10% off gonna break me

[smstonypoint]

Perhaps it depends on where you live in the USA.
I was a USN pilot honorably discharged in 1967.
I live in Florida, and have been receiving both the Lowe's, and Home Depot 10% discounts, on all individual sales, on all days, for 10+ years.

What have you been providing in the way of proof of service?

Steve

 

[fried1765]

What have you been providing in the way of proof of service?

Steve

As before: A VA medical ID card is proof of service!
No one is eligible for VA medical benefits unless they served, thus a VA medical ID card is proof of service.
I have been using VA medical benefits for the past 17 years.

 

[smstonypoint]

As before: A VA medical ID card is proof of service!
No one is eligible for VA medical benefits unless they served, thus a VA medical ID card is proof of service.
I have been using VA medical benefits for the past 17 years.

I have never had reason to apply for VA medical benefits and thus I do not have such a card. I do have my DD-214 and a card from the VA that I obtained when I started drawing educational benefits under the GI Bill.

I assume that possession of a VA medical card qualified you for the year-round discount under Lowe's policy that was in effect until May 1. I am now qualified after the May 1 expansion of the year-round discount.

Steve

 

[4570Man]

You can usually buy lowes coupons on eBay for a couple dollars. It beats spending money you don't have to save money.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Lowes latest wrinkle is linking military ID to their "My Lowes" program. Once you get it set up you just give tghe checker your phone # and it is automatic on the cash register. They even let my wife use the phone # to get the discount. I am retired Navy since 1995. Even prior to that I used my Reserve ID card at Lowes and HD so the program has been around a long time. Never paid much attention to the new policy for all veterans. Don't let sleeping dogs lie; check out your benefits. This area is heavy with active and retired military so military discounts are common. I support the businesses that offer such benefits. I has become a competition factor. TS refuses to play so I go to WILCO who does offer the discount; plus their prices are 25-35% less to start with. NAPA gets all my parts business for the same reason.

 

[coherent]

The closest HD honors my card as a valid military ID, but this HD will not give a discount on "commodity" items such as lumber, plumbing, electrical etc. Things a contractor would buy in bulk.

Hmmm that's not the case in the HD stores I shop in Arizona. I'm retired Air Force and never not received a discount on anything, including stacks of drywall, 2x4s etc.
I have been denied the discount if something was on some type of special markdown/discount already (an expensive oven), because the computer system wouldn't allow it, but after discussing it with the manager, they found a way to give me the discount in addition to the sale price. I should have bought stock in HD... considering all the money I've spent there in the last 10-15 years.

 

[JRobyn]

What 4570 said. When we were building our house, a process that took several years, we would often buy 10% discount cards. Must have used a hundred of them. And saved thousands.

 

[TnAndy]

I have never had reason to apply for VA medical benefits and thus I do not have such a card.

Yeah, me too. But once I got that the VA med ID qualified me for the 10% discount, I got myself on over to the VA, got signed up and got a card. Been using it at Lowes for about 5-6 years....saves me the amount of sales tax here.....9.75%

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you can prove that you are a veteran, you can get 10% off at both Loew's and Home Depot, on any single purchase, or combination of purchases, anytime. No coupons required!

I just show my VA card every time I buy something at Lowes and get my 10% off that just about covers the sales tax.
Home Despot at one time limited the amount that you could get the 10%. I don't do business with them so it may have changed in the last 7 years.

 

[zmountaineer]

I don't understand why EVERY VETERAN does not go to the VA and sign up. It is "free" health insurance. EVERY VETERAN who is honerably discharged is qualified. If you have other health insurance then your co-pay could be eliminated if you go to the VA for healthcare.

 

[smstonypoint]

I don't understand why EVERY VETERAN does not go to the VA and sign up. It is "free" health insurance. EVERY VETERAN who is honerably discharged is qualified. If you have other health insurance then your co-pay could be eliminated if you go to the VA for healthcare.

As I understand it, the VA has priority ratings for obtaining VA medical care. I think I would fall in the lowest priority group (#8) -- Veterans with gross household income above the VA and the geographically-adjusted income limits for their resident location and who agrees to pay copays. Priority Groups - Health Benefits.

I don't know how long it would take me to get an appointment, but I would be at the bottom of the waiting list and I would expect to be bumped (and rightfully so) by folks with a higher priority.

I have a friend who received a Purple Heart in Vietnam and who makes use of VA medical benefits. As far as I know, he has been satisfied with his VA medical care. My only direct experience with VA medical care has been visiting my father (a WWI vet) and my FIL (a WWII vet) in VA hospitals in their final days. Based on that experience, I wouldn't want to spend my final days in a VA facility.

I have Medicare Part B supplemental and prescription drug insurance coverage though my former employer at a reasonable cost. I'm happy with that arrangement.

Steve

Addendum

Looking at some of the fine print for Priority Group 8, I don't think I could enroll based on the income criterion.

 

[Deere Dude]

As I understand it, the VA has priority ratings for obtaining VA medical care. I think I would fall in the lowest priority group (#8) -- Veterans with gross household income above the VA and the geographically-adjusted income limits for their resident location and who agrees to pay copays. Priority Groups - Health Benefits.

I don't know how long it would take me to get an appointment, but I would be at the bottom of the waiting list and I would expect to be bumped (and rightfully so) by folks with a higher priority.

I have a friend who received a Purple Heart in Vietnam and who makes use of VA medical benefits. As far as I know, he has been satisfied with his VA medical care. My only direct experience with VA medical care has been visiting my father (a WWI vet) and my FIL (a WWII vet) in VA hospitals in their final days. Based on that experience, I wouldn't want to spend my final days in a VA facility.

I have Medicare Part B supplemental and prescription drug insurance coverage though my former employer at a reasonable cost. I'm happy with that arrangement.

Steve

Addendum

Looking at some of the fine print for Priority Group 8, I don't think I could enroll based on the income criterion.

I understand that they changed that rule half a year ago so income and savings won't be a factor in giving a card although a higher copay may still exist.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I didn't say otherwise. I was speaking to the case of the ID that passed muster in the past. The year-round discount policy is relatively new.

Steve

I've been getting year round discounts with my va card at Lowes and HD for nearly 20 years.

 

[zmountaineer]

As I understand it, the VA has priority ratings for obtaining VA medical care. I think I would fall in the lowest priority group (#8) -- Veterans with gross household income above the VA and the geographically-adjusted income limits for their resident location and who agrees to pay copays. Priority Groups - Health Benefits.

I don't know how long it would take me to get an appointment, but I would be at the bottom of the waiting list and I would expect to be bumped (and rightfully so) by folks with a higher priority.

I have a friend who received a Purple Heart in Vietnam and who makes use of VA medical benefits. As far as I know, he has been satisfied with his VA medical care. My only direct experience with VA medical care has been visiting my father (a WWI vet) and my FIL (a WWII vet) in VA hospitals in their final days. Based on that experience, I wouldn't want to spend my final days in a VA facility.

I have Medicare Part B supplemental and prescription drug insurance coverage though my former employer at a reasonable cost. I'm happy with that arrangement.

Steve

Addendum

Looking at some of the fine print for Priority Group 8, I don't think I could enroll based on the income criterion.

An appointment at the va I work at has virtually no wait list. Any priority would be seen within 30 days to establish care.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I've been receiving va care since 1971 to one degree or another. I started using it as my primary care nearly 20 years ago. I am totally pleased with the care I gavhave received. My WW2 father and father-in-law both relied on va carefor the last 10 years or so of their lives. When I took my 80 year old father there for the first time, he was amazed and raved to everyone he knew about the quality of care and the great people he encountered. He had va staff coming to his home weekly to care for him when he became homebound. I will be forever grateful to the VA for the care they gave him, and what they do still do for me.

 

[smstonypoint]

I understand that they changed that rule half a year ago so income and savings won't be a factor in giving a card although a higher copay may still exist.

Here's a screenshot of the Priority Group 8 requirements. It looks looks like I fall under subpriority g based on my income and thus I am not eligible for enrollment.

Steve

 

[TnAndy]

I have Medicare Part B supplemental and prescription drug insurance coverage though my former employer at a reasonable cost. I'm happy with that arrangement.

Steve

Yeah, I don't use the VA except for a primary care visit once every 2 yrs to keep my 'file open' (I guess it means you're still breathing ?)....it costs me $15 copay, whereas my Medicare supplement has a zero copay for my outside doc.

 

[fried1765]

I don't understand why EVERY VETERAN does not go to the VA and sign up. It is "free" health insurance. EVERY VETERAN who is honerably discharged is qualified. If you have other health insurance then your co-pay could be eliminated if you go to the VA for healthcare.

Yup!
You have it figured out ....exactly!
Some apparently are unwilling to make the effort to determine what is available to them.
I use Medicare, and the VA.

 

[Gunny]

I use the VA for primary care, usually get an appointment within 4-5 days of calling in for semi annual checkups and I'm completely satisfied with them, but I don't think I'd want to go into any VA hospital

 

[TheMan419]

My father would not qualify for anything if income or assets were taken into account. He has a VA card. Does not really use it for his primary care. However he had some obscure medication that he needed. Would have cost him like $400/mo without the VA. With the VA cost is like $10/mo.

I will have to remind him about his Lowes/HD discounts.