Posted on Nov 30, 2022
My mom is on tourist visa and doesnt have citizenship. Could she still be seen by military emergency department if she happens to get sick?
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My mom had some major health issue in the past in which has been improved and significantly better for her to do daily activities. She is visiting my duty station, JBLM Washington, during my winter block leave and it is my first time seeing her in 4 years. But I worry if she happens to get sick (she isnt someone strong enough with cold or snow), would she be admitted as a patient if I bring her to army ED (Emergency Department) to get seen?
Thank you for your time!
Thank you for your time!
Medical
Health
Regulation
Emergency Management
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 7
SPC (Join to see), you're really asking two questions.
1) Will my mom be seen at the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) ED if she has a medical issue?
2) What, if anything, will my mom be charged for being seen there?
The answer to your first is yes. Anyone that walks though the doors of an ED will be seen by a doctor and evaluated. If necessary (they are having medical issues which are possibly life threating, etc.) they would be admitted to the hospital. However, if her issues are not "Emergency" type of issues, then she will be discharged.
The answer to your second is 'it depends'. From your question, it doesn't seem as if your mother is an adult dependent of yours or (more importantly) entered into DEERS as one of your dependents.
This means that she will be billed* for the visit. Assuming she has health insurance, it will be billed to her health insurance which would reimburse the charges based on her policy.
I would talk to your mother's insurance provider (and possibly your MTF) ahead of time to see what would be covered or not.
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* Military Treatment Facilities are required by federal law to bill for any care provided to civilians without military benefits.
If the patient has insurance and the MTF has that information on file, they file a claim with their carrier. Once a bill is generated, the MTF has 120 days to work with the insurance company to help facilitate a payment, whether it’s payment in full or payment less a deductible or copay.
Patients are billed if an insurance company denies a claim and all appeals, if there is a balance remaining after insurance payment, or if a patient’s insurance information is not on file. In the absence of payment, as a federal healthcare facility, the MTF is required by law to transfer the remaining balance to the U.S. Department of Treasury for collections.
Military Treatment Facilities are not authorized to waive, reduce, suspend or terminate debt.
1) Will my mom be seen at the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) ED if she has a medical issue?
2) What, if anything, will my mom be charged for being seen there?
The answer to your first is yes. Anyone that walks though the doors of an ED will be seen by a doctor and evaluated. If necessary (they are having medical issues which are possibly life threating, etc.) they would be admitted to the hospital. However, if her issues are not "Emergency" type of issues, then she will be discharged.
The answer to your second is 'it depends'. From your question, it doesn't seem as if your mother is an adult dependent of yours or (more importantly) entered into DEERS as one of your dependents.
This means that she will be billed* for the visit. Assuming she has health insurance, it will be billed to her health insurance which would reimburse the charges based on her policy.
I would talk to your mother's insurance provider (and possibly your MTF) ahead of time to see what would be covered or not.
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* Military Treatment Facilities are required by federal law to bill for any care provided to civilians without military benefits.
If the patient has insurance and the MTF has that information on file, they file a claim with their carrier. Once a bill is generated, the MTF has 120 days to work with the insurance company to help facilitate a payment, whether it’s payment in full or payment less a deductible or copay.
Patients are billed if an insurance company denies a claim and all appeals, if there is a balance remaining after insurance payment, or if a patient’s insurance information is not on file. In the absence of payment, as a federal healthcare facility, the MTF is required by law to transfer the remaining balance to the U.S. Department of Treasury for collections.
Military Treatment Facilities are not authorized to waive, reduce, suspend or terminate debt.
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SFC (Join to see)
SPC (Join to see) don't take your mom to an Army, don't take your mom to any ER. ER's are for the three emergencies - life, limb, or eyesight. If your mom isn't in dire risk of losing one of those in the next twelve hours, you don't take her to an ER. This is what urgent care is for. ER Departments are backed up and will charge exorbitant fees. An ER visit could cost you tens of thousands of dollars after you've waited six or more hours because it's not a high priority case. People have died in Army ER waiting rooms....
Urgent care you make an appointment for the next morning, show up, pay a nominal and fairly predictable fee for the doctor's time and office space as well as the meds. The ER doctor you're seeing has seven years of medical training while the GP you see at the Urgent care has four. The ER doc costs twice per hour, and so does the nurse, nurses aid, medical assistant, emergency X Ray, after hours pharmacy and after hours lab.
So, make good financial decisions about medical care ahead of time. If your mom isn't dying at that moment, take her to urgent care, or one of the Pierce County Community Health Care Clinics. Because, you are an E4 and cannot afford medical debt in your life right now
Urgent care you make an appointment for the next morning, show up, pay a nominal and fairly predictable fee for the doctor's time and office space as well as the meds. The ER doctor you're seeing has seven years of medical training while the GP you see at the Urgent care has four. The ER doc costs twice per hour, and so does the nurse, nurses aid, medical assistant, emergency X Ray, after hours pharmacy and after hours lab.
So, make good financial decisions about medical care ahead of time. If your mom isn't dying at that moment, take her to urgent care, or one of the Pierce County Community Health Care Clinics. Because, you are an E4 and cannot afford medical debt in your life right now
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SPC (Join to see)
COL Randall C. Thank you for the detailed answer and explanation! I would definitely find out about the categories of available insurance health for my mom and yes she is on a valid Visa and I havent seen her at all for 4 years. So I want to make sure that she at least would be seen in case of emergency.
Thank you again, Sir! I really appreciate your help and concerns!
Thank you again, Sir! I really appreciate your help and concerns!
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SPC (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) Thank you so much for your detailed explanation regarding the UC. I really can see what you meant by the ER since I once had appendicitis and was waiting for 6 hours in the military ER and passed out from the pain, definitely could relate to that part.
I really appreciate your help and suggestion! I will definitely look for the UC you mentioned in case anything goes south. Thank you!
I really appreciate your help and suggestion! I will definitely look for the UC you mentioned in case anything goes south. Thank you!
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Just remember, if you go into a civilian emergency room(not a private), they can not turn you down. Must treat you. Yes, you may pay for drugs. Also travel insurance is not that expensive to purchase, I know I do all the time. If she has problems it would be advisable to get it.
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Nobody other than military personnel and dependents are eligible to be seen at military hospitals. Lacey and Tacoma have a number of Urgent Care and ER departments available for civilians
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COL Randall C.
SFC Boyd, that's generally true for all non-emergency situations (i.e., those that do not threaten life, limb or eyesight). Emergency situations are different.
Additionally, there are cases where military hospitals are integrated into the civilian medical system of the local community. This generally happens when an MTF is certified as a trauma center that is better than those available in the surrounding community.
However, your point above about using the Urgent Care and ERs in the community are good ones.
Additionally, there are cases where military hospitals are integrated into the civilian medical system of the local community. This generally happens when an MTF is certified as a trauma center that is better than those available in the surrounding community.
However, your point above about using the Urgent Care and ERs in the community are good ones.
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SFC (Join to see)
COL Randall C. I know that a lot of them, especially BAMC, are utilized by the local community. But as far as I know Harborview in Seattle is the local highest tier trauma unit. As far as the Madigan ER is concerned I believe they only admit patients who are transported in from an ambulance.
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The military ER will see her to address a life threatening emergency situation Once stabilized they would probably move her to a civilian hospital Many unknowns here. If your Mom has health insurance that covers her when she’s out of her country, then care in civilian US hospital will be easier to deal with. She can buy short-term health insurance for the trip to US if she isn’t otherwise covered.
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SPC (Join to see)
Thank you so much for your reply, SFC! I hope she will be alright the entire time she is here for a week so I could enjoy our first Christmas together after 4 years haven't met.
I appreciate it!
I appreciate it!
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Every ED must, by law, treat someone if it is a life threatening emergency. They are required to stabilize them and then discharge them. They are NOT required to treat them beyond that. If they are brought to a Military ED, same laws apply. They will also be billed and it's that person's responsibility to pay &/or submit to their own Health Insurance for reimbursement or payment.
If the person is in the military OR documented as a military dependent in DEERS, they can/will be admitted and treated until they make as close to a full recovery as possible.
If the person is in the military OR documented as a military dependent in DEERS, they can/will be admitted and treated until they make as close to a full recovery as possible.
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