Harpgirl, since you ask...

I worked for the VA for over 25 years and I use the VA almost exclusively for my health care. And, BTW, my past employment gets me no priorities or special treatment...I wait like anyone else. I do have health insurance (which I pay for, of course), and the VA bills Blue Cross at the Medicare rate. The care is excellent, and all I pay is a $7 copay for a month's worth of medication. This cost is so low because the VA (and the military) are allowed to negotiate for lower prices with drug companies, something that Medicare/Medicaid are forbidden to do by law (thanks, George).

There are issues with the VA, of course. Some places it takes a long time to be seen for a regular appointment, especially for the first time, and not all VAs have the full range of services. However, most VA hospitals do have an Urgent Care/Emergency Room that takes walk-ins. Clinics are more restricted...the VA Outpatient Clinic there in Tallahassee "belongs" to the hospital in Gainsville, and many servise would only be available there. Many veterans stay away from the VA because of the bad reputation it had (and often deserved) 30 years ago, but this is rarely true anymore. I'd suggest that you at least ask your clients if they have VA eligibility (and any honorably-discharged vet living on Social Security-only is eligible) and get them on the Clinic's waiting list.