Court rules VA must reimburse veterans for emergency care at non-VA centers.

[soryang]

3. the prior violation suggests the DVA should have a right of subrogation against private insurers

If a vet needs to go to the emergency room but has partial insurance coverage, such as a policy with a large deductible, and the VA is billed for the veteran's treatment, the VA should assert a right of recovery against the insurer or the hospital if it has been paid by the insurer to the extent of the policy coverage. This is the way the armed forces used to do it for active service members.

I don't know what the legal relationships are now but government agencies should have a right of recovery against liable private insurers when they pay the bill and stand in the shoes of the insured.