Military Health Care

[Bum-bling-B]

Since a HUGE portion of the members of the community seem to be prior or even active military. What's your outlook on military health care? Tricare?

OK, here's my story I posted part of on another thread.

I got drive my Smart almost flat out, 85 mph, for 40 miles to the emergency room and thanks to the wonderful military insurance system I was forced to pass 2 other emergency rooms. Once I got to the military base the gate guards wanted to have a conversation about the car. For the first time I yelled at someone curious about the car. I think he understood though as I said I had to get to the emergency room.

TWO other emergency rooms I could of gone to BUT I didn't think it was life threatening. I have fought with Tricare before when they threatened to make me pay for services rendered in non-military hospitals. (ambulance ride to a local hospital that was the closest when I could of sworn I was dying and my wife can't drive --very well, turned out I was well and on my own about 3 hours later, kidney stones)

This time it was life threatening (it wasn't me) though the hospital staff said I still made $the right choice since it was only 7 miles more and the local hospitals I passed weren't as well equipped.

I suppose since I went to the military hospital I won't have to deal with the paperwork. Recently I had to get dental work done for my daughter, it was required work - not elective like braces or something and I had to pay $800!!! So much for we'll take care of you and your family. I know other people, non-military who have it worse but when I joined I was under the impression they were going to take care of my family and me. That was a long time ago though, guess I was wrong.

Anyone else got something to say about military health care horror stories? How about good things?

On a good note, 2 days now here at this hospital and the staff has been great. Not what I normally refer to them as at the small clinic I normally go to - I call them failed veterinarians.

[Old smart]

Do you have "Standard," "Prime," or "...For Life?"

[Bum-bling-B]

Originally Posted by Old smart

Do you have "Standard," "Prime," or "...For Life?"

Right now I have Prime, I'm still active for just a couple more years.

[Nicholas]

Sorry to hear about this...hope all goes well! We talked the other evening, remember?

[Old smart]

We just have Standard right now as I have an exceptional plan from the Merchant Marine that covers not only medical, but optical, dental, and even mental (if I go nuts waiting for the smart) for $100/mo. We are on the fence about keeping it after 65 to save the money, and could go For Life if we choose. And that or Prime will always be availabe if anything happens with the MM plan (it is not protected by ERISA like the MM retirement is). Even with Standard, all prescription and non-perscription medications on the DoD formulary are filled gratis at the various hospital, clinic, and sickbay pharmacies around here.

[Bum-bling-B]

Thanks. The staff has been great and I'm going to be sure to give them Kudos once we leave. Sure enough. I left for the hospital about 3.5 hours after talking to you. Thought it was pretty serious, but not at the level it ended up being.

(I'm about to make a phone call and will ring you once I find out the name....I'll PM it)

[Bum-bling-B]

Wow, I never knew Merchant Marines were covered under that. Back in the day not too many years ago I worked in the passenger terminal and had to turn away a few people that were Merchant Marines and thought they were allowed to fly. (Space A travel for those that know about it).

[Old smart]

No, no Merchant Mariners are ever eligible to fly Space A, not even the Military Sealift Command's civil service mariners. Some have seen me slip away from the crowd during crew repatriations and catch a hop to somewhere else, but that was only because I had a military entitlement.

Once I had myself and crew relieved and repatriated in Talinn, Estonia at the end of a combined Baltic military exercise. I gave myself my $2,000+ travel allowance in cash and bummed back on a MD Air National Guard C-130 into BWI. Long trip - Talinn, RAF Lakenheath, NAF Keflavic, CFAB Gander, Baltimore.

[MENSA42]

"Military Health Care"......an 'oxymoron'?

[MENSA42]

i can only speak of what my Dad went through. every time he had to go to the hospital for anything, he INSISTED he go to the VA Hospital.

when we would go to visit, the people were very nice and accommodating, but the conditions were crap. literally. the stench from the wards they kept these veterans in was just awful.

i think the only reason my Dad liked going there was that he could talk about his past experiences in the Navy with other veterans.

sad...... our veterans deserve so much better!