Join Early Retirement Today
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Military Vets - Tricare Experience
Old 06-11-2017, 03:44 PM   #1
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Red Badger's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Hog Mountian
Posts: 2,077
Military Vets - Tricare Experience

Army Reserve retiree here (with 15 years active / 15 reserve). Just turned 60 and retiring from mega-corp end of this month. I wont miss my present co insurance with ~ $400 monthly premiums and $3600 deductible.

During my last visit to my primary care doc, I mentioned my pending transition to Tricare. He was very complimentary and said they were among the best in dealing with patient care, what's covered, etc.

So, seeking feedback from other veterans here on your Tricare experience.

And - thank you very much for your service to your country.
__________________
Never let yesterday use up too much of today.
W. Rogers
Red Badger is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 06-11-2017, 03:49 PM   #2
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
mickeyd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: South Texas~29N/98W Just West of Woman Hollering Creek
Posts: 6,668
Shhh...Not too loud. Medicare/Tricare is too darn good, but DW and I have earned it, so we are keeping it.
__________________
Part-Owner of Texas

Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read. Groucho Marx

In dire need of: faster horses, younger woman, older whiskey, more money.
mickeyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2017, 03:53 PM   #3
Moderator
braumeister's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,155
I used Tricare Standard for over 20 years and had only a few very minor problems during that period. Then the transition to Medicare/TFL was seamless and even better.

During those Tricare Standard years, I also had Mediplus, which is the supplemental insurance offered by MOAA. I thought that was excellent, too.
__________________
I thought growing old would take longer.
braumeister is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2017, 04:20 PM   #4
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: New York City
Posts: 2,838
Im a veteran so i might be called biased.I think the ones that need it, should get 5 star medical care. I also think the ones that come home with no arms or legs should get a 5,000 sq foot house for free. No taxes, and generous utility allowance, the works.. When i see an ad asking for charity for disabled vets i hit the roof. Why should they need charity, we owe them a great life after what they went thru. I could go on one of my incoherent rants now but i think i made my point.
__________________
Withdrawal Rate currently zero, Pension 137 % of our spending, Wasted 5 years of my prime working extra for a safe withdrawal rate. I can live like a King for a year, or a Prince for the rest of my life. I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic
Blue Collar Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 05:55 AM   #5
gone traveling
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 435
I have Tricare but I have not used it. I carried my health insurance into retirement, so that is my primary. Tricare pays my wife's copay but will not pay mine (the one time I used it 3 years ago). I'm interested in this thread as I will turn 65 in april and I think things may change for me.
kitesurfer2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 08:32 AM   #6
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
ExFlyBoy5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
Have Tricare Prime and hands down, it's the best benefit I get from my years in the service. Absolutely no complaints about it...zero, nada. I could go into great detail about a spinal tumor my DW had but I will spare you the details...all I will say is that I am very, Very, VERY happy with how it was handled by Tricare (was able to use an out of network Doc). At times I actually feel a little guilty about the benefit.
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
ExFlyBoy5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 09:17 AM   #7
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: New York City
Posts: 2,838
Quote:
Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5 View Post
Have Tricare Prime and hands down, it's the best benefit I get from my years in the service. Absolutely no complaints about it...zero, nada. I could go into great detail about a spinal tumor my DW had but I will spare you the details...all I will say is that I am very, Very, VERY happy with how it was handled by Tricare (was able to use an out of network Doc). At times I actually feel a little guilty about the benefit.
Dont feel guilty, you earned it. When i went to the cemetery on memorial day to visit my father and plant a flag, i saw a few other flags. Those buried sure wish they still had it .
__________________
Withdrawal Rate currently zero, Pension 137 % of our spending, Wasted 5 years of my prime working extra for a safe withdrawal rate. I can live like a King for a year, or a Prince for the rest of my life. I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic, I will stay on topic
Blue Collar Guy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 11:54 AM   #8
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Midwest
Posts: 2,960
Quote:
Originally Posted by ExFlyBoy5 View Post
Have Tricare Prime and hands down, it's the best benefit I get from my years in the service. Absolutely no complaints about it...zero, nada. I could go into great detail about a spinal tumor my DW had but I will spare you the details...all I will say is that I am very, Very, VERY happy with how it was handled by Tricare (was able to use an out of network Doc). At times I actually feel a little guilty about the benefit.
I'll admit it's maybe a bit difficult for an honest person to not feel something approaching guilt given the way the rest of the system works for Our Fellow Americans. But at least we did have to actually do something in exchange for it.

Ask any rich guy who has done nothing except be born and he will tell you he has earned everything and is entitled to it. And even if he's more realistic about the nature of great wealth he still has no intention of giving up his ability to get the best medical attention out there. He'll keep that.

That assuages any of those "Hey I'm a pretty lucky bastard to have TriCare" feelings I get.
razztazz is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 03:35 PM   #9
Full time employment: Posting here.
RetiredGypsy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 979
I had Tricare Prime. I liked it enough I'm planning on getting back on it after an administrative snafu somehow removed me from the retired list.

The Tricare clinics off base were easy to get into, and there were no tests that couldn't be ordered because of insurance protocols. They worked great coordinating with at least the military hospitals and on base clinics.

And being able to have a spouse on it, and the incredibly low out of pocket expenses are well worth it too.
__________________
I'm free and I like it!
RetiredGypsy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 03:54 PM   #10
Recycles dryer sheets
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 174
I'm 70 and enrolled in Tricare for Life. I do not live near a military base and spouse sometimes has to travel across state lines to find providers that will accept Tricare. Almost everyone seems to accept Medicare making Tricare and Medicare a winning combination when you reach 65
btdt22 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-12-2017, 07:40 PM   #11
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,633
Quote:
Originally Posted by braumeister View Post
I used Tricare Standard for over 20 years and had only a few very minor problems during that period. Then the transition to Medicare/TFL was seamless and even better.

During those Tricare Standard years, I also had Mediplus, which is the supplemental insurance offered by MOAA. I thought that was excellent, too.
This is very similar to my experience. I did spend a few years as a pre-Medicare military retiree on my wife's employer's plan. For those years TRICARE was the secondary. I had a major surgery during that period and between the two coverages paid not a cent.

MEDICARE + TFL is better than I would have ever imagined!
__________________
friar1610
friar1610 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2017, 10:50 AM   #12
Moderator Emeritus
Nords's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oahu
Posts: 26,855
Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Badger View Post
Army Reserve retiree here (with 15 years active / 15 reserve). Just turned 60 and retiring from mega-corp end of this month. I wont miss my present co insurance with ~ $400 monthly premiums and $3600 deductible.

During my last visit to my primary care doc, I mentioned my pending transition to Tricare. He was very complimentary and said they were among the best in dealing with patient care, what's covered, etc.
We enjoy our local clinic on Tricare Prime, and the doctors do a good job, but the bureaucracy (the care contractor) does a terrible job.

We've had billing problems, paying problems, and random changing-your-PCM-in-our-database-without-your-permission problems.
__________________
*

Co-author (with my daughter) of “Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence.”
Author of the book written on E-R.org: "The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement."

I don't spend much time here— please send a PM.
Nords is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-18-2017, 05:19 PM   #13
Recycles dryer sheets
Rowdy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115
I'm on Tricare Retired Reserve (TRR) while I wait for Tricare at age 60. I pay for this, however, it is quite affordable in comparison to other policies with the same level of coverage. TRR is basically Tricare Standard; has been a great policy, allowing visits to specialists without the requirement for insurance referrals. I would say it's the best insurance we've had of all our various civilian policies. So far no billing or other issues.
Rowdy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2017, 12:24 PM   #14
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso)
Give me a forum ...
ExFlyBoy5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2013
Location: ATL --> Flyover Country
Posts: 6,649
Speaking of Tricare, for those that have Prime...they have launched the urgent-care pilot program. Long story short, most members will be able to go to an urgent care clinic up to twice in a FY without having to get a referral from your PCM. Initially it was going to be for a smaller group, but they have greatly extended it. There has been quite a bit of negative news about Tricare lately, but this is definitely a GOOD change.

https://www.tricare.mil/Plans/Specia...rgentCarePilot
__________________
FIRE'd in 2014 @ 40 Years Old
Professional Retiree
ExFlyBoy5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2017, 03:15 PM   #15
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Eagle43's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: DFW
Posts: 2,015
After retjring from the military I had Tricare prime which supplemented megacorp's primary insurance. Since 65 I have had TFL as a supplement to Medicare. Since a military installation is nearby I get free pharmacy drugs (usually). I have no complaints.
__________________
Resist much. Obey Little. . . . Ed Abbey

Disclaimer: My Posts are for my amusement only.
Eagle43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Military retirees: USFHP vs Tricare? Gabieta Health and Early Retirement 9 03-20-2019 08:52 AM
My experience with Tricare Retiree Dental Plan cnelson Health and Early Retirement 16 08-02-2015 07:35 PM
Twitter Experience Like ER-Forum Experience? TromboneAl Other topics 10 03-23-2015 12:17 PM
Soon to be Military Retiree - Tricare Dental or Other? Aviator Health and Early Retirement 8 08-10-2012 10:16 PM
Tricare, Military Pensions and Fairness mickeyd Health and Early Retirement 56 11-08-2010 10:45 PM

» Quick Links

 
All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:13 PM.
 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.