MN. They were able to extend both his life and the quality of it. His widow is now getting the same runaround.

In another thread, Steve Z pointed out that when health care is rationed, the elderly could expect to be awarded treatment on their potential future value to society. He's right. A single payer system will set us on the road to euthanasia by neglect.