i am currently trying to find information on the plus and minus of medical retirement vs "sticking it out". I am trying to have a surgical procedure done on my back for disc replacement and they are talking about spinal fusion. i was reading that it instantly puts me on a medical retirement board provided i do not FULLY recover. I am trying to find an alternative to an actual fusion procedure but am finding that most surgeons who perform less evasive type surgeries do not accept any form of tricare. They are pretty much "in it for the money". The new LSI (Laser Spine Institute) in Tampa does not accept anyone's insurance they just charge you 30,000 dollars for the procedure then overcharge any insurance that you may have then send you the difference so you can pay off the balance. Not really sure how that works other than it sounds shady.
I am a "retread" Marine who originally joined in 1987 and i currently have just under 4.5 years til retirement. I want to finish out my tour but my back hurts so bad sometimes that i am contemplating just going ahead with the fusion and seeing what happens. I work 12 hours a day 6 days a week and have no life with my new wife and kids.
can anyone offer me some advice? im not here to listen to someone bitch about how messed up stuff is. i want some real advice to make a well informed decision about the rest of my career and the rest of my life.
thank you in advance.
bpg
I am a "retread" Marine who originally joined in 1987 and i currently have just under 4.5 years til retirement. I want to finish out my tour but my back hurts so bad sometimes that i am contemplating just going ahead with the fusion and seeing what happens. I work 12 hours a day 6 days a week and have no life with my new wife and kids.
can anyone offer me some advice? im not here to listen to someone bitch about how messed up stuff is. i want some real advice to make a well informed decision about the rest of my career and the rest of my life.
thank you in advance.
bpg