http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i5SlS8cfUcdI2yU217ImCRW37jQAD907O7880

Not sure if this has hit the boards yet as I don't have dependable nternet access. But I saw this in the Charleston Post and Courier several days ago.

Wonder if it had anything to do with my wife being told she may have to see someone besides her regular physician. I also wonder if this will fuel the fires of those wanting rate increases.

The article, like many, only provides one side of the story. Having used TRICARE standard the past 2 years (now due to a NEW law, my company can no longer pay for secondary provider to cover the little that tricare covers). I will say this much. It's nice to have if you have nothing. IF you have another choice, avoid TRICARE. I don't feel one bit sorry for the system. Having to deal with CHAMPUS, then TRICARE PRIME, then TRICARE (once retired), they are calling the kettle black. One thing that I noticed, come the end of the 3rd quarter (oct), the claims before the end of july/august always seem to get kicked back to the provider for one reason or another. Oh, they did pay but as far as I'm concerned, TRICARE plays numbers way too much. I compaired allowed costs for the same procedure 1 year prior (physical). Yes, the doctors cost went up tricares allowed went down. TRICARE said they did a "re-calculation" of area costs and found they were lower. So, to call the bluff, I called 4 different doctors in 4 different towns in my area. Guess what? They were higher then my doctor. SO, calling TC again, they said it was done by region. Again, I don't give once bit of pitty for a system of as far as I'm concerned, rips off the doctors/providers and we end up paying the price. Charging us more or raising the deduct isn't going to fix it.

I've had good luck with medicare tricare. Both my doctors take it and they don't charge me a dine. The eye doctor doesn't take Tricare but he does medicare, I get a break on my glasses.

With TRICARE PRIME I pay $460.00 per year for my family of 5..... Each time we go to a doctor there is a $12 co-pay....

It's hard to beat that anywhere..... I think it is great at twice the price.

Wray...

Dennis - I'm with Wray on this; I pay $230 a year for myself (single) Tricare Prime. I live a few miles north of you (literally speaking - maybe 40 miles) and haven't had a problem with Prime at all. A $12 co-pay; the real deal is meds - I figure without Tricare - I would be wracked with pain because I couldn't afford $1200 a month; $12 I can afford! Are there problems? I've had a few, one major one that I involved Congresswoman Miller to fix...but it got fixed!

Wray,
Isn't TRICARE substantially raising those rates though to the tune of $1200 or more dollars a year soon for retirees?

I pay $1200.00 per month for my family of seven. You folks on tricare as Howie would say "have made yourselves a very good deal"!

Peace,
Dick

This message has been edited. Last edited by: asm3driscoll,

I couldn't agree more with Wray and NAMB; Tricare Prime for retired folks is a great deal. $460 a year covers my family as well. Since we live just 30 minutes from Madigan Army Med Hospital, we chose that unit as our primary care provider. We get all our annual physical exams, shots, meds, an assigned primary care physician, emergency room visits, whatever may be needed there and have no copays. Tricare is working very well, indeed, for us...

Lisa, for the last 3 years or so they have talked about increasing the TRICARE fees... Obviously I don't like that, but like I said, even at $1200 per year that would be a deal......

Wray...

So that $1200/year would be for just one dependent (me), right? So we would pay the same as the family of 7???

...and HE IS getting 'free' medical care when he retires, right?

Lisa, there are different rates depending on the number in the family.. At this point there is no telling what they will charge...

As far as "he" getting "free" health care... the short answer is no... we'll talk about it when you get down here.. Be sure you attend his "TAPS" class prior to his retirement.

It was just another beautiful day for a bike ride.. I've been taking it to work.. Finally got a new tag and insurance.. Lots of difference in insurance policies.. I found Allstate the cheapest.. $230 per year.. Progressive started off at over a Thousand... USAA doesn't insure bikes (new policies) any more...

Wray...

NBAMB and Wray.. TCP is fine. However, there are fewer and fewer doctors who will take it. I would have to switch from a practice that covers the kids w/Pediatrics and the wife and I to someone else, like a DAO. Sorry, I rather see a MD, but that's just my choice. I had PRIME when I first got here. Used it for 3 months before retired. What a joke. Couldn't find anyone, except urgent care, who would see us. Oh yeah, there was Mt. Clemens General HP (Tim, you might know that that HP is a good 45 minute drive from where I use to live (now it's 40 minutes) to the front door). So, sure, right now it's a good deal. When you start paying 3 or 4 times the amount, more for co-pays on visits and drugs, it might still be a good deal for some, but like me, I have much better coverage through my company. Right now, I don't have to worry if I want to see an out of network doctor. I use HAP and everything St Johns has just about every specialist you can thing of, so no referrals needed for me. It's just like TC Standard except it's costing me now a little over 60 bucks a payday out of my pocket. I know that's not much but it was 28 before some dingle berry (think his name was Sen Warren) slipped it into some bill. I posted something about it a few months back on another thread. When it comes to medical, you guys with no kids living at home or of age anymore have nothing much to worry about other then yourselves. I use to have to fight to get TRICARE standard to pay for physicals for the kids. The doctor had to get creative with the codes to get it to go through which these codes seemed to change, without moments notice or doctor notification on what seemed like a 10 month rotation. Use to spend more time on the phone trying to get billing to talking to billing, it was like I had a part time job sometimes. It has gotten better but the nightmares still appear from time to time, mostly just before OCT.. wonder why. Like I said. I don't feel one bit sorry for the TRICARE system.

MC.. ASI (can't think of the full name) sells tricare supplemental insurance for about 120 a month, for a family. It's really good too. I use to get my 3 bucks co-pay for prescriptions and they paid my cost share plus deductables. I almost went for it but I would give up thousands of bucks my company pays for other coverage (vision, dental, LTD, STD, ADD and life coverage).

And old school.. count your self lucky. You can go to your nearest MTF if you have prime. If you have standard, they won't even talk to you. They will fill prescriptions but at the cost of gas, for me, I'll hit the Kmart on the way home from the doc's, pay my 3 or 9 bucks and fax in the receipt to get my money back. All within 1 mile of home.

quote:

Originally posted by Nobodyaskedmebut:
I live a few miles north of you (literally speaking - maybe 40 miles)

yep.. and the beer offer (or coney) is still there. Going to days next week for the rest of the year (working 4/10's) so it's still on the table. I live right at the 8mile road exit, there's a coney right at Harper/8mile (no beer there though) . I don't make it past M59/Hall road(Selfridge ANGB) most of the time. Was up at 29 and Omo road (near new haven) last weekend with 27 of our 45 boy scouts doing the Emergency Prep merit badge camp out. Friday was nice (low 80's) but my god, saturday night/sunday morning, it hit the mid 30's). Had about 20 new scouts on that campout, no one came knocking on the tent at 3am crying about being cold. Last time I was up your way was almost 2 years ago. Took the motorhome up to the KOA of Port Huron. Nice place.

Dennis, I too had to switch doctors, but my kids stayed with the same one... Different areas have different situations.. In my case, it is a lifesaver... my wife's drugs are extremely cheap with Express Scripts....

I have no need for any supplemental insurance... everything gets paid for.... I think my annual deductable is $250... after that, it's just 12 bucks.... per visit.. and $35 if in patient at the hospital.... Like I said, my son's 18-20 thousand dollar appendix operation only cost me about $125.00 total...... (no deductables or percentages paid....)

Tricare prime may not be good for everyone, but it sure is for me... and apparently a few others.

Wray...