I have been involved in a seemingly endless journey to have my eyes checked for cataracts and have corrective surgery. This started back in 2020. I received authorization to see an opthalmologist for cataracts. I went to the appointment where a full set of testing was completed. I was then referred to another physician. He was on an extended vacation, and after waiting for an appointment for a couple of months, I knew the process had come to a wall (typical for the VA health system), and I needed to start over. I was pretty much at the end of my wits at that point and took a couple of weeks off.

In 2021 I got another authorization for a different doctor, went through testing yet again, and was told I needed a toric mono-focal lens. I was given authorization for this lens specifically but the doctor refused to do surgery unless I paid $2500 per eye. His office told me the mono-focal toric lens was not something he would get paid for because it was not covered by the VA. This was conveyed to me despite the specific authorization for this exact lens on the VA authorization. I have been unable to see well for quite some time, and after already spending several months trying to get my eyes taken care of, I was not taking no for an answer but had to realistically realize I had hit a brick wall!

I started calling Community Care too many times to count until finally, my call hit the desk of Belinda. I knew at that moment, I had finally made contact with someone who genuinely cared about getting my health issues taken care of and was upset at what I had already gone through. She not only took it upon herself to look into the doctor's claim that the lens prescribed and authorized would not be paid for, but contacted the person in charge of insurance there and let them know it was a new benefit, but yes it is covered. The doctor still refused; during this time she made numerous calls to contacts she had in the VA system as well as the doctor's office to attempt to rectify the situation. All this time keeping in contact with me, and let me know the progress.

This doctor eventually completely refused me as a patient. With Belinda's help, I got yet another authorization from a different doctor. Again, more of the same testing (3 times the VA had to pay for the same testing, because of a glitch in the system). We went through a similar scenario with this physician. They said they would not get paid for the Monofocal Toric lens despite the specific authorization for this lens. She battled alongside me...spoke to numerous contacts within the VA and beyond, found out the exact problem, and finally made arrangements within the VA for this surgery to happen under special circumstances. Without her consistent and persistent attention to my case, I am absolutely certain that I would still be battling for the benefits the VA offers.

Belinda, if not for her kindness, compassion, and complete dedication to the Veteran and his wellbeing, I would still be trying to accomplish getting my eyes fixed. I am scheduled for surgery later this month. She worked diligently with me for 9 months! Most people would have said sorry, and walked away from the problem. I thank her very much, she is very unique in this regard.