Yes, he has been a patient at the Malcolm Randall facility in Gainesville and I cannot say enough good about his care there. He also has to go there to see the neurologist and for speech therapy. Following a post-surgical stroke almost 7 years ago (before we moved here), he was left with what is known as expressive aphasia which means he cannot verbalize what he wants to say. What he says and what he wants to say are most usually totally different. They have also furnished him with a device which I program to say what he wants to say and he just selects the correct button and it talks for him. He underwent sleep study there and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. They also set him up with a CPAP unit. Both devices were at no charge and are maintained by them at no charge. He is not retired military (he served during the Korean conflict) so we have to pay a physician co-pay and a hospital co-pay. I'm not sure, but I think retired military do not.

I was told by his VA physician here in TV that the $8 per month co-pay for drugs regardless of whether it would be $4 or even sometimes free at other places helps to offset the cost of the more expensive ones such as the Plavix. The patent should run out on Plavix at some point and then it, too, will be available as generic. Meanwhile, we only pay $8.

As you stated, not everyone has the same experience anywhere they go. I know many have not been happy and have been quite upset with The Villages Hospital, namely the ER, but he also had a good experience with them. Yes, we were there a long time, but most of that time was spent doing tests & x-rays and waiting for the results which just take time. I have spent longer wait times in some doctors' offices.

I hope it goes better for you in the future. Meanwhile, you might discuss it with them again. I know some civilian doctors only prescribe Plavix for a short time and theirs has nothing to do with holding down costs. It just varies with each patient and their particular need.