Proposed senate changes to Tricare to cost retirees thousands

Conneting Vets ^ | June 14, 2018 | Eric Dehm

[katiedidit1]

The Defense Authorization Act has passed and Trump signed it. It will mean higher co-pays for retirees ..even those formerly grandfathered in... https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/12/12/trump-signs-defense-bill-heres-what-it-means-you.html

[Freee-dame]

When did healthcare for life begin applying to every veteran who served? I am old enough to remember when it was just for fully retired (20+ years) or disabled vets. Back them, I don’t think that there were any co-pays, but it was for a vastly smaller population.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I would just be happy if I could just get Tricare and my healthcare provider to communicate with each other about what I owe and what I don’t owe.

Call Tricare. They changed administration companies not that long ago and the data transfer was less then stellar.

They were denying our claims based on the fact we had BC/BS. We had not had that coverage for at least five years. When the data came over it had no end date.

So much FUN!

[zot]

Thanks for the ping to #32. I come on active duty in 1955 and have Tricare for Life.

[Red Steel]

I see a gradual increase in drug co-pays until 2026, however, this article say Tricare fees are held in check for retirees and who are on active duty before 2018.

"Lawmakers also rejected through the legislation a plan to increase Tricare fees for current working-age military retirees or those who will retire from the current force.

A measure passed last year approved higher fees for those who join after Jan. 1, 2018, but gave protection to current retirees and troops through a "grandfathering" clause. The Senate had proposed removing that protection and instead pushing all retirees into the new pay structure, a move that would save $3.6 billion in just the first five years."

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2017/11/08/dramatic-tricare-drug-cost-hike-advances-congress.html

[Mr Rogers]

“When it was announced that changes would be coming to TRICARE for those joining the military after Jan 1, 2018 it was also communicated that those who joined prior to that date would be exempt from new additional costs like annual enrollment.”

Seems like a false statement to me. I’ve been paying annual enrollment fees since I retired. What bothers me more is a new referral system. I used to be able to get a referral for skin cancer, go to a dermatologist, and have suspicious growths removed on the spot. One visit, $12 copay. Now my referral allows me to see the dermatologist ($30 copay), who then creates a referral for treatment. When the treatment referral is approved, I can go back for a second visit (another $30 copay) and treatment. I live 30 miles away, so two 60 mile round trips a month apart and a $60 copay to do what used to take one visit ($12).

And I’ll need to do this for the rest of my life. I’ve had melanoma (the types that can kill quickly) removed. But my PCM cannot create a referral for 1, 2 or 3 years. I need to renew it every 6 months, then go to the dermatologist, then get another referral for treatment. 3 visits total to get one treatment for something I’ll need to do twice a year for life!

[katiedidit1]

My co-pay already went up and now it is going up again. My husband served 3 tours in N. Korea and 2 in Viet Nam. Not good news but maybe with the job market being so good I can find work somewhere.

[trebb]

For those who did not make 20 years, but have/had medical issues, it was the VA that became available depending on the circumstances - that has been in effect for a very long time.

When retirees started having to pay for TriCare back in the '90s, TriCare for Life also kicked in as a 'supplement' to Medicare and picks up about everything Medicare doesn't pay.

Prior to that, military medical facilities and the VA were supposed to give all retired vets free healthcare but many were in geographic areas where it wasn't feasible.

[Freee-dame]

Possibly medical issues related to their military service?

[trebb]

Sometimes the issues aren’t ‘discovered” until one has already enlisted and then they usually get covered even if they were “brought in”. Knew a person who was discharged from boot camp on a section 8 - got VA psychiatric coverage via the VA....no system is perfect but I like what Trump is doing to ensure those who really deserve the best medical care can get it.