Retiree/VA Medical Coverage

[Bullet]

Bullet, please go back and read the original post. I didn’t start the disparaging remarks about Tricare and VA and the posters were not simply stating their preferences, they were stating that the systems are broken.

Done. And no, you didn't start the remarks about Tricare insurance and the VA medical system. You just started a thread where you voiced their opinions as "disparaging the systems", and gave anecdotes as to your experiences. Everyone has differences of experience, which will impact their opinion. Perhaps we should allow all here seeking knowledge to hear both sides of the equation. Perhaps a better and more illuminating thread for the young adults here would be "tell me about your experiences and why you chose what you chose", but you went instead with the "my experiences and opinions counts more than yours" option.

Some like you have had wonderful experiences with the TriCare insurance and VA medical systems. Some, like Pima and I, have found other options we found more to our needs and desires, based on bad experiences with both. I think a little knowledge of both sides of the coin can go a long way in making smart decisions based on particular needs.

Surely you have told the young E-7 who is contemplating leaving the service that, should he be layed off from that lucrative civilian job for which he is leaving, that COBRA premiums while he is looking for another job, will probably cost him and his family $12,000 or so per year. That should he want to retire before Medicare kicks in at 65, medical insure will be in the same range or higher for just him and his wife. Yes, retiree medical benefits are a major reason to make the military a career.

Please look a little closer at my posts. Never said guaranteed coverage for life was a bad thing. All I said (and Pima was implying) was that there may be BETTER options, if available to you. Options that better fit your needs and desires. But it is always nice to have that safety blanket if the options aren't there. In our case, we found something we like better for now, for reasons we both stated. YOUR experience with the VA might have been good (they saw you within minutes of your appointment, terrific! How long did you have to wait for them to MAKE you an appointment? From what I've seen, the typical VA referral took WEEKS.). Mine, not so much.

As to medical benefits being a major reason to stay until retirement? Perhaps. But I also think people should understand that it may not be the best plan for THEM. If it all you got, having guaranteed insurance coverage is VERY handy. But if you want better (and can afford it), there are other options that may ft your needs better.

Pima bemoans lack of choice but has never been under Standard which promotes choice.

Perhaps Pima misspoke in a previous post. Or perhaps her bemoaning lack of choice in which doctor was willing to accept us as Tricare patients confused you. We ARE currently enrolled in Standard. Perhaps in your area finding a physician or specialist willing to accept this form of insurance hasn't been a problem. But in our case, we had to contact several specialists for some medical issues before we found one who accepted Tricare Standard. Thus a lack of "choice", even for a system which was designed around "choice".

I just hate to see a system besmirched by someone who has never really experienced it. And I really hope it will not negatively affect a career choice;

Neither do I. Lucky for us we HAVE experienced it, so I guess we can "besmirch" away. We'd rather view it as "we found that while Tricare is good, we could do better. And while the VA is performing miracles trying to meet everyone's needs, the cracks are showing. You may be able to find something that better fits your needs.". More of a warning of: "Yeah, you'll have medical coverage for life, guaranteed. But the system doesn't match the "glossy brochure", and you need to be aware of the full story".

Sorry if you feel this bit of experience and truth as we see it may make some future member contemplate ditching early. We feel it just makes them better prepared for when they do retire and they now realize that it ain't all it was advertised.

The medical coverage IS a great benefit for future military retirees. One of many great benefits. I hope each of the young men and women here stick around long enough to take advantage of them. But I also hope they become educated enough to understand that ALL benefits have limits and issues, and what they really should strive for when they reach military retirement is to continue to work to do better. The benefits only take you so far, and a smart person would look to always do better to fit THEIR particular needs.

But overall, debate is good. It gets different experiences and perspectives out in public for all to digest and come up with their own conclusions. Sorry if you found my experiences "disparaging". I'd just prefer to label them "different than yours".

Perhaps we can tie up all the "hot topics" on these forums recently and start a thread placing the blame for the faling standards of the TriCare and VA issues on Adm Fowler's shoulders?

 

[Mongo]

We ARE currently enrolled in Standard.

AND YES, retirees pay for tri-care, thus we pay 2 insurance payments. The irony is under Tri-Care we pay 128 a month..............

Confused. Standard does not charge premiums.

Sorry if you found my experiences "disparaging". I'd just prefer to label them "different than yours".

I hate to continue off subject but since this has turned into a critique of my posting methods, please allow me.

The following is the comment to which I was originally referring. I see nothing constructive in it as far as Pima expressing views of her experiences. To me, it was an unfair blanket condemnation of the system to which I felt compelled to reply. Sorry that my reply did not meet your standards.

If he thinks it is working so well, I would love to talk to him, since as a newly retired spouse, Bullet and I do everything humanly possible to stay away from tri-care.

Yes, choice is good and everyone should make the best decisions for themselves. I guess our perspectives are different in many ways. In a country where health care is a crisis, with some areas experiencing 25% unemployment and 50% of emergency room patients do not have insurance, choosing between a Cadillac and an Chevy is not an option. Is the glass half full or half empty? I think it is half full. And believe that our leaders are looking for the pitcher to fill it the rest of the way up. Tricare has issues. The same as all other managed systems. VA has issues. There will be more in the future. Your issues seem to be with the Administrative portion. Yes, I agree. That portion is almost broken. However, changes are being made. For the care portion, changes have already been made. The five clinics I have visited have all been managed well and care has been extremely professional. In the private sector, physicians want to make money. They can only bill a fixed amount for each patient. The solution is maximum patient loading. I seem to, more often than not, feel that the Dr is rushing me. In the VA, each individual physician has the personal choice as to whether they will be overbooked and how many. Most carry a very manageable patient load. One almost never feels rushed. Kinda like 'visiting' the flight doc at the bar. That is important to me. And I suppose being Category I doesn’t hurt as far as scheduling.

 

[Luigi59]

Sorry if you feel this bit of experience and truth as we see it may make some future member contemplate ditching early.

Sorry if you found my experiences "disparaging".

No apologies necessary. A valid and pertinent post. Thanks.

 

[Pima]

I do have to agree with part of Bullet's post that has gotten lost in this thread. Tri-Care is not an issue for an AD member. If this is really about informing our cadets regarding military care, we must stress to them this is a MOOT thread. AD members will be seen by military docs on military bases, unless it is something incredibly unique. The military will do everything in their human power not to send you to a non-military doc. The main reason is that military docs are well aware of the regs regarding health care, whereas, the civilian doc may not be up to snuff(reg wise, not ability wise), and that could cause further issues for the military member. If the AD member is seeing a civilian doc, IMHO, the least of your worries is about TRICARE, because most likely it is a serious health condition to force you on the economy.

In 20 yrs of service Bullet never saw a civilian doc. Even when he had to be referred out one time it was to a military hospital 70 miles away. They did not send him downtown.

Nobody knows what TRICARE will look like in 5 yrs. I say 5 yrs because that is the earliest a cadet will be able to have a dependent. TRICARE during AD life is used more frequently by the family members, than by the AD member.

Nobody will know what TRICARE or the VA will look like in 20 yrs, This is really all moot. There is no advice here we are giving to cadets that is pertinent to them now.

20 yrs ago when we got in, we didn't have TRICARE, we had CHAMPUS. We didn't have United Concordia for dental, we had DELTA. Every base that we were at had OB/GYN and Maternity wards, now they are rarities. Every base had ER's and now they are gone. Base hospitals had orthopedics, and the ability to cast broken bones. Every base took on retirees, now they are shutting them out. I am not talking about tiny satellite posts, I am speaking of 5K+ personnel size. We do not know what will be the system 5, 10 or 20 yrs from now. Why get caught up in Prime v Standard when there is no reason to?

For now, the cadets should know they are in excellent hands with the docs and hospitals that they will be treated at for any ailment. They are the top of the top, and never once did I ever feel I had inferior care from these docs. I knew they cared about not only Bullet's health, but our family's health too.

 

[Capt MJ]

I do have to agree with part of Bullet's post that has gotten lost in this thread. Tri-Care is not an issue for an AD member. If this is really about informing our cadets regarding military care, we must stress to them this is a MOOT thread. AD members will be seen by military docs on military bases, unless it is something incredibly unique. The military will do everything in their human power not to send you to a non-military doc. The main reason is that military docs are well aware of the regs regarding health care, whereas, the civilian doc may not be up to snuff(reg wise, not ability wise), and that could cause further issues for the military member. If the AD member is seeing a civilian doc, IMHO, the least of your worries is about TRICARE, because most likely it is a serious health condition to force you on the economy. QUOTE]

Piling on, it's good of Pima to re-focus on cadets and midshipmen being seen at MTF (military treatment facilities). That said, USNA has an arrangement with Anne Arundel Medical Center for certain things, such as ACL repair. We have had several sponsor mids, one just last week, who had their ACL or other non-critical ortho surgery at this well-regarded Annapolis healthcare facility. Occasionally, there are capacity challenges at NNMC Bethesda and Walter Reed, so active duty TRICARE covers them completely at the civilian facility. While on AD at the Pentagon, with war casualties increasing the load at metro DC MTFs, I was referred out to a civilian TRICARE provider for routine derm care and other medical issues. That was the first time I ever saw civilian providers during my AD career.

 

[Pima]

Interesting that you were sent out to TRICARE because I would have thought Belvoir or Andrews would have taken you as AD.

Additionally, let me caveat why I stated they will do everything they can to keep you within the system as an AD member. My experience is coming from a flyers wife. The flying world is very cognizant of what can be okay for a traditional AD member may not be okay for a flyer. Typically for flyers, they must be close to their death bed before visiting a flight doc, because that may cause 2 things.

1. DNIF (Duties Not Including Flying)
2. Finding something that would permanently keep them on DNIF.

Flyers are also not allowed to self medicate. That includes taking OTC cough medicine. They basically all just bear through it. Can't tell you how many times Bullet has placed a dislocated toe or finger back in by himself, because he was not going to a Doc for that. He also would never go to the doc for an ear infection, because that may cause more problems.

The one thing that should be pertinent to parents of cadets, especially ones that want to fly or jump, or take jobs that their health is a major issue, is that you can scream or yell at them to go to the doc, but it is like talking to a brick wall. It is ingrained in their craniums that any illness, even, a cold must be reported. This causes fear that it could hurt their future plans or career. If you look on these threads for appointments, the joke has always been now wrap yourself up in bubble wrap. This fear of injury and illness starts long before they ever become AD.

Unfortunately, for some career aspects within the military, more harm is done to the AD member than good because of this fear. Just recently, Bullet's last CC was diagnosed with stomach cancer while deployed in the sandbox. He is in remission, however, because he ignored the signs, and blew it off as a stomach ache, or indigestion, he was diagnosed at stage 3. Had he gone to the doc and acknowledged the pain, they may have caught it earlier. His wife was all over him before going to the sandbox to see the flight doc. She got the same response as many flyer's spouse..."are you crazy, if I do they are just going to put me on DNIF, and that's just silly, because all it is indigestion, maybe an ulcer at worse because of the stress I am under". No wife wants to hear your spouse is on a medical airlift out of Ramstein stateside because they have been diagnosed with cancer.

OBTW, I agree the system is overloaded at the larger hospitals due to the injured. There was no room for him at the major bases on the east coast (Walter Reed or Bethesda, not even at Womack), thus, he was operated on at Duke. Duke for yrs has been the back up for the military (our DS was seen by a Duke pediatric cardiologist at Womack)

 

[sprog]

If you are planning on claiming a disability for VA compensation purposes, it most certainly behooves you to have the condition documented in service treatment records, and then to file the claim as soon as possible after separation.

I can understand not wanting to report every ache and pain while on AD. As someone who had access to nukes, I had to be on the Personnel Reliability Program (PRP) while on AD. Being on PRP means virtually no self-medicating (some approved OTC meds are ok), and you had to be taken down on PRP for at least 48 hours after you got a new prescription for something. Thus, there wasn't a huge motivation to report every ache and cramp. That said, everyone should get a separation interview/examination with a doctor on base, and it will be to your advantage to honestly report every medical concern you have and have had in service at that time. VA is big on looking for what is evidenced in treatment records, so if it is seen on separation/retirement (and especially if you file a claim shortly after discharge) it will look positively on the claim.

 

[Pima]

Some people even through out-processing for VA will not disclose conditions, because disability % can play a part in their hiring for their next career. Again, most flyers who become busdrivers in the sky will never ask for any VA disability benefits.

I do agree that the VA is big into researching any documentation of claims. This is also why, it may take months before you get approval for disability. However, some claims are accepted without previous health issues. Again, for people who work on flight lines, it is not uncommon that they get things, such as, tinitus or loss of certain hearing levels due to the high pitch drone of the work environment. They maybe in certain levels that are acceptable for the military, but when it comes to retirement, it may make them eligible for disability.

A couple of things to understand about disability.
1. Many members who have health issues, but yet they do not affect their daily living will still place a claim. There is nothing wrong with this. What they are doing is documenting for their future that this occurred while on AD. For example, Bullet has arthritis in his right pinkie because he injured it at SOS. It does not cause any issue now, but we do not know what it will be like 20 yrs from now. Documenting at separation places it in his official record.

2. Disability does not mean you collect a disability check from the govt and never work again. There is a separate level of disability for that. What it does mean is that whatever % the VA determines your disability is that portion is not taxable come your retirement pay check. For example, Bullet was deemed 10%. 10% of his pay is not taxable. WE don't get a second paycheck from the govt because the VA has deemed him disabled. He doesn't meet the govt's requirement of disabled...and no we don't get a handicap placard either for those great parking spots!

The out process from the military for the VA is not a 1,2,3, thing. You will have several apptmts if you are claiming any disability. You will be asked when was the original cause of the injury, and to describe how it occurred. Dislocating your knee playing Crud at the club on a Friday night might not be accepted, dislocating it come off the jet is a different story. In all likelihood, you will see your base doc, the VA doc and some sort of specialist regarding the disability. These are not back to back appointments. They can take weeks or months to get done.

Again, for most cadets this is a moot point when discussing the VA because we don't know what the system will look like in 9 yrs. (4 yrs at an SA, 5 yrs AD). For example, 20 yrs ago when Bullet got in the VA was much more lenient in hearing issues for fliers retiring, as yrs progressed hearing loss became more of an accepted fact that it would occur and the disability % was lowered. We knew a guy back in 93 that retired, flew jets up to the day he retired and got 80% disability because of his hearing loss. He was not deaf, he actually went off and flew for United. Not bad 80% retirement pay not taxable because of that disability.

 

[sprog]

A couple of things to understand about disability.
1. Many members who have health issues, but yet they do not affect their daily living will still place a claim. There is nothing wrong with this. What they are doing is documenting for their future that this occurred while on AD. For example, Bullet has arthritis in his right pinkie because he injured it at SOS. It does not cause any issue now, but we do not know what it will be like 20 yrs from now. Documenting at separation places it in his official record. Correct. It is best to obtain service connection as early as possible. That way, you can file for an increase as the years go on and the disability gets more severe.

2. Disability does not mean you collect a disability check from the govt and never work again. There is a separate level of disability for that. What it does mean is that whatever % the VA determines your disability is that portion is not taxable come your retirement pay check. For example, Bullet was deemed 10%. 10% of his pay is not taxable. WE don't get a second paycheck from the govt because the VA has deemed him disabled. He doesn't meet the govt's requirement of disabled...and no we don't get a handicap placard either for those great parking spots! Keep in mind that not everyone who leaves the service, retires from the service. VA disability is still payable (on a direct service connection basis) to anyone who served (unless a bad conduct/dishonorable discharge, etc.), as long as there is a current disability, and a competent medical link between the current disorder and an incident or event in service. I won't discuss secondary service connection or presumptive service connection, as it wasn't really brought up. You are correct, though, in that for retirees, it is an adjustment made to $$ you receive from the retirement check. As stated, the portion that is VA compensation is not taxed.

You will be asked when was the original cause of the injury, and to describe how it occurred. Dislocating your knee playing Crud at the club on a Friday night might not be accepted, dislocating it come off the jet is a different story. Actually, how you injured yourself in service matters very little. There are numerous vets out there being compensated for football injuries, and other stuff that happened while just horsing around. As long as there is a nexus between the current disorder and service, VA doesn't care how you got it (as long as it was not "willful misconduct," which usually involves substance abuse or something illegal).

Again, for most cadets this is a moot point when discussing the VA because we don't know what the system will look like in 9 yrs. (4 yrs at an SA, 5 yrs AD). VA has actually stayed fairly consistent with its regulations. VA is, however, much more prone to grant claims for service connection than in years past. Since 1988, there is an entire body of case law from the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims which VA adjudicators must follow, and it is much more pro-veteran than had been the case in years past.

For example, 20 yrs ago when Bullet got in the VA was much more lenient in hearing issues for fliers retiring, as yrs progressed hearing loss became more of an accepted fact that it would occur and the disability % was lowered. We knew a guy back in 93 that retired, flew jets up to the day he retired and got 80% disability because of his hearing loss. He was not deaf, he actually went off and flew for United. Not bad 80% retirement pay not taxable because of that disability. The source of hearing loss doesn't matter (as long as it developed in service); however, if you don't have hearing loss or tinnitus noted in service, and you develop it years later, VA will most likely examine you at a compensation and pension examination if you had noise exposure in service. Thus, if a flyer or aircraft mechanic (or artillery officer, etc) files a claim 15 years after separation, for hearing loss, he will be examined to determine if there is a "nexus" between his current hearing loss and his in-service noise exposure. The actual percentage of disability assigned for hearing loss is set by regulation, and is applied based on the most severe current findings of hearing loss. I'll agree, since the inception of the regulatory tables for rating hearing loss, it is fairly hard to get a high rating unless you are profoundly hearing impaired.

My points are bolded.

 

[Pima]

My point, is basically for cadets this issue is a non-player right now. None of us are psychic and as easy as a law can be made, additional laws can be created to warp the original law. We just cannot predict the future, and this thread unless we bring it to a situation of how TRICARE and the military medical system works now, is just talking points for those of us who are enduring the VA and TRICARE now. In that case a forum like baseops.net is a more suitable place for this topic. This is not a forum of AFTER I RETIRE...it is titled LIFE AFTER THE ACADEMY.

If we want to assist our cadets and their parents regarding the medical military system, then the thread needs to drop the VA route. I say this because the VA system makes TRICARE look like a cake walk. Parents and cadets are having a hard enough time trying to wrap their head around why they have to get a waiver for childhood allergies, let alone ask them to understand the difference between TRICARE prime, standard and the VA.

I do think for cadets it is important to understand the TRICARE system, especially those who just graduated and the upcoming C1Cs. It is important that they understand if they as the AD member are sent out to civilian docs how it works for them as an AD member. These docs have been evaluated by the military and accept TRICARE, but typically they are also cleared by DODMERB. The military has selected them. You will be told to go to X doc if it is coming from the military. You have the option to see if you can go to another doc, but you must go through their system to get approval. You will never be charged a penny as an AD member, at least nobody we know ever was. You are 100% covered just like you would be if you were seen by a base/post doc.

Your children at the SA's will be seen by military docs. The concern becomes who they see in the god forbid situation when they are home. You must heed to the fact that the military is very strict on who is their medical practitioner. People do get around this when they keep their child on their medical coverage by utilizing their personal insurance. I would suggest that you re-think this. For example, some parents with children that need PRK/Lazik, try to do what they think is right...have it done behind the services back on their own dime. The problem is, if the surgeon messes up, your good intentions, may ruin their career. Once they sign the dotted line, everything from top to bottom should go through a military doc. That includes even something as simple as wisdom teeth.

Said it umpteen times, military docs are great docs. Honestly, if I could fine a civilian doc with military experience that would be my family doc. They get a bad rap because they can be the career killer. Yet, in my experience, they will do everything humanly possible to make sure they get you through the system. I believe that because of the military regs (what is ok vs not), they have a more calming bedside manner. When they say, "I know this sounds horrible, but let me tell you, if they wanted to serve in the military they could", as a parent it brings you back down off of the ceiling. It says to you, it's going to be just fine. Additionally, because of the military, many of them really see the patients as not a number, but a family. They have that "brethren" attitude, of we take care of our own. I am sure now I will be slammed for saying civilian docs aren't as good as military. Or that I am contradicting myself, but I am not. TRICARE is a system that employs medical practitioners, there is a difference between military docs and docs that accept TRICARE, the military insurance.

Again, the only time TRICARE becomes an issue IMHO is for the dependent' care. Cadets have no dependents, and thus it is moot how the system works for them. Just as it is moot for them right now regarding the VA unless they are out processing the service currently.

 

[sprog]

As this is in the "Life After the Academy" section, and is a thread addressing VA medical care, I don't think it's inappropriate to discuss what VA can do for you once you leave the service. In fact, in my experience, I find that people don't get enough info on VA and the benefits/medical care they provide until way after discharge, when it may be too late to effectively claim something. Knowing a little bit about what will become available to you as a veteran, while still active duty, can help you take advantage of what you are entitled to once you do leave the service.

VA steps in once the affiliation with the service ends. In fact, a Service Academy cadet/mid who is injured (or becomes sick with a chronic illness) and has to be medically discharged, is fully entitled to receive service connection for those disabilites that manifested while at the academy. So you never know when it can be relevant.

I'd venture to say most prospective mids/cadets on here aren't reading this thread anyway, as it doesn't address cool stuff like how to survive BUD/S or get picked up for a pilot slot. Nonetheless, it doesn't hurt to discuss what is available from VA once military service ends. This section on the forums is ancillary in nature, anyway.

 

[Pima]

Sprog, just out of curiosity when did you separate from the AF? Not trying to be antagonistic, just curious.

I know from when Bullet separated in 08, that it was a yr long process, and many, many required briefings, including the VA process. Not only that, but to separate as a married military member, your spouse was required to attend the A & F segment. They made me sit through about 3-4 hours of pay, Direct Deposit, insurance, health care, survivor benefits, etc. I would rather have had my teeth pulled without novocaine.

Yrs ago, I would agree with you regarding your statement, but now, at least for the base we were at, they drilled it in your head for a yr. regarding your rights. It maybe different for 5 and dive, because at that age, you are still young and immortal. At 42, you probably pay more attention to it because you know the stories and understand the system.

Off topic, but still comparable, most military members serving AD do not utilize every benefit they have offered to them. How many military members understand Space A or utilize it? How many members understand that there are military campgrounds or hotels? How many military members know that if you are retired and go to Lowe's you show your ID and get a 10% discount. There is a lot of hidden gems within the military that most members never understand.

 

[sprog]

Sprog, just out of curiosity when did you separate from the AF? Not trying to be antagonistic, just curious.

.

2003. I had one briefing from the VA guys. I don't remember what was discussed, but mainly because I wasn't paying that much attention.

VA is getting better about briefing members leaving the service, and I think that is a response to overseas conflicts. I'd still venture to say that most 20-somethings are not paying much attention for the reasons you pointed out. I used VA for education benefits, though, so I had familiarity through my own research.

 

[Mongo]

As this is in the "Life After the Academy" section, and is a thread addressing VA medical care, I don't think it's inappropriate to discuss what VA can do for you once you leave the service. In fact, in my experience, I find that people don't get enough info on VA and the benefits/medical care they provide until way after discharge, when it may be too late to effectively claim something. Knowing a little bit about what will become available to you as a veteran, while still active duty, can help you take advantage of what you are entitled to once you do leave the service.

VA steps in once the affiliation with the service ends. In fact, a Service Academy cadet/mid who is injured (or becomes sick with a chronic illness) and has to be medically discharged, is fully entitled to receive service connection for those disabilites that manifested while at the academy. So you never know when it can be relevant.

I'd venture to say most prospective mids/cadets on here aren't reading this thread anyway, as it doesn't address cool stuff like how to survive BUD/S or get picked up for a pilot slot. Nonetheless, it doesn't hurt to discuss what is available from VA once military service ends. This section on the forums is ancillary in nature, anyway.

Sprog, absolutely, without a doubt. A very typical scenario is a set of parents who are totally indifferent about an academy education and slightly apprehensive about a military career. And you are correct, all the candidate wants to talk about is BUDs and flight school. However, parents sit up and listen when the hear that VA will take care of them if something happens. And, out here in the real world, where they are struggling to make medical insurance premiums on marginal plans, they really get excited when they find out that their son can retire before them with full medical coverage the remainder of their life. It is a huge disservice to the purpose of this thread to disparage Tricare and to incorrectly state that if the military ‘breaks’ you that they will not take care of you adequately.

What it does mean is that whatever % the VA determines your disability is that portion is not taxable come your retirement pay check. For example, Bullet was deemed 10%. 10% of his pay is not taxable. WE don't get a second paycheck from the govt because the VA has deemed him disabled.

Bullet, do you want to help her here or should I present my 'correct world view'? Depending on the type and amount, a retiree can actually get three different checks each month. A gift of the Clinton administration.

 

[Pima]

However, parents sit up and listen when the hear that VA will take care of them if something happens. And, out here in the real world, where they are struggling to make medical insurance premiums on marginal plans, they really get excited when they find out that their son can retire before them with full medical coverage the remainder of their life.

Clarification please...parents IYHO are willing to say join the military because they have life time health care? You are saying that this is a priority regarding their child's decision..call me silly, but most parents I know, say don't go military because there is a higher risk of something happening, health care wise. They aren't thinking of GOODY GOODY you are covered in the worst case scenario because our insurance won't cover you after 23..

Most parents of 18 yo are thinking about them living their dream. We have a DS in AFROTC, who intends to make the military his career. Even with this thread VA is not on the scope. Our scope is supporting him in obtaining his military desire. GI and VA were and are non-players at this point.

Seriously, you believe that parents support the military because in the G forbid situation they believe their child will have health care? Let's take a poll here...how many parents, said to their kids go SA/ROTC because of health care?

Come on..maybe I walk a different life, but I have yet to meet somebody who has the attitude or belief you stated, when they understand and realize that death may also be a reality in the military...your words...

they really get excited when they find out that their son can retire before them with full medical coverage the remainder of their life

Really, what parent takes life time health care into the equation when their child is 17/18? If that is their number 1 priority for going the SA, I would tell them to re-think their position. Sorry, but 1,000 soldiers who have given their life in Afghanistan is not worth VA lifetime health care for our DS, I would rather take the risk that after 4 yrs of college education he would find a job with health care insurance.

OBTW, whoever said this????

It is a huge disservice to the purpose of this thread to disparage Tricare and to incorrectly state that if the military ‘breaks’ you that they will not take care of you adequately.

Where on God's green earth did anyone say that if the military breaks you they will not take care of you?

You are now creeping up to the level of yellow journalism!

If you are stating that a military member who did not file a claim with the VA because they didn't have issues (breaks) at retirement for disability, then again you are warping the facts. It would not be TRICARE for the AD member, it would be VA. Otherwise, I don't get the if the military breaks you, because TRICARE and the VA are 2 different beings.
For every cadet and parent...AGAIN, the AD military docs are the best in the world, they are better then your hometown doc! They will do every thing humanly possible to heal your child

I really hope at this point the thread gets locked...we are doing no good for the cadets or parents, all that is occurring is creating fear and confusion.

 

[Mongo]

Where on God's green earth did anyone say that if the military breaks you they will not take care of you?

You are now creeping up to the level of yellow journalism!

Pima, go back and read the first post on this thread where incidentially you stated "Bullet and I do everything humanly possible to stay away from tri-care" and where js348s stated:

Perhaps you have heard of them they're called VA Medical Centers. It is where the government sends those that have been for lack of a better term broken or damaged by military service. Quite honestly the day I got private health insurance was the last day I ever stepped foot in one. Why because unless you are bleeding or about to die it takes 4 or 5 months to get an appointment.

Besides being totally untrue, does this sound like our 'broken' veterans are being taken care of?

Is this the message we want to portray to those candidates contmplating a life in the military? If you are injured while active duty, forget adequate coverage and if you make it to retirement, your medical benefits are something to avoid?

 

[Pima]

Mongo,

Why can you not accept there are flaws?

How is it untrue that it can take months for the VA? Have you called every VA in the US?

Hate to say it AGAIN, but Bullet has waited weeks, if not months. You might get in right away, that doesn't mean you are the norm. Bullet, might wait weeks, but that doesn't mean it is the norm either. Both if us are anecdotal.

Is it wrong to tell the cadets? NO!

It is important for them to realize that the military medical system has a priority system. Annual check up it could be months. Vomiting with a 102 degree fever you are in within hours.

Again, the VA is MOOT here, I highly doubt that the avg cadet places health care, especially the VA on their top 10 reasons for applying to an SA.

Please stop the peeing contest, and keep it on track for posters and lurkers. The system is not perfect, but the docs are great! As a parent I don't care about VA or TRICARE, I care about the medical quality for our DS and other military members. If you want to continue this path of whatever you are trying to prove to cadets, go for it!

As a parent I only care about here and now, I can't worry about the what ifs? If I did, I should have crawled up in a ball in the closet for Desert Shield...he could have died or was injured...that is a what if game right? I am not concerned about when our DS retires at 42, 20 yrs from now. Attack me, besmirch me. Tell Bullet to reign me in or give me the "true facts", honestly I don't care. My desire is to bring it down to layman terms that cadets and parents understand.

 

[Mongo]

How is it untrue that it can take months for the VA? Have you called every VA in the US?

There are eight priorities of care in the VA system. Priority one thru three are basically service related compensatable disabilities, four through six are non compensated service related and non-service rated disabilities, and seven and eight are needs based on income and assets. Federal law requires service by priority. Federal law requires service connected disability appointments for priority two and priority three within 30 days. If a VA physician is not available, they are required to obtain an appointment within the same 30 days within the private sector. If these requirements become a problem, they are required to eliminate the lower priority services. To my knowledge, since this has not been done, we can assume they are providing the necessary services. I am Priority One. I am entitled to all appointments within 30 days, whether related to my service connected disability or not. Within 60 days of telling my primary care physician that I would like to be tested for hearing aids, I had them in hand. My Priority Eight 80 year old needs based neighbor has been waiting over two years for his initial appointment. He is bottom priority. When I need lab work, X-rays, EKGs, etc., after I check into the clinic, no matter how full the waiting room, I am ALWAYS the first to be called. The system is designed to provide the needs of the service-connected disabled, the more serious, the higher the priority. It works. Anecdotal evidence for me as a Priority One, unless it is early in the week, the appointmentr is almost always the following week. 7-10 days. It is the Priority 7s and 8s who are told when signing up that they are bottom priority, who forget this, and give the VA a bad name.

Pima, as the parent of a career military dependent, both your and his concerns are not the norm for those who have never had any interactions with the military. You might be shocked at how little they know and how much items such as this relieve their concerns.

 

[Luigi59]

Besides being totally untrue, does this sound like our 'broken' veterans are being taken care of?

Totally untrue?

Where should i begin? A simple search of the terms "military vet denied health care" brings about 819,000 results.

Some vets being denied health care

Iraq vet commits suicide after being denied treatment

US veterans ‘denied benefits’

War Veterans Being Denied Health Care

Injured National Guard troops say they were denied medical care

Iraq War Veteran Waits Two Years for PTSD Benefits

and so on and so on and so on........

Is this the message we want to portray to those candidates contmplating a life in the military? If you are injured while active duty, forget adequate coverage and if you make it to retirement, your medical benefits are something to avoid?

So you would rather bury your head in the sand and deny that these cases exist.

 

[Mongo]

So you would rather bury your head in the sand and deny that these cases exist.

The discussion has been about medical care within the system. Not a single individual mentioned in any of your above links had made it into the system. And if you will go back and read my Post #22, you will see where I agreed with Bullet in that this part of the VA is indeed flawed.

The only advice I have for getting rated is that the VA is very similiar to the SA Admissions Departments. Perserverence pays off. Try and try again. And it is normally about a year between reviews. Which brings up another concern. Compensation is retroactive to the date of application, no matter how many reviews. This is no big deal for the employed or the military retiree, the lump sum is very nice, but for the individual who really needs the compensation and/or the medical coverage, it can be a huge issue.