Military Clinics That Will No Longer Serve Retirees

[mickeyd]

If you are a military retiree and use a local MTF, this may affect your medical care. Luckily the MTF that I use is not listed now. Cost reduction is the reason for all of this.

"The military health system is in the midst of implementing several significant reforms aimed at building a more integrated and effective system of readiness and health," said Tom McCaffery, assistant secretary of defense for health affairs. "We reviewed all facilities through the lens of their contributions to military readiness -- that includes MTFs [being] operated to ensure service members are medically ready to train and deploy. It also means MTFs are effectively utilized as platforms that enable our military medical personnel to acquire and maintain the clinical skills and experience that prepares them for deployment in support of combat operations around the world."

https://www.military.com/daily-news...inics-closing-retirees-military-families.html

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

I was sweating this but my facilities survived the axe.

 

[Offgrid Organic Farmer]

We moved away from military bases a couple of years after I retired. We are very happy with Tricare Prime.

 

[razztazz]

Who the hell would want to be treated in a military clinic in the first place? One of the best things about being retired is I don't have to go where they tell me for care.

 

[Jerry1]

Who the hell would want to be treated in a military clinic in the first place? One of the best things about being retired is I don't have to go where they tell me for care.

Exactly. I know that there are also vets who go to VA facilities even though they have good private insurance. I suspect it’s is because the VA won’t charge any out of pocket, but there’s no way I’d choose the VA unless I had to. Note, I suspect the VA handles service injuries better than most, but I’m just talking about normal healthcare.

 

[Gulfbeach]

We use the same private practitioner as before retirement, but do use the military pharmacy.

 

[JDARNELL]

Who the hell would want to be treated in a military clinic in the first place? One of the best things about being retired is I don't have to go where they tell me for care.

Yep. I go off base now and just pay the copays. Much happier. I am done with the captain of the day.

 

[braumeister]

Exactly. I know that there are also vets who go to VA facilities even though they have good private insurance. I suspect it’s is because the VA won’t charge any out of pocket, but there’s no way I’d choose the VA unless I had to. Note, I suspect the VA handles service injuries better than most, but I’m just talking about normal healthcare.

Let me offer another side to that.

I'm perfectly happy with my civilian doctors (I'm on Medicare/TFL) and I have no need to use the VA, but I make it a point to go in to my local VA clinic twice a year anyway. Once for a flu shot in the fall and once for an annual checkup. In practice, the annual checkup is really more of a courtesy call, although I usually get my blood work checked. They have also been great about providing me with really good orthotics (service-connected injury) that help me a lot.

Why would I do that if I don't have to? Two reasons.

• By staying active in the VA system, I have a backup healthcare provider if I should ever need one. They're really nice (and very competent) people, at least in my area, and I appreciate their dedication.
• My visits provide them with more resources. On one of my first visits, I mentioned that I was a little embarrassed to be there, since I felt I was taking them away from others who needed their care more. They quickly corrected me, saying that every patient they saw counted towards their annual budget, and since they didn't have to do much for me, they were delighted to have me come in.

 

[Offgrid Organic Farmer]

Who the hell would want to be treated in a military clinic in the first place? One of the best things about being retired is I don't have to go where they tell me for care.

I was treated by HM corpsmen/medics for 20 years.

Now that I am on Tricare I can walk into any hospital or doctor's office in this state, they all accept Tricare, and I am seen by MDs. Real actual DOCTORS.

 

[Gulfbeach]

We had many active duty years of excellent military medical care, for ourselves and our child. It did take being proactive but it was an outstanding benefit. It was also a plus to have electronic files that followed us from place to place, or in the olden days, a very thick cardboard file!

 

[Red Badger]

Who the hell would want to be treated in a military clinic in the first place? One of the best things about being retired is I don't have to go where they tell me for care.

+1.

When I was on AD, DW and I both had some really crappy medical care on occasion. We're very happy paying very modest deductibles and co-pays.

But for those who are affected by this change, I hope things work out for the best.

 

[sengsational]

Announced February 3rd. Hmmm. Saving space for active military in case they get an influx? Excuse me, I need another roll of tinfoil.

 

[friar1610]

I know many military retirees who have purposely located themselves near military bases to take advantage of the medical/commissary/exchange benefits. Besides the fact that I wanted to get out from underneath military medical care, I always thought this was a bit short-sighted if it was a major part of the location decision. BRAC closes bases. WalMart, Cotsco, BJ's, etc. generally have better prices than PXs these days as well as a much better selection. Watching supermarket sales gets you as good a deal on most items as commissaries offer. Medical facilities change missions and reduce or eliminate services.(And, as you age, it may be more important to have continuity in your docs instead of ones who are there on 3 year tours.) I have good friends in San Diego and Pensacola who are happy as clams to be located near military complexes and they probably would have settled in those locations regardless, so the facilities are a bonus. Personally, about the only thing I miss in the non-military area where I've settled is a good military fitness center/gym with no fees.

We do a semi-annual commissary/exchange run these days but are increasingly underwhelmed by what we come home with. Probably time to go to annual.

 

[braumeister]

We do a semi-annual commissary/exchange run these days but are increasingly underwhelmed by what we come home with. Probably time to go to annual.

I guess it depends on the distance. We're just about a one hour drive from the nearest, and I make at least a half dozen commissary trips each year. visiting the exchange on maybe two of those trips. Prices and quality are still unbeatable on some of our regular purchases. It certainly wouldn't be a hardship to lose it, but after a career in the military I still get a nice feeling of nostalgia whenever I'm on a base.

 

[ncbill]

Exactly. I know that there are also vets who go to VA facilities even though they have good private insurance. I suspect it’s is because the VA won’t charge any out of pocket, but there’s no way I’d choose the VA unless I had to. Note, I suspect the VA handles service injuries better than most, but I’m just talking about normal healthcare.

Local VA clinic provides the most expensive post-transplant meds needed for my FIL...otherwise he'd have a hefty bill for those prescription meds even under the most generous Medicare drug plan.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

We use both VA and Tricare. VA has a couple departments that we feel really excel. Also its a very convenient second opinion. Also, we find their physical therapy treatment regimen to be better as they send out in town for honest to God good PT. At the MTF we get more of a one time demo and patted on the butt to go figure it out at home. DH just completed the best PT of his life care of the VA, and the PT herself triangulated and diagnosed the real issue that had escaped approx. 15 docs/surgeons/radiologists. He's never felt better since completing this PT and I am so grateful for it.

 

[MrsHaloFIRE]

I know many military retirees who have purposely located themselves near military bases to take advantage of the medical/commissary/exchange benefits. .

Location near 2 excellent free to me gyms was very high on my retirement priority list. PX/BX, nah you can keep it. Commissary for huge stickups, but there are better fruits/vegetables out in town. I don't know how commissary gets D grade vegetables but they do.

 

[JoPeter57]

I retired after 20 years active duty USN in '96. I've had the same civilian Tricare Prime doctor since '99. All the specialist are within 5 miles of where I live. Even the sleep study overnight was done 3 miles away. I don't mind paying $20 co-pays and $30 specialist co-pays. I even do my 90 day Rx from Express Scripts, although there will be a time (i'm 62),in the near future, that I will be fully retired and will get my meds free on base (about 8 miles away) in Everett, WA.