Hey all... so the hubby & i are both newbies & looking for answers/opinions regarding myself(spouse) going to an MTF vs. a different provider..
maybe some of u can help..

~First, If we are within 30 miles of the MTF, are we REQUIRED to go there?? or do I have the option to choose another doctor through tri-care prime???

~Second, what are the pros & cons of going through an MTF vs. another doctor ??

~Thirdly & most importantly, the MTF up here is Martin's Point.. from the website it looks as though they only use the US Family Health Plan.. which i know is only available in certain areas of the country. If i do choose to do the MTF, i will obviously be enrolled in this & i'm assuming this is something totally separate from tri-care prime??? If it is, what happens if i'm out of state, visiting family, etc. and need to go to the doctor??? because u.s. family health plan is something completely different from prime will it be a bust if i need care outside of my area?? or am i totally incorrect??? lol. please help any info would be greatly appreciated!

quote:

Originally posted by TG123:
~First, If we are within 30 miles of the MTF, are we REQUIRED to go there??

If they have slots available, yes.

quote:

or do I have the option to choose another doctor through tri-care prime???

you can go elsewhere through standard. If he is AD he will not be given the option to go standard and go elsewhere. His PCM will be at the MTF (even if the MTF is "full"-they only get full for dependents)

quote:

~Second, what are the pros & cons of going through an MTF vs. another doctor ??

there are crappy drs both in the civilian world and in the military world, and full offfices at both too. no real difference

1: yes, unless that MTF is not taking on new dependnets as patients.

2: For me,persoanlly, since all ourrecords are transitioningt oonline, it's easy for each of my doctors( and yes I have more than one) see ALL my care and make sure that tests aren't being repeated or that any new meds play nice with my existing ones. My ony issue at this particualr duty station is that my doctors are in THREE seperate MTFs and of course they are all an hour away from where I live....

3: you are covered for any emergency care out of network so long as you notify TRICARE ASAP( like within 72 hours) if you are expectingto be out of netwrok for an extended period of time( more than 30 days) it is best to change regions prior to doing so.

thanku both for the responses - feel like i learn something new everyday! lol..but i guess that's a good thing

quote:

Originally posted by TG123:
~First, If we are within 30 miles of the MTF, are we REQUIRED to go there??

If they have slots available, yes.

This is, surprisingly, not always the case. I live about a block from an MTF but they don't mandate for us (meaning me and DS, DH of course must go there) to go there for care. We have all civilian providers and there is definitely plenty of space for us at the MTF. When we enrolled under this address, we were given the option to go either way.

Just a quick word about the US Family Health (USFH)plan... and I speak as someone who has been working in MTF's for years and have seen the confusion. USFH is a Tricare Prime option.

MTF stands for "military treatment facility." If you enroll in USFH you are ineligible for care at the MTF (routine and urgent care, as well as pharmacy). Emergent conditions, of course, are still covered wherever you go (but make sure you call them ASAP- this is the same with pretty much all forms of insurance).

With Tricare Prime at the MTF you have no co-pays. With USFH there is a co-pay for prescriptions ($3.00 generic, $9.00 brand name). These co-pays are worth it to many, but many are used to getting their prescriptions for free.

They are both good plans (and as another poster mentioned, don't rule out Tricare Standard); it just depends on what you want from them.

I'd urge you to call your tricare service center (or visit one) and talk to a service rep about your options.

Hope this helped.

Dustoff

My husband is retired military and since we don't live close enough to a military installation, we use Martin's Point-USFHP. It's a wonderful, affordable option for retirees not close enough to a base and I believe a free option for AD not close enough to a base.