You know, for all their failings, I have excellent healthcare. We had a saying when I was still in the service: “Where you’re going is the best place you can go, where you are is the worst place you can be, and where you came from never really was that bad”. It’s about duty stations, but speaks generally to the notion of contentment and hindsight.

Since my disability rating totals more than a specified threshold, my healthcare is free for me forever, service-connected or not. I have socialized healthcare. And it’s awesome.

I can walk in to see my doctor unannounced. I can phone in or email prescriptions I never pay for. I have not known a medical bill, copay, or premium since 2010 and never will again.

The VA has its flaws, and had made good progress since the influx of OIF/OEF veterans filled its facilities with youthful anger. The mental health care has dramatically improved. I won’t sing their praises more than that. I just don’t feel I’m in a position to really complain about the VA when medical debt can ruin your life.