Question:

I am 100% P&T, all service connected. My award letter even states 100% P&T service connected. Now, VA is charging my private insurance and I did not give them my insurance info. I questioned it, but was told by the VA that they could do that. I showed the medical center my letter and they said VA told them, "if they have private insurance charge them." Why is that?

Jim's Reply:

VA has the authority to bill your private insurance for any non-service connected care you may receive. For example, if you're operated on for an inguinal hernia that isn't rated as service connected, you won't be billed but your private insurance will be.
 

We're dealing with VA here so we can assume mistakes will be made and they are. If there is ever a question about what to do, it's easier for the person inputting data to default to billing your private insurance company.
 

Over the years that I've been answering this and similar questions, I've often suggested that vets get in touch with their insurer to see if they are interested and to my surprise, they aren't. So far as your insurance company is concerned, if you received treatment and they received proper paperwork, they pay up as they should.
 

Whether or not this is appropriate is a question for your Congressional representatives, the folks who make the laws. To be honest though, were I you this is one of those things I wouldn't worry about since you won't be able to change it. Good luck sir.