What Do You Do?

[lordblacknail]

I am an army vet, do not have a service connected disability, but I do take a couple of medications. My old VA office in Bellevue, WA said I have to come there if I want my medications reviewed and to get new prescriptions if necessary. I understand that you can\'t be seen in Manila at the VA if you don\'t have a service connected disability. But will they do prescriptions or not? I can\'t be the only person in this situation. What do you guys do about this? I have checked six different pharmacys here in Cebu, none of them carry my medications.
Has anyone dealt with the VA in Guam by phone or email?
Any known options to getting my prescriptions reviewed and refilled besides going to the states?

[oneiloilokano]

I go to my GP Doctor who is Tricare approved and get a generic prescription. Don\'t know what meds your on but generics are availible everywhere. Tricare has made it all but impossible to claim reimbursement so I pay out of pocket every month.

USN Retired, Married and living in Iloilo since 2002.

[lordblacknail]

Sorry, maybe I wasn\'t clear. I am not retired military. Just a 3 year vet.

[oneiloilokano]

Well maybe you could get free meds back in the states through the VA. Us Retirees without a service connected disability can\'t use the VA in Manila.
My advice remains the same. Go find a local GP Doctor for a checkup and get a generic prescription for your meds here. There is nothing free availible for vets or retirees here.

[BudM]

I am an army vet, do not have a service connected disability, but I do take a couple of medications. My old VA office in Bellevue, WA said I have to come there if I want my medications reviewed and to get new prescriptions if necessary. I understand that you can\'t be seen in Manila at the VA if you don\'t have a service connected disability. But will they do prescriptions or not? I can\'t be the only person in this situation. What do you guys do about this? I have checked six different pharmacys here in Cebu, none of them carry my medications.
Has anyone dealt with the VA in Guam by phone or email?
Any known options to getting my prescriptions reviewed and refilled besides going to the states?

How did you even get free meds back in the states when you are not even a retiree or service connected let alone try and get them here?  I don't need meds but I wasn't allowed to get squat from the VA when I was still in the states.

[Art, just a re(tired) Fil-Am]

I only have a 20% VA disability, but I have never been to a VA clinic for anything, since we have TRICARE Overseas and we are covered for medical health care services where coverage is accepted at certain major hospitals nearest our home here in NCR of Luzon. We purchase all of our prescription medications from our Mercury Drug Store just across the street from where we live and make upfront cash payment in full and file a reimbursement claim after 12 months of saved receipts via fax for 75% of the total cost and the money is direct deposited into our U.S. bank account after 30 days, which works out pretty well. We also have PhilHealth as a supplement coverage just in case, since it's inexpensive, about P2,400 a year, which we pay one year in advance every Jan every new year.   
Ops! I just noticed the OP is 3 years old. Anyway, Bud and I still replied to it to add our 2 cents worth.