Health Care Insurance

BobBigBoy

5-Year Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2011
Messages
148
I know that our DD is covered medically at the Academy. But what happens if she is injured or needs care when on a break and at home? Looking to drop traditional coverage on her and want to know what to do just in case when she is home.
 
If its an emergency, we were always told to head to our nearest care provider. Tricare is accepted many places, which is also nice for service members.
 
LITS in correct. Go to nearest medical facility. TRI-Care is accepted just about everywhere.

Just to add a little "Sadness" to the answer. You might consider your son/daughter to be a college student, but they are 100% in the "Military". No difference whatsoever from the enlisted person who went to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio or the permanent party individual who's been in the military now for 10 years and is a sergeant or a Colonel. Bottom line: They are in the military now. Their job happens to be "Student", but they are in the military. And as such, they are covered 100% by the military for their medical needs.

I know as a parent I wanted to in my mind consider my son a college student the same as my daughter who was at State University at the same time. But they were different. My daughter was a college student and my son was IN the military.
 
Just to add a little "Sadness" to the answer. You might consider your son/daughter to be a college student, but they are 100% in the "Military".

Oh, now you've touched on something!

My 1/c summer at CGA I was assigned to a 210' cutter (USCGC ACTIVE) out of Port Angeles, WA. I was with the cutter for 10 weeks with a classmate of mine (good guy).

Well, at some point my parents decided to come visit us from Tennessee. There was a marathon and my dad was going to run the half. While they were there we (my family) decided to go to Victoria, BC, just across the straits. I had already been to Victoria with my classmate earlier in the summer.

We headed over via ferry and went through Canadian customs.

When asked if we had been to Victoria before my parents answered no, and I said yes. I was then asked when I had last visited. I told him. I was asked why I was in the area..... and that's where it got interesting.....

Customs officer: Why were you in the area?
LITS: I'm in the military and on a ship in Port Angeles for the summer.
Mother: No he's not. He's a student.

That was followed by a fairly clear glare from LITS

Customs officer: Do you want to get your story straight?
LITS: I'm a cadet in the U.S. Coast Guard and I am stationed on a ship in Port Angeles for the summer.



At the border of a foreign country is not the spot you want your mother to find out you're not only a student but a member of the military. I'll just say the conversation leaving the customs area between my mother, my father and me was interesting.... :wink:
 
It's definitely difficult for some parents to understand. Most understand when their child graduates high school, "ENLISTS", and heads off to basic training. (Although, I do know some that have tried calling their son/daughter during basic training and told they can't speak with them and the parent couldn't understand). But most understand enlisting means being in the military.

But when it comes to the various academies, and because their son/daughter is getting a college education, they just assume that they are college students. They think they should have access to their medical, finances, etc... I've had this conversation with more than one parent. It usually gets interesting when Jan/Feb of their first years comes by and the parent tries putting little johnny or jannie on their taxes as a dependent. In some cases it can be done the first year if Mom/Dad provided the majority of support. But for most, the military provided the majority of support. I've actually seen some parents go viral once they realize that their son/daughter is truly in the military. Some actually thought that they would do 4 years of college and then go into the reserves. As an ALO/BGO/MALO/"and I cant remember what a coast guard liaison officer is called"; it's important to make sure that not only little johnny and jannie know what the are getting into; but also mom and dad.

The good news is, they are completely covered by the military for their medical.
 
It's definitely difficult for some parents to understand. Most understand when their child graduates high school, "ENLISTS", and heads off to basic training. (Although, I do know some that have tried calling their son/daughter during basic training and told they can't speak with them and the parent couldn't understand). But most understand enlisting means being in the military.

But when it comes to the various academies, and because their son/daughter is getting a college education, they just assume that they are college students. They think they should have access to their medical, finances, etc... I've had this conversation with more than one parent. It usually gets interesting when Jan/Feb of their first years comes by and the parent tries putting little johnny or jannie on their taxes as a dependent. In some cases it can be done the first year if Mom/Dad provided the majority of support. But for most, the military provided the majority of support. I've actually seen some parents go viral once they realize that their son/daughter is truly in the military. Some actually thought that they would do 4 years of college and then go into the reserves. As an ALO/BGO/MALO/"and I cant remember what a coast guard liaison officer is called"; it's important to make sure that not only little johnny and jannie know what the are getting into; but also mom and dad.

The good news is, they are completely covered by the military for their medical.
After attending the swearing in on the second day of basic, viewing the thousands of web guy BCT1/BCT2 pictures and attending the A-day parade, one would have to be in some sort of denial to think that our kids are not in the military. Sure they can leave anytime they want up until Junior year but while they are there, they are definitely IN the Air Force. I knew that the moment I saw Bratka about to inhale that poor kids head just after getting off the bus. Thanks for the tax tip though, didn't realize that one.
 
I knew that the moment I saw Bratka about to inhale that poor kids head just after getting off the bus.

I love the picture of Bratka. I was showing the picture to a co-worker whose middle schooler was complaining that her swim coach was a yeller. My co-worker showed her daughter what yelling and invading ones personal space really looked like. The daughter was impressed and proceeded to win the Indiana State championship in her event that weekend. Bratka is very motivating, even to kids who aren't Basics.
 
I love the picture of Bratka. I was showing the picture to a co-worker whose middle schooler was complaining that her swim coach was a yeller. My co-worker showed her daughter what yelling and invading ones personal space really looked like. The daughter was impressed and proceeded to win the Indiana State championship in her event that weekend. Bratka is very motivating, even to kids who aren't Basics.

I had to use the facilities at the A-day parade and went up the steps turned to the left and almost ran straight into Bratka. I felt like I was in the presence of a rock star. I introduced myself and asked him if he realized how famous he is and he just guffawed an aw shucks almost embarrassed response...it was a highlight for me that I got to shake is hand. He is a very humble and nice guy, a real credit to the Academy. I am proud that my DD and Bratka share the same institution. I will say though, it is almost like he is straight out of central casting. From his stature and spirit all the way to that great name, one you will never forget. Hopefully, I will run into him again at Parent's Weekend.
 
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