Are we (Coast Guard) required to get dental exams/cleanings at a military facility? My wife has insurance and I would like to go to a non military dental clinic, if possible. Reason being, every clinic around here is booked through mid january it seems, or I have to work on a day they have an opening, and I want to get it done!! I have 2 months until I'm in the "red" but my commmand is getting crazy with us and wants it done. Thanks!!
No. You cannot just head to the "outside" to get your dental exam nor cleaning.
If you have an issue with the scheduling of your readiness items, perhaps you need to inquire with the staff i.e Clinic Supervisor, and state your problem, and he/she can get the Clinic Administrator involved if need be to help you out with your "crazy command". But they can certainly play advocate for you and explain the system to your command. This way it shows you have initiative and motivation to get these items done, and thats half the battle most the time! If you cant get in, its out of your hands. However them not letting you go take care of REQUIRED readiness items on a workday is unnacceptable as well, and perhaps you do need to get an advocate in that realm.
The crazy command statement might actually refer to a command that takes Dental and Medical Readiness seriously.
But it is perfectly permissible for active duty members to go to the Doctor or dentist on a workday.
But if you are a drilling Reservist which your profile seems to indicate, then you can use your wife's dental plan and submit the paper work. Contact your servicing ISC (fot) shop for the forms.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: FlynnPatrick,
Or as a member of the SELRES, you can get the exam done at the clinic and claim a drill, thereby using the drill as a reason to go during a work week as they MUST allow you to attend drill.
The forms are available for download on the web. Be advised, you MAY be required to bring your medical record with you to the ISC clinic as they may not do the exam unless you have it with you.
Otherwise, download the form, take it to the civvie dentist, make sure you fill out the required info, and EXPLAIN to the dentist that they need check ONLY the classification that applies, not all of them to "cover everything".
well thanks for the replies, I don't think you are all correct though. I went to my HSC yesterday(before I saw what you all replied) and asked her, and she gave me a form to take to a civial dentist if I chose to go somewhere off base. She said that dental is the only medical stuff we can do off base. BTW, I am active duty. I went today to a dental clinic and had the best experience i've had in a long time (at the dentist, that is)!! I will not continue to go off base though, I just went today because everything else was booked and my command was gettin "crazy" like I previously mentioned. My CGCentral status on dental was "yellow", I still have 2 months before I go "red", but my boss is still callin me on my days off. I don't blame her though, I know her boss is on her case about it and crap rollls down hill.
OH, and I am a watchstander so I CAN NOT leave work to get medical done. It would make my life ten times easier. My wife works full time and we have a 9month old, so when I'm not working, I am almost always watching the baby. It's hard to get stuff done, but I am managing. We are planning on getting a babysitter next year so it should get a lot easier.
And one more thing, it seems like some of you think it is a bad thing that I was asking about going off base for medical, is there a reason for that? Does it make me a "bad coastie" because I want to use a non military dental facility?
Your unit HAS to allow you to get the required medical/dental done.
Just to clarify, even if I am a watchstander and am required to be at work, my unit still has to allow me to get my medical done? How does that work? Will they schedule me for "admin" days on my scheduled days off so that I can get it done?
Your unit HAS to allow you to get the required medical/dental done.
Mwua-ha-ha-ha!!! You must be kidding!
Yes, yes-we all know what the commands are ideally supposed to do. However, when a command doesn't have enough folks to cover thier ready boat crews, etc. in the absence of a qualified watch stander, they will have the crew member in question use their own time off to pursue compliance with health and other readiness issues.
There is absolutely nothing stating anywhere that a command must release a member from watch standing duty to pursue readiness. And, since we are all on duty 24/7 it is our responsibilities to utilize our liberty (privilidge not a right) to comply. I am glad you didn't post this on the BM board. The XPO's and OinC's would have a field day with this one.
Hey. No problem. When the CO of his unit gets spanked for not having members in the green, it's his ***, not the members, since according to the OP he works during the day when the clinic is open, and they won't allow him to go.
