Healthcare at USMA

[SF1775]

Can someone give some insight onto the healthcare procedures and policies for cadets. For example, if I were to have an eye exam next year while at the Academy, would it be at the Keller Army Community Hospital on post? And would the Army pay for say a new contacts prescription?

These types of things aren't really mentioned in admissions and acceptance literature.

 

[lotrjedi13]

Assuming your eye exam is routine, it would be at the optometry clinic in Mologne Cadet Health Clinic in cadet area.

The Army will not pay for contacts (excepting to treat a very few conditions), but they will pay for a pair of civilian glasses every year in addition to an issued pair of glasses and sunglasses.

Here's a summary of how Tricare works for glasses/contacts: http://www.tricare.mil/CoveredServices/Vision/GlassesContacts.aspx.

 

[SF1775]

Interesting. I guess contacts are considered cosmetic as opposed to strictly medical.

Out of curiosity, if a cadet developed astigmatism, which I may be prone to, would that be a commissioning concern, and/or covered by the medical?

 

[NavyHoops]

Contacts are considered cosmetic, but they will write you a script if you wear them and you can still order them on your own. What most of us did. Astigmatism shouldn't be an issue. Might DQ you for aviation. Plenty of folks have them.

 

[kp2001]

Contacts are considered cosmetic, but they will write you a script if you wear them and you can still order them on your own. What most of us did. Astigmatism shouldn't be an issue. Might DQ you for aviation. Plenty of folks have them.

Many military eye docs aren't writing contact lens scripts anymore as it isn't quite as cut and dry as converting a spectacle prescription. Prior to me getting PRK I was able to get 1 Rx from a military optometrist in 2003. Thereafter I was never able to get another and always had to go to an outside optometrist on my own dime for the contact lenses. Naval aviators get contacts for free from the military due to them being considered necessary for safe flight operations, but those are about the only exceptions to the rule.