After retirement, are you satisfied with your Tri-Care For life healthcare benefits?

2017-10-09T07:21:33-04:00

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2017 7:55 AM

2017-10-09T07:55:01-04:00

Yes don't use VA here in St Petersburg, FL as they misdiagnosed me, have civilian Dr. As well I have civilian insurance what one doesn't pay the other does so really no cost to me.

Response by MSgt Marshall Schiller made Oct 9 at 2017 7:56 AM

2017-10-09T07:56:19-04:00

My benefits under Tricare were fine until age 65. Then I had to start paying for Medicare for the wife and I.

I joined in 1969, and was promised FREE medical for life. Free isn't free in this case.

Response by Maj Walter Kilar made Oct 9 at 2017 8:00 AM

2017-10-09T08:00:06-04:00

After military retirement I "switched" to Tricare standard. The company I work for has a much better health care plan, so my family uses my company health care and I use the Tricare network and VA for personal needs (with company care listed as primary if I elect to go outside the Tricare network).

Tricare has been good to me and my family, but my family has found much better care in many other cases.

Response by MAJ Robert Boham made Oct 9 at 2017 8:23 AM

2017-10-09T08:23:09-04:00

I guess my question would be if you were happy with your healthcare while you were on active duty. I didn't move after I retired, so it really didn't change much. I know my wife, who is new to the whole Tricare thing in the last two years switched from her insurance to TRICARE, and she was working at one of the largest hospitals in the local area.... and she thinks it is the best healthcare she has has ever had in her life. The only annoying thing is the referral process, which has always been annoying

Response by SFC Adam Potter made Oct 9 at 2017 9:08 AM

2017-10-09T09:08:21-04:00

Tings I am satisfied with with Tri-Care Standard is having no monthly premiums, the deductibles are low, and the catastrophic cap is low.
Areas where it needs to improve: Needs a better network, my wife needed an ENT specialist, and we had no approved providers in our town, had to go 30 miles away to receive the care she needed. The approval process for referrals need to improve as well.

Response by SFC Andrew Miller made Oct 9 at 2017 9:47 AM

2017-10-09T09:47:28-04:00

I have no complaints whatsoever with TRICARE. We used Prime for the family until I retired, and now we have been using Standard for about 6 years. Considering the fact that our catastrophic cap is lower than the deductible of many people I know, there is nothing to complain about.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Oct 9 at 2017 12:34 PM

2017-10-09T12:34:57-04:00

Yes, in every respect I can think of. Acting mainly as a Medicare supplement, it causes us to see effectively zero medical bills besides scrips (which are pretty low too).

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Oct 9 at 2017 1:22 PM

2017-10-09T13:22:11-04:00

I have a disability, and the VA has been great to me.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Oct 9 at 2017 2:02 PM

2017-10-09T14:02:42-04:00

Would you please clarify whether you're referring to satisfaction with a lifetime of Tricare benefits (post-retirement) or satisfaction with benefits under the "Tricare for Life" program? Those are two separate questions. The former involves satisfaction with Tricare in general, whereas the latter involves satisfaction for dual-eligible retirees who are 65 or older (i.e. eligible for both Tricare and Medicare). I'm in the former category, but not the latter.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2017 2:17 PM

2017-10-09T14:17:56-04:00

As stated before, Tricare for Life requires one to have medicare part B which costs.

That said it is much cheaper, and in my opinion better that most, if not all, medicare supplemental policies.

In my case it has covered everything covered by medicare and there has been no extra cost beyond the part B cost.

And is not healthcare for life at no cost which is what retirees were supposed to have.

Response by SFC Dennis A. made Oct 9 at 2017 2:31 PM

2017-10-09T14:31:45-04:00

So far so good, I have never be denied any treatment my doctor has requested.

Response by PO3 John Faria made Oct 9 at 2017 2:32 PM

2017-10-09T14:32:43-04:00

About 1 month, during the Vietnam war, they were going to set p a P2V outfit, but got cancelled.It was with VP31. Lockheed Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Response by SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] made Oct 9 at 2017 4:25 PM

2017-10-09T16:25:34-04:00

Yes we are very satisfied with it . I have found it fits all our of needs. sign 40 yards

Response by SFC Thomas Nichols made Oct 9 at 2017 4:47 PM

2017-10-09T16:47:30-04:00

So far, yep. But then, I live a few miles from a major military hospital.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 9 at 2017 6:27 PM

2017-10-09T18:27:05-04:00

Yes! One of the best deals ever. Coupled with Medicare, TFL makes our hospital and Doctor care no cost to us. The mail-order pharmacy works well and costs are reasonable.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Oct 9 at 2017 11:06 PM

2017-10-09T23:06:10-04:00

Oh hell no. When I enlisted back in 82, I was told I'd get free medical care for myself and dependants for the rest of my life if I did 20. WRONGO oh lowly serviceman, we the congress came up with another broken promise to you.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2017 11:42 PM

2017-10-09T23:42:17-04:00

if you have 100% then you are good, if you are only 90% you have to pay out of pocket. I have to cancelled my cpac mask and my tense unit patches. I have to pay out of pocket

Response by LTC Larry Davis made Oct 10 at 2017 1:40 PM

2017-10-10T13:40:19-04:00

Prior to turning 65, I couldn't afford Tri-Care even though retired and qualified for it. So, no, I am NOT satisfied. Things may change now that I am officially a senior citizen.