Retired Veterans Medical

[Lostdog]

Both my wife and I are retired Navy and we both now have Tricare Prime for our medical. We are beginning our full time RVing this March and would to like to know what other fulltimers are using for medical coverage. We really don't want to return to our "homebase" every six months or so and that means that Tricare Prime doesn't really work for us. What about Tricare Standard? What about Tricare Dental? Supplementals? Any input would be great.

Thanks
Chuck n Terri

[cantho]

I have TC Prime also, I think there is a travel statement for coverage when out of your area. Standard can be used without a referal, you should call your TC rep to make sure.

[lindy]

I'm retired military and we use Tricare for Life. You don't have to return to your home base, just register with Tricare for the region you're in as needed as you travel.

[Herk7769]

I am a retired Federal Employee with BC/BS Federal BASIC as primary with TRICARE Standard as secondary.

BASIC requires that I seek coverage with a provider that accepts BC/BS (most all do) and I have found if they accept BC/BS they also accept TRICARE Standard (not limited to MTFs - Military Treatment Facilities) as secondary.

I found it nearly impossible to find a provider that accepts PRIME except around military bases.

TRICARE Standard as primary coverage is not all that bad as you can use just about any provider and your out of pocket (20%) is limited to the catastrophic cap which is way lower than most premiums would cost for standard insurance.

TRICARE for LIFE will not be available until age 65. Then, MEDICARE is primary and TRICARE for LIFE pays the copay as secondary insurance.

[cantho]

Lindy TC for Life is starts at 65 correct, and you need to apply for TCFL when you apply for medicare prior to 65.

[cantho]

Herk you beat me to it, send me some prop wash and flight line.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by cantho

Herk you beat me to it, send me some prop wash and flight line.

The prop pitch is on the way...

[RalphieAdie]

We are not 65 yet, so we use Tricare Standard, with MOAA (Mediplus) as the supplement and Delta Dental. Works great for us.

Enjoy your travels.

[kidsgone]

Tricare Prime is basicallly an HMO, while Tricare Standard is basically a PPO. Never had problems using Standard....as long as the Dr was a Tricare provider.
Andi

[troyt]

I work in the business office of an Air Force MTF. I asked the question to one of my folks that work in the TriCare office. They recommended stopping by local MTF to discuss your options. But, she did say Standard will be your best option but you need to be aware of the copays / cost shares associated with it. The retiree dental will follow you. I don't have any information on supplemental health care. Hope this helps. If I come across anything else, I'll post it here.

[troyt]

Originally Posted by herk7769

The prop pitch is on the way...

How about some fallopian tube from the GYN office

I was a parachute rigger and I would send new troops to the clinic for fallopian tube. You would be surprised how many fell for that.

K9P solvent was another good one.

[Lostdog]

Thanks for all the great responses! I believe that Tricare Standard will be the way to go.

Anybody know where I can get some relative bearing grease for our mail bouy?

[dfskinner]

what memories......

Use to send some of my new "Intel" types down to the HT's for an HT Punch.....

And always signed them up for the "Mail Bouy" watch...... those were the days....

We're using TC Standard; had no issues using it anyplace; I've gone to a Dr's office in Denver, San Diego, St Louis, Washington, DC and Hampton Roads, VA. No one ever said anything about where I was from or even that I had to pay any type of co-pay at the time of the visit. Two of those visits were to the ER, Denver for a spider bite that started looking bad, and St Louis for what I thinks was a broken bone in my foot from a wrong step at the Cardinals baseball game.....

I was looking at the idea that we'll have to pay the medicare once we get to the ripe ole age of 65 to keep our tri-care. My neighbor just started all that stuff so he's keeping me informed so I'm aware.

Guess the medical isn't really free for life.... I believe he's paying $116 per month out of his Social Security for the medicare, that's required if he wants to keep his tri-care.

[tetsurvivor]

More Doctors like TRICARE Standard, most do not like TC Prime

[B47]

Originally Posted by herk7769

I am a retired Federal Employee with BC/BS Federal BASIC as primary with TRICARE Standard as secondary.

BASIC requires that I seek coverage with a provider that accepts BC/BS (most all do) and I have found if they accept BC/BS they also accept TRICARE Standard (not limited to MTFs - Military Treatment Facilities) as secondary.

I found it nearly impossible to find a provider that accepts PRIME except around military bases.

TRICARE Standard as primary coverage is not all that bad as you can use just about any provider and your out of pocket (20%) is limited to the catastrophic cap which is way lower than most premiums would cost for standard insurance.

TRICARE for LIFE will not be available until age 65. Then, MEDICARE is primary and TRICARE for LIFE pays the copay as secondary insurance.

About the same for me - although I am not retired from the military, I am retired Civil Service and we have just kept the BC/BS federal basic (code 105) and it works well for us.

We didn't elect to sign up for Medicare Part B and haven't regreted that at all yet.

[B47]

Originally Posted by troyt

How about some fallopian tube from the GYN office

I was a parachute rigger and I would send new troops to the clinic for fallopian tube. You would be surprised how many fell for that.

K9P solvent was another good one.

And while you're at it - don't forget to get some prop wash.

[handbuilder]

I think its all relative to your existing health and anticipated medical needs when traveling away from home. My spouse and I are both retired from the Navy. We chose Tricare Prime because I like the fact that I can get a referral to a specialist as needed. They are strongly encouraging retirees to leave Prime and the reality is if you dont live within 40 miles of a military installation, they are now requiring subscribers to choose Standard. We had to sign a waiver stating we wanted to keep our existing primary Dr remain at the base.
Never had a problem with seeing a civilian Dr on request...I have had parts removed, hand surgeries on both hands, excellent follow up to alternating 6 month MRI and radiographs...mammograms are annual, eye exams every 2 yrs are both self referred...so if on the road, those arent a problem. Urgent care is simple...I call my provider & they send me to the clinic of my choice...any work up is all covered. I had pneumonia in December -went to urgent care, had CT scan as well as a chest xray. Got my diagnosis and left with rx slips for meds. The visit cost me nothing. My meds were a total of $17-.
Our son had surgery from a wrestling injury requiring a plate and 6 screws in his forearm and montjs of occupational therapy. The nearly 4 hr surgery cost us nothing but the therapy was 25- a visit...if we had no insurance, that surgery and therapy would have cost over 28k...We wont part with this coverage without a fight.
DH said a few of his shipmates were pretty upset about having to go with Standard due to the mileage change last year.

[tetsurvivor]

I went with prime, briefly, many Doctors won't take it, now I am 77 yrs old and have medicare part B, (required to keep TRICARE for life) and have never had a problem.

[Windjammin]

Before I turned 65 I had Tricare Standard as the primary and a supplement from ASI. Tricare paid their 75% and ASI picked up the remainder including copays.