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Tri-care
25 june 2016 | me

Posted on 06/25/2016 1:39:56 PM PDT by M.K. Borders

I am 59 years old and a traditional Army Guardsman with 21 years service. My retirement package is already prepared and sent in thru an excellent program run by the Indiana Guard for it's soon to be retired members. This was done last September. I officially enter the tender embrace of the VA in November.

My question: How good is TRICARE? Not just me but my dependents?

Because of the nightmare of Obamacare I lost my employer provided health insurance and have been running on a VERY unsatisfactory plan thru my wife's employer.

We would like to go 100% TRICARE in November but I'm suspicious of the sunshine briefings I got from the TRICARE rep.

Anyone with some real world insight would be greatly appreciated.


TOPICS: Health/Medicine; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: benefits; insurance; obamacare; veteran
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To: M.K. Borders

Tricare Prime http://www.military.com/kwlp08?ESRC=ggl_mem_ben_tricare_phrase_prime.kw&np=1&gclid=CjwKEAjw-r27BRCzsNyzrMrM-j0SJACp2TiBjjxVVY36UfnMsJLnDHO1thXvAPIMD3K8TNlSpeDKbxoCZ4Hw_wcB


41 posted on 06/26/2016 7:18:44 AM PDT by GailA (A politician that won't keep his word to Veterans/Military won't keep them to You!)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear
The main problem with Tricare is Express Scripts. They are next to impossible to deal with.

Hi, HTB!

I've never had a problem with Express Scripts. Maybe I've just been lucky.

42 posted on 06/26/2016 7:23:08 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (Being a person is getting too complicated. Time to be a unicorn.)
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To: CMSMC

At his current age it will be 66 or 67 depending on what congress does this next year to SS retirement. I was born in 1948, and expected SS at 65, well turns out it’s 66.

What T’s me off is NO COLA raise in either hubby’s Military pension or our SS. While congress got a big fat raise and welfare queens, illegals and refugees got raises.

Food cost are double or more than they were just last year. Property taxes are going up, co-pays went up last year too.


43 posted on 06/26/2016 7:25:43 AM PDT by GailA (A politician that won't keep his word to Veterans/Military won't keep them to You!)
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To: GailA

“What T’s me off is NO COLA raise in either hubby’s Military pension or our SS. While congress got a big fat raise and welfare queens, illegals and refugees got raises.

Food cost are double or more than they were just last year. Property taxes are going up, co-pays went up last year too”.

I hope recipients of the largesse mentioned on this thread appreciate that taxpaying Americans who often cannot afford even a fraction of the benefits you receive for themselves are forced to pay for yours.

Many may not care, but it separates you from the challenges of Americans, and indeed the bitterness you show towards the lack of increase of your largesse is an attitude that fails to consider thone who must pay for all of this.

Such contempt for your fellow Americans who pay for their and your benefits is more of a problem than you realize, and will eventually lead to a loss of your benefits. You should not expect it to continue forever. Show compassion for Americans who could be self sufficient if not for folks like you who demand more and more and more from those who must pay.


44 posted on 06/26/2016 7:41:45 AM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: SandyInSeattle
Hi Sandy!

But perhaps I should have said that dealing with the pharmaceutical side is next to impossible.

Express Scripts is just following orders.

45 posted on 06/26/2016 10:24:49 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: RFEngineer; GailA; CMSMC; M.K. Borders

“I hope recipients of the largesse (meaning generous giving or generous gift) mentioned on this thread appreciate that taxpaying Americans who often cannot afford even a fraction of the benefits you receive for themselves are forced to pay for yours”

Mr Engineer, haven’t we’ve had this discussion before?

Give your life, your best years, over to Uncle Sam, give him a blank check payable up to your life, frequent deployments to nasty places where you may live in primitive conditions and sometimes you get shot at (or shot or maimed), constantly moving so your family is uprooted and you can never build up equity in a home, you don’t have a hometown, your children are constantly uprooted their entire life attending different schools, and it is a rare thing where the wife can establish a career in an environment where you are stationed (”dream sheet” is just that. . .a dream), if the wife sticks around to raise the kids when you are deployed, don’t forget the stress on the family as they experience sleepless nights, wife staring at the TV hoping for news or a brief glimpse of you, the wife serving as head of the home and father, and bill payer, and the children are not immune from the stress, and lets not forget acclimation when you return and you try and fit-in with the family and society in general. . .and so on.

Why do it?

It is service before self, country first, willing to sacrifice it all for a nation of people that do not understand nor care about the dangers and difficulties you go through during your career to EARN the benefit.

Of course, some may have a different opinion.

Tommy

I WENT into a public ‘ouse to get a pint o’beer,
The publican ‘e up an’ sez, “We serve no red-coats here.”
The girls be’ind the bar they laughed an’ giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an’ to myself sez I:
O it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, go away”;
But it’s “Thank you, Mister Atkins,” when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it’s “Thank you, Mr. Atkins,” when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but ‘adn’t none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music ‘alls,
But when it comes to fightin’, Lord! they’ll shove me in the stalls!
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy, wait outside”;
But it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide,
The troopship’s on the tide, my boys, the troopship’s on the tide,
O it’s “Special train for Atkins” when the trooper’s on the tide.
Yes, makin’ mock o’ uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an’ they’re starvation cheap;
An’ hustlin’ drunken soldiers when they’re goin’ large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin’ in full kit.
Then it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Tommy how’s yer soul?”
But it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it’s “Thin red line of ‘eroes” when the drums begin to roll.
We aren’t no thin red ‘eroes, nor we aren’t no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An’ if sometimes our conduck isn’t all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don’t grow into plaster saints;
While it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an “Tommy, fall be’ind,”
But it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind,
There’s trouble in the wind, my boys, there’s trouble in the wind,
O it’s “Please to walk in front, sir,” when there’s trouble in the wind.
You talk o’ better food for us, an’schools, an’ fires an’ all:
We’ll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don’t mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow’s Uniform is not the soldier-man’s disgrace.
For it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ “Chuck him out, the brute!”
But it’s “Saviour of ‘is country,” when the guns begin to shoot;
Yes it’s Tommy this, an’ Tommy that, an’ anything you please;
But Tommy ain’t a bloomin’ fool—you bet that Tommy sees!
Rudyard Kipling


46 posted on 06/26/2016 3:20:03 PM PDT by Hulka
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To: Gamecock; EXCH54FE; Mount Athos; USNBandit

Forgot to include you on a ping (Post 44, then Post 46)


47 posted on 06/26/2016 3:28:08 PM PDT by Hulka
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To: Hulka

I was in the military, so spare me the lecture. Been there done that.

I also am aware of the tremendous fraud in retirement “disability” declarations.

So we either have a military or we have a benefit program for able bodied people to skim for 50 years after serving 20.

Today, and this thread exemplifies the problem, we have people that are bragging that they get free stuff that other people must pay dearly for.

It’s pitiful

Military service does not give anyone license to take from our taxpayers, children and grandchildren for 50 years.

If we had the money, fine. But we don’t have it anymore.

It’s gone. You want to argue about that?

You people bragging about your benefits to people who must pay 30k a year think that is ok? It’s not. It’s not what miliTaryn service or America should be about.

You may try to wrap yourself in the flag or hide behind true sacrifice of dead or severely wounded. They are the ones who have earned it.

So explain to the 60 year old guy who works hard for 40 years why he should pay the retirement and Healthcare for an able bodied military retiree at age 38, all while paying tens of thousands for his own family to have health coverage and paying for everything else. Do you deserve his money more than him? Is that why you served? It’s not why I served.

I worry about that more than I worry about Tricare co-pays that amount to a pittance compared to what Americans who pay the bill must sacrifice.

You don’t care about that, I understand.

You ought to. We all ought to.


48 posted on 06/26/2016 4:39:08 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

.
Well stated.


49 posted on 06/26/2016 5:13:00 PM PDT by editor-surveyor (Freepers: Not as smart as I'd hoped they'd be)
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To: RFEngineer

So, for DV benefits you require at least 50% disability rating. I broke my back flying fighters evading a missile shot. I earned my parking spot.

I did a career, you apparently did not.

Went under way making way TDY with the Navy, assignment with the Army as a FAC and a USAF fighter pilot. Multiple deployments to combat zones. A calling not a job for me but you made a choice to work a job for you and nothing wrong with that—I would hope the adult in you would also respect those that made a different choice.

Broad insults to all that served and served for a career is telling and does not ensure you are taken seriously. You sound bitter and petulant and that is not your intent I am sure.

You have said your piece and I mine. Nothing more to be added and I suspect if we (you) continue it will be to insult. I say call it quits because flame wars are unseemly.


50 posted on 06/26/2016 5:34:02 PM PDT by Hulka
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To: RFEngineer

“I was in the military...”

So I assume you won’t draw any veteran benefits.

Good for you!!


51 posted on 06/26/2016 5:40:18 PM PDT by berdie (#No Hill/bern)
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To: berdie

Or Social Security or Medicare.

Once again..good for you!!!


52 posted on 06/26/2016 5:44:17 PM PDT by berdie (#No Hill/bern)
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To: RFEngineer
Spare me.
I signed a contract with the US Government.

Under the terms of that contract if I am injured while on active duty the Government will take care if me.

Instead they are more interested in taking care of “refugees” and illegals.

You can grouse about that all you want. I served 27 years to protect your right to do so. Likewise I can look at people who want to turn their backs on that contract with great disgust.

53 posted on 06/26/2016 5:52:28 PM PDT by Gamecock ( Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul...Matthew 10:28)
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To: Hulka

“Broad insults to all that served and served for a career is telling”

I’m not going to insult you or anyone else. All I am saying is that when you read the thread it is obvious that the service of the taxpayer is not being considered.

I want a fair deal for fair service. Both military and civilian. But what scares me most of all is the great chasm between military and other federal retirees and the ordinary taxpayer economically. The taxpayer is expected to pay for his second-class caste. Why? Somebody has to.

The difference is so tremendous that it doesn’t get resolved easily.

It is so tremendous that it cannot go on. The ordinary taxpayer cannot pay for all of this.

So what do we do? Balance a promise made by government to military against the promise made to citizens by our founding documents?

I don’t know the answer. But surely the answer doesn’t involve keeping things as they are. I think we can both agree that we are in trouble.

Thanks...


54 posted on 06/26/2016 5:55:01 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

Now dang it!! I asked two questions and you didn’t answer.

My feelings are hurt.;)

Do you intend to receive VA benefits, Social Security or Medicare?


55 posted on 06/26/2016 6:23:04 PM PDT by berdie (#No Hill/bern)
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To: berdie

VA? No. Social security? Irrelevant. It’ll be gone by the time I’m old enough. Medicare? That will crater sooner than SS.

That’s the point. All of these things, including military benefits are paid out of present year tax receipts (plus a signicant fraction of debt)

Budgets in the future will reflect our profligate ways of the past 30 years.

Nothing will be paid as expected.


56 posted on 06/26/2016 6:34:59 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

Thank you for your reply.

You could be absolutely correct about the future of these programs. I guess we will see.

A hypothetical question...If these programs are still around when you are eligible, will you participate in the benefits?

Your answer about VA benefits was interesting.


57 posted on 06/26/2016 7:02:57 PM PDT by berdie (#No Hill/bern)
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To: berdie

The fate of SS and Medicare is not hypothetical.

Their existence in 2030 and beyond and in what form is impossible to determine.

Why is the VA benefit answer interesting?


58 posted on 06/26/2016 7:14:40 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

“Their existence in 2030 and beyond and in what form is impossible to determine.”

That is my point. And my question, which you failed to answer, is will you participate in these programs when you become eligible...assuming they are still around.

The VA question was only interesting because your answer was “No”. No further explanation...like SS or Medicare.


59 posted on 06/26/2016 8:29:25 PM PDT by berdie (#No Hill/bern)
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To: berdie

Assume, hypothetically, I said “yes” make your point.


60 posted on 06/27/2016 2:55:21 AM PDT by RFEngineer
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