An unchecked drive to privatize VA Healthcare continues to create significant problems for Veterans dependent on Military Health Benefits for their well being.  A recent NBC News story focusing on problems encountered by a Texas Veteran during his ongoing treatment for throat cancer put the problem in the spotlight and it’s one we should all  be watching carefully, both in service to our fellow Vets and for our own care. 

In 2025, the VA shifted contractors to administer private health care claims and payments to a new private contractor, Triwest Healthcare Alliance, in more than half the U.S. Beginning with that change, Retired Army Sgt. First Class Guy Shoemaker was abruptly denied treatments he urgently needed to sustain him during his recovery. Approval for claims already paid was reversed and the payments clawed back from providers.  For months, Shoemaker was unable to afford needed therapy and while his health suffered, he battled with TriWest.  Eventually the contractor acknowledged that bad data in their system created the problems and repaid the reversed claims, but the physical damage to Shoemaker was irreversible. 

Replacing Health Net, TriWest was granted a nine-year contract at around $7.2 billion a year to administer military health benefits for more than 4 million Veterans, despite repeated warnings that the firm did not have the capacity to do the job. As late as the month before the contract began in January of 2025, the Defense Health Agency was advised that TriWest did not have sufficient trained staff to process the volume of data put in their care. There are recurring indicators, Including Shoemaker’s case, that warnings were well founded.

Because NBC continues to cover this story, if you, or someone you know is experiencing problems with TriWest’s handling of your health care claims email NBC reporters at Costofdenial@nbcuni.com

You can read Sgt. Shoemaker’s story on the NBC News website.