R-Day is a sort of invisible line. Once you cross that line, sign your papers, and take the oath, your health is the army’s problem. If what was a disqualifying condition the day before R-Day happens to you after R-Day, there is a whole new set of rules that would govern the situation. But plebe summer is a sort of gray area where if you, say, break a leg, you would most likely be sent home and given a spot in next year’s class. Well, as long as you didn’t break your leg when falling down because you were drunk or high or something. That would of course be a whole other issue!
I’ve seen cadets who were diagnosed with cancer and in some cases they took some time off, got treatment, and were deemed well enough to come back. Some of them were commissionable and others were not, but they were still allowed their degree. Others were not given the OK to continue their military careers. It is so dependent upon the specifics of the illness that no one here can really give an answer.
And yes, this is why you should stay on your existing health insurance, if at all possible!
This is a gamble, since if you are found to have something such as cancer it would be considered a pre-existing condition and thus hard/impossible/expensive to find health insurance on your own if separated. For our family, we pay one price for a family plan, and keeping DD on it while at a SA will not cost us any extra. *If she gets an appointment- which of course we're still hoping forAs long as you are a cadet, any medical expenses are covered by Tricare (the military medical insurance). If you end up separating from USMA, then you can buy medical insurance at that time from the marketplace. So, no need to keep an existing health insurance if it ends up being a costly arrangement for you.
This is a rare situation but it happens annually. A close friend of mine got cancer. He was treated, rolled back a class and Commissioned. I also had a buddy get type 1 diabetes and another develop Chrones. Both graduated but did not commission. Each year there are a handful of Mids who don't graduate. I can't speak for USMA or USAFA but I am guessing it's pretty similar. Each case is handled and evaluated individually. They want to commission you, so they will do whatever they need to get you healthy. You will have another physical later in that medically qualifies you for commissioning. For those who want to fly or another branch that requires certain requirements these will all be done too. It is much more in depth than DODMERB.[/QUOTE
Yep, have seen same over the years. Much depends on if the mid or cadet is into 2/c (junior) year or beyond, and signed their obligation papers. If in the first two years, they are usually separated for medical reasons. If in the last 2 years, they really want to stay, physical condition supports, and approval is obtained, they will get to walk (have seen one roll) across the stage with classmates and get their degree, but not raise their right hand.
When you only have one child on the policy, then keeping a family policy instead of just a couple policy, is much more expensive. If you have other children also on your policy, then it's a simple matter to keep your cadet also on the plan. But when your cadet is the only 'child' on the policy, then it becomes a financial decision.
Obamacare was supposed to do away with problem of getting a policy with a preexisting condition. It should no longer be an issue.