Best Tricare Options for Military Retirees

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  • Опубліковано 20 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 67

  • @the_bureaucrat
    @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому

    What Defines a Prime Service Area? This link provides and explanation of Tricare's rules: docs.google.com/presentation/d/1LUwI6KUhmJvasU9jxbzJgMTL1f_xoHpd/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=113895883818756649629&rtpof=true&sd=true
    Special Thanks to an Anonymous Subscriber.

  • @johnacosta1417
    @johnacosta1417 2 місяці тому +2

    Very clear information. Thank you!

  • @MatthewWatson-w7i
    @MatthewWatson-w7i 4 місяці тому +5

    I was doing some research on Tricare Select. If you get admitted to the hospital you’re looking at paying $250 per day for in network and approximately $1,200 per day for non network. There are also additional fees.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  4 місяці тому +2

      That is interesting. Thanks.

    • @kellybeaver3890
      @kellybeaver3890 4 місяці тому +5

      you are capped at 4100 a year total for copay. This also doesnt apply if you are in the hospital to see a specialist, because your co pay for that specialist covers it.

  • @marcdog4
    @marcdog4 6 місяців тому +1

    Very detailed and helpful Chuck. Thanks.

  • @sofiaciro2525
    @sofiaciro2525 5 місяців тому +3

    How can I say this? EXCELLENCE!!!! Thank you for this video. Sad to say the rep that went to the transition assistance I attended was horrible😫😫😫😫you have no idea how your video means. Thank you

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  5 місяців тому

      Glad to help. To be fair, that TAP rep has some pretty specific stuff to cover and they can get into real trouble if they deviate.

  • @DudeGuyBroGuy
    @DudeGuyBroGuy 5 місяців тому

    Good Sir, this was everything I needed!! Thank you!!!!

  • @constantlearner3213
    @constantlearner3213 2 дні тому

    The website has a search bar in the top right and tabs you can hover over

  • @oldtop4682
    @oldtop4682 6 місяців тому +1

    Something I learned (the hard way) was to research available coverage in whichever area you are retiring to - look at the doctor and hospital lists to get a feel for it. It has gotten better since I retired, but there are still places where Tricare can be tricky.
    When I first retired I moved an hour away from any military post/base. TWO doctors in the county took Tricare. This forced me onto an employer's plan. I checked back a few years later, and I could find any number of baby doctors or psychs, but no hospitals and only the same two General Practitioners (this after Obamacare). 7 years later, in the same area, I have no problems with Tricare at all.
    Oh, see what happens if you go to a military hospital and don't have Tricare, but have other insurance. Yeah, that's a flustercluck.

    • @Donner906
      @Donner906 6 місяців тому

      All the more reason to not have a military career.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому

      Good advice. The only thing I don't understand is how to do that research. If you know how, shoot me a note at chuck.weko@gmail.com. I'm traveling and slow to respond, but I'd like to address it.

  • @Sara-md8nu
    @Sara-md8nu 11 днів тому

    Im on prime but it takes 6 weeks or more to get into the pcm just to get a referral to see a specialist which then takes another 4+months to get into. I absolutely hate tricare. They also told me i cant go on select due to the area i live in

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  8 днів тому

      It sounds suspicious that you can't go on Select. I mean, I could believe that it might not be a good idea, but "can't"?

  • @lelandgaunt9985
    @lelandgaunt9985 6 місяців тому +2

    I’m on select, pay around $300 a year. I pay for the year at open enrollment or just a little before. Co-pay has been between $30 to 50 and then what you may owe after an appt or treatment. Medicine has cost around $5. I’ve only had one issue in 9 years, with physical therapy.

    • @charlesharrington9116
      @charlesharrington9116 6 місяців тому +3

      Tricare is decent health insurance, the problem becomes finding providers who will accept it, depending on where you reside. Many providers do not like dealing with Humana (who oversee Tricare) and have told me they will not accept Tricare as they are very slow to pay on claims. When I lived in Sumter, S.C., there were many doctor's offices who had signs on their entrance doors that stated "We do not accept Tricare". I thought that was strange since they were located next to Shaw AFB. When you find a provider always ask if they accept Tricare.

    • @lelandgaunt9985
      @lelandgaunt9985 6 місяців тому

      @@charlesharrington9116
      You’re not wrong, there is even a Humana Office in town as well.

    • @lelandgaunt9985
      @lelandgaunt9985 6 місяців тому

      Yay for suppressed comments that don’t violate guidelines.🙄

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому

      That's what my wife always says: TRICARE is great...once you can get an appointment.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому

      @lelandgaunt9985, I don't do anything to suppress comments...so maybe it's something in the automatic settings. Shoot me a note at chuck.weko@gmail.com if you think something needs to be done.

  • @MiklRngr
    @MiklRngr 6 місяців тому

    Thanks for this!

  • @sandovalperry2895
    @sandovalperry2895 Місяць тому

    There’s a huge shortage of civilian primary care physicians. Sign up with a civilian primary provider BEFORE you are MEDICARE/TRICARE for Life eligible. Many civilian physicians will not take new MEDICARE patients but if you are a current patient they will usually keep you. Read the fine print and understand the restrictions if you are thinking about signing up for a MEDICARE plan offer by big insurance companies.

  • @ahwhite2022
    @ahwhite2022 6 місяців тому +1

    A couple of other things worth drilling down on. 1) paying for this. Setting up that DFAS ret payroll deduction is fraught with issues. Took me a while to get it finally right, and part of that "while" found my family uncovered without knowing it. 2) Overseas. That website talks itself in circles about what to do if you are overseas only temporarily such as in vacation, and on Prime or select. Been trying to get clarity for three years and still don't know.
    It opens with a simple, declarative statement: "You're covered while traveling on business, vacation or when moving." OK, that's reassuring. But how am I covered? For how much? What process must I follow?
    Immediately below that statement, we get the following bullets:
    * You should get all routine care before you travel.
    * It may not be authorized after you leave for your trip.
    The second bullet? Is the "it" in reference to the "You're covered while traveling on business, vacation or when moving" statement? Is the "it" it in reference to "routine care?" Seems more reasonable, but absolutely horrible formatting if so, as it is listed as a separate bullet, not subordinate to the "routine care" one.
    Alas, there is a clear section of "Emergency care" that would seem to suggest the above bullets were all referring to "routine" care and not coverage in general.
    So thus, we get into technical but quite possibly important matter of definitions for types of care, beginning with "routine," and "emergency." But are these the only two?
    What does the site later say about "Emergency Care?"
    Emergency Care
    * Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
    * Air evacuation is only covered when medically necessary )To be medically necessary means it is appropriate, reasonable, and adequate for your condition) to the closest safe location.
    * You may need to pay up front and file a claim for reimbursement.
    * Keep all receipts and file claims in the region where you live, not where you get the care.
    * If enrolled in a Prime option, call your primary care manager or regional contractor within 24 hours or the next business day.
    I like this, the information is presented in a clear manner, with each bullet clearly referencing the subject of Emergency Care. It's possible that what the site is missing is a similarly formatted "Routine Care" header to cover the first two bullets that show up under the "you are covered" statement. But, are these really the only two categories of care to consider?
    More on that in a bit. Let's start with trying to define emergency care.
    What does the "Emergency Care" section tell us?
    Oooh... go to an "Emergency Room?" Does this mean if we seek care for an emerging condition and don't go to an "emergency room" we might not get reimbursed? Does "emergency room" align with how medical care works in much of the world one might find themselves traveling? Does Tricare recognize a level of care between "routine" and "emergency," or an emerging medical issue that just might mean a stop at a local clinic? Not clear.
    It then states we may need to pay up front, then file a claim. Got it. But how? Well, it tells us to file claims "in the region where you live, not where you get the care."
    With that knowledge in hand, what happens when I do as the website says and select my plan from the list, so as to see the "rules for getting care" which "depend on your plan and travel destination."
    So, I select "Tricare Select."
    Suddenly, the story changes.
    Now, I am offered this information:
    If Traveling Overseas
    * You can visit any overseas provider. To find a provider:
    * Search the online or call International SOS.
    * Keep a copy of all your receipts, overseas claims require proof of payment
    * You may need to pay up front and file a claim with the overseas claims processor for reimbursement
    We no longer have a distinction between routine and emergency care, however ill-defined. I can visit "any" overseas provide. Or... is that only "any" provider I can find following the link?
    It also now clearly states that I would need to file the claim _with the overseas claims processor_. This statement completely contradicts the statement on the main page, telling me instead to file the claim in the region where I live.
    And, the provider and care question remains unanswered as well.
    The online providers available at the first link are comically limited, just major cities or none at all in many countries. So, I click the "International SOS" link. There, I see this:
    Medical Assistance
    International SOS provides 24/7 support for TRICARE Overseas Beneficiaries, when they need urgent or emergent care or request medical assistance.
    Not only do I see nothing reassuring me I am covered overseas if I am not enrolled in "Tricare Overseas," but we are now, for the first time, introduced to the concept of "urgent" as differentiated from "emergent" care.
    We also don't really get guidance on what to do.
    This is maddening for me.
    As someone who has been declined claims and care before, I have zero faith in ambiguous and contradictory Tricare websites. I'd love to read actual binding terms and conditions type documents, should they exist. Can't find anything yet. It's all "PAO" stuff.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому

      Let's dig into this via email. Hit me up at chuck.weko@gmail.com. I'm personally curious because there is a high probability that Household 6 will want to travel overseas for an extended trip and I need to understand this.

    • @kgkg4118
      @kgkg4118 Місяць тому

      ​@@the_bureaucrat did you guys figure this one out?

    • @kgkg4118
      @kgkg4118 Місяць тому

      @ahwhite please let me know if you find these answers I would like to know this also

  • @douglasmontgomery6315
    @douglasmontgomery6315 6 місяців тому

    Great video sir. Do you think a video of Tricare differences if a soldier if med boarded vs retiring? I have a few enlisted soldiers who have worked with a VSO for VA disability and also researched med board for their disability because if provides a better Tricare option than just retiring.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому +1

      I'd be willing to dig into it...I'm slowly building content on the med board process. But I don't understand what you mean. So if you could shoot me a note at chuck.weko@gmail.com, I would look into it further.

    • @douglasmontgomery6315
      @douglasmontgomery6315 6 місяців тому

      @@the_bureaucrat , sent..thanks

  • @Robert-n4p1g
    @Robert-n4p1g 6 місяців тому

    What about us nathional guard guys and gals at age 60

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому

      I am currently traveling (grandbaby #2 is inbound). But this question of how TRICARE covers RC Soldiers thru their lifecycle has come up a couple times. So I'm doing research on my cellphone while I sit around. Thanks for encouraging me to deliver.

    • @fixagent81
      @fixagent81 5 місяців тому

      @@the_bureaucratI’m curious myself but things are going to change when 2030 comes around when tricare reserve select becomes available for federal employees. Can you please expand on this topic involving tricare and federal employees thanks

  • @thecappy
    @thecappy 3 місяці тому

    So I medically retired in ‘14. I have TriCare prime/select depending on where I live. I’m also 100% VA disabled. Just want to understand this correctly. At 65 my TriCare switches to TriCare for life but I still have to pay for Medicare part b? Does my wife losses her TriCare coverage when I hit 65?

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  3 місяці тому

      This is a good question! Bottom line, if your spouse is younger, they can stay on TRICARE Prime or Select until they reach age 65. When your spouse turns 65, they are simply covered by Medicare and not TRICARE for Life. Here is a link to a TRICARE article about it (newsroom.tricare.mil/News/TRICARE-News/Article/2635998)

    • @laurenwhitaker17
      @laurenwhitaker17 3 місяці тому

      I would like an answer to this, too! We are in a somewhat similar situation!

    • @aftech7268
      @aftech7268 28 днів тому

      Why cant we have free healthcare like Israel that we send tax payer $$$$ too

    • @thecappy
      @thecappy 28 днів тому

      @@aftech7268 people keep voting against their own interests.

  • @TheMccluref
    @TheMccluref 6 місяців тому +6

    Trouble is when we are mandated to join medicare. That's expensive

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому +3

      I need to look into that.

    • @charlesharrington9116
      @charlesharrington9116 6 місяців тому

      Medicare becomes your primary insurance, with TRICARE For Life as secondary.

    • @oldtop4682
      @oldtop4682 6 місяців тому +1

      I just made my first Medicare quarterly payment - $524. I turn 65 next month, and Tricare mandates that you sign up for Part B at 65. Good news is, Tricare becomes a secondary insurance and covers Part D.
      The PITA is that between my wife and I we are now kicking out $4K plus a year for what Tricare covered for far less before age 65. Free healthcare for life my hairy 4th point of contact!

  • @skiller189x4
    @skiller189x4 16 днів тому

    My wife and I only paid $55 a month for family coverage with Tricare Prime. Now, upon turning 65, my wife has the privilege of having to pay Medicare Part B premiums at $185 a month. She just got her first bill for 4 months for $740! I start with Medicare in a few months, and I assume I'll pay the same premiums. So instead of $55 a month we will be going to $370. It seems to me that the older we get when we can least afford it we are further penalized financially. I don't understand why the government forces us out of Tricare Prime to have to accept Medicare just to make seniors pay more for their healthcare.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  14 днів тому

      @skiller189x4...I think they force you into Medicare just to make you pay more. And thanks for sharing this...this is the kind of warning signs that I appreciate as I hurtle towards those magic ages.

  • @KitPhuket-ix1en
    @KitPhuket-ix1en 4 місяці тому

    Hi sir, I assumed the other 4 tricare are temporary Healthcare since they're not dubbed "tricare for life" am I correct?

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  4 місяці тому

      Well, TRICARE for Life is a program of its own. It kicks in when you go on Medicare. You can't get TRICARE for Life before you go on Medicare and once you are on Medicare, you can only be on TRICARE for Life. So the name is a bit misleading...they are trying to say "the TRICARE program you are on for the rest of your life."
      And taken from that perspective, the other programs are "temporary"...if you live long enough, you will transition out of them. But depending on your age, you may be on those other programs for decades.

  • @juliusarnold2844
    @juliusarnold2844 5 місяців тому +2

    Get a retirement job with better insurance. Tricare is like other govt benefits. It is the DMV of medical care.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  5 місяців тому +1

      That is a good recommendation in general. No matter what government program you are offered...Is there a better way to do it privately?

    • @juliusarnold2844
      @juliusarnold2844 5 місяців тому

      @@the_bureaucrat I have seen, and am seeing lots of my friends retire. Unfortunately those that live in rural areas were off. The beaten path are basically put into third grade medical care. Pretty disappointing in execution. I know that I have to retire as soon as I can to get a second retirement started and also provide better medical and dental care for my family.

    • @trevor8307
      @trevor8307 Місяць тому

      I disagree. I have been retired for three years and Select has been amazing. My copays are $36 or $50 and any care beyond that is covered. My daughter went to a neurologist right after the coverage began. I kept expecting a bill for all the tests and scans, but they were already covered by the $50 copay.
      It really depends on where you live. I am in the greater Phoenix area so I can always find providers who take Select.

  • @RoyatAvalonFarms
    @RoyatAvalonFarms 6 місяців тому

    Another great presentation. Especially the weigh up between PRIME and Select. For me, Select would be the only option in western WV.
    Of course there is nothing for grey area reserve retirees. And a point which ive recieved conflicting info is in the case of early retirement for reservists. Some have claimed that even if you start drawing your pension say 3 years early, that you still cant get TRICARE until age 60. I dont know how valid that claim is and others have claimed that you can start TRICARE as soon as actually draw your pension. Ive never found which one is authoritative.
    And as a further wrench in the cog, if youre on full VA medical, are you even eligible for TRICARE, and would it still make sense to get TRICARE even if you could? Im thinking that i dont want to be limited to go to the VA and would rather have the flexibility of TRICARE Select. Do you have any idea if that is an option?
    Thank you.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  6 місяців тому +1

      Roy, I don't know...I steered away from the RC programs (there are a lot of them). I'll take a look and see about doing a video just on them. BTW what do you mean "on full VA medical"? I don't think TRICARE eligibility has a condition about the VA.

    • @RoyatAvalonFarms
      @RoyatAvalonFarms 6 місяців тому

      @@the_bureaucrat 100% T&P and have VA for my medical coverage, including for my wife and teen child.

    • @ourfamilyvideos7283
      @ourfamilyvideos7283 2 місяці тому +1

      TFL and Medicare is wonderful..I’ve heard no out of pockets and full coverage for expensive items( stents,etc)

    • @ourfamilyvideos7283
      @ourfamilyvideos7283 2 місяці тому +1

      TYA age should be raise if not attending school…so many kiddos may not go to a university but need insurance and tricare only takes you till 21 if in this boat.

  • @rodrodriguez2115
    @rodrodriguez2115 2 місяці тому

    Tricare for life overseas Philippines is the worst. Most filed medical claims take at least one year for tricare to pay if they pay at all. Tricare has so many different medical codes not to pay. Hospitals here no longer file claims for you for the simple reason it takes so long to get paid. The worst.

    • @the_bureaucrat
      @the_bureaucrat  2 місяці тому

      Indeed...I have a video coming about Tricare for Life and it is fundamentally designed with the expectation that people live in the US.