Tricare prime referred off base for OB?

katiep337

Hey everyone,

I am new to military wifedom, and just found out I am pregnant with my first! We have Tricare Prime, which I have heard means very few appointments and hard to see a compassionate doc. Any stories?

Does anyone know if I can be referred to an off-base OB? Does Tricare still pay for everything? Any advice on this would be most appreciated!! 

ufsandra85

it depends on your base and what their medical facilities offer. my last base everyone was sent off base, now we are at a huge military base and everyone goes on base. never hurts to ask

deziraeb

My husband and I are Navy, stationed in San Diego (one of the largest Naval bases) and I'm considered high risk due to type 1 diabetes for the past 15 years (diagnosed at age 4). When we first found out I was pregnant, we went to NTC - Midwife to get my confirm/bloodwork/paperwork/dating u/s. However, because I'm high risk, I had to go to Naval Medical Center and see an actual OB. I could have gone off base and gotten a referral to go out but we just moved to this base and I didn't know many people so I felt more comfortable with the Navy doctors. And I absolutely ADORE my OB. They split the workload between three groups (A/B/C) to ensure all the pregnant women get enough time with the doctors. I have 5 doctors in my group and before delivery, I will have had an appt with each one of them along the way. They're all so great! Plus, I don't have to worry about referrals because I'm being seen by navy personal, they just send me to other navy specialists on base (we went to an endo, eye specialist, fetal heart specialist, fetal spine specialist, and pediatrician) all who were recommended upon my 1st visit with our OB. I've gotten superb care with my military doctors and they even listen to me when I tell them that I want to go as natural as I possibly can. With the Navy at least, you get 8 appts on the regular. If you're considered high-risk you get about double that. You get your dating u/s, anatomy scan, growth scans and any other ultrasounds you need if the need arises. We haven't paid a dime for anything. I'm 25w now and have an appt next week and after that, I'll be going every two weeks. If I had the chance to do it again, I'd go military in a heartbeat but like the PP said, all bases are different. GL!

katiep337

Thank you so much! This is very reassuring. I called Tricare, and they said I will probably be required to go on-base. Wright-Patt is a huge medical base, so they rarely refer. I am much more reassured after hearing your experience!

hansonam446

It depends on the base...but not all military doctors are uncaring. I'm in NC and I go on base for my OB appointments. I was happy to learn I'd have the same dr and nurse throughout my experience. Can some seem jaded? Sure but I think you can get that at any dr's office.

NSL

*sigh*

 My H is a military physician.  So are most of our friends.  Compassion is the whole reason they're in medicine.  To assume that because a person puts on ACU's to go to work everyday automatically means they're a heartless *** is just insulting.

FWIW, both of my children were delivered at MTFs.  Both of my pregnancies were followed by military OB's and midwives.  I have no complaints about any of the medical care I received while I was pregnant or during delivery.  The MTF system isn't cushy, and there are bad apples to be had (as there are on the civilian side), but for the most part you will find the standard of care to be identical to what you would receive with any other insurance plan. 

BeachBabe22

I have Tricare Prime and see a midwife on base.  I haven't had any problems getting appointments or feeling like I'm not receiving quality medical care.  There are always horror stories about military doctors but I haven't had a bad experience yet and I've been on Tricare Prime for three years now.  

MiahT

My base has no L&D and a very small OB department, so most pregnancies are apparently handled by your PCM at this hospital, unless you're high risk.  I was told that I would have the option of changing to Tricare Standard if I wanted to be seen off base, but I'm happy with the care I'm getting at the base hospital.  My OB is on base but I'll be delivering at a civilian hospital in town. 

nicolepatricia87

When I found out I was pregnant I switched to tricare standard because I wanted to see an off base OB. Pregnancy is considered a "global issue" so I haven't paid anything so far and will only pay $17/ day for the hospital stay. I then plan on switching back to prime after LO's 6 week appt. 

TomHope2011

I have Prime and stayed with the WHC at the base clinic.  I'm due any day now and haven't had a single complaint from the entire 9 months.  From my experience all of the OBs I've seen are very compassionate and caring, and I've had just as many appointments (if not more) than what many of my friends who see civilians doctors have had.  I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes and I have a huge fear of needles.  The OBs in the WHC at Offutt were all really patient and have taken special measures to help me get through the difficulty of having to test my blood sugar all the time. Some of the OBs and nurses have even called me personally between appointments to check in and see how I'm doing and to ask if I have any concerns I would like addressed before me next appointment.  I would recommend giving the OBs at your base's clinic a chance before just assuming that because they are military doctors you wont get as good of treatment as you would at a civilian clinic.

Ilumine

katiep337:

Hey everyone,

I am new to military wifedom, and just found out I am pregnant with my first! We have Tricare Prime, which I have heard means very few appointments and hard to see a compassionate doc. Any stories?

Does anyone know if I can be referred to an off-base OB? Does Tricare still pay for everything? Any advice on this would be most appreciated!! 

First of all, it is human nature to kvetch about the bad.  Look at these boards, 90% of the posts are about the negative or questionable things that are going on in our lives.  We need support or validation or help figuring out what to do next.

They are rarely posts about the good and you never see posts about the' same old'-same old'. 

If we did that, we would have hundreds of thousands of posts. 

Second, it is human nature to exaggerate most our world experiences (I include myself in this).  Its either due to wanting the most IVYs possible.

Third, (and this is from my 9 years of experience as a Patient Advocate for TRICARE and Civilian Medical) most of the issues people complain about are not actually 'complain worthy' situations.

The best example I have is the number of posts we have here about newly pregnant women not being able to get an appointment until they are 10+ weeks along.  The immediate response is "how horrible and mean and uncaring TRICARE is". 

No - that is the national Standard of Care practice that all OBs follow, due to a variety of medically researched and experienced reasons. 

But damn it, we just have to blame someone.  And we do it vocally. 

Look, I am not saying that TRICARE is perfect (if I was, I would not have been paid a really good sum to lobby against them).  But given what I have seen in the civilian world (life time caps, extremely restricted formularies, etc) TRICARE isnt any worse.  It is just different.

As for your OP questions.  The MTF where I gave birth too was great.  There were appointments and it ran smoothly enough.  The ONLY reason why I disenrolled from Prime was because I would literally have to drive right by the civilian hospital (I actually had to drive by another MTF, since DH was stationed at Eglin but we lived west of Hurlburt) and go another 15 miles...which during morning rush hour traffic could add an hour to my drive.

But every one of my friends who lived north used the clinic and loved it. 

Look, if you want a true read on the clinic, go in and visit it.  See what the appointments are like and talk to the women IN the waiting room and those that just had their babies.  And talk to more than 10. 

 

 

LyndseylovesHugh

nicolepatricia87:

When I found out I was pregnant I switched to tricare standard because I wanted to see an off base OB. Pregnancy is considered a "global issue" so I haven't paid anything so far and will only pay $17/ day for the hospital stay. I then plan on switching back to prime after LO's 6 week appt. 

 Yep, this.  I switched to standard and see a midwife off base.  But, I have heard great things about the doctors on base here, so I would not say that all MTF deliveries are a negative experience.  In fact, we know numerous people who have delivered on base and had a great experience.  The main reason I wanted to deliver off base is because the hospital here makes everyone, the father included, leave after 10pm and I do not want my H to have to go home and not be there with me and the baby.  If this was not the rule at our particular MTF I would have delivered there. 

alkvoelker

The base we are at does not handle obstetrics, so they refer all patients off-base, prime or standard. Depends on your base and what they offer. They may refer you if they deem it medically necessary.

Lissa832

You have already been given great answers. I will say, from my own experiences, I will never switch back to Prime because of the crappy care I've received. I appreciate that there are great military providers out there (and crappy civilian providers), but in the 8 years I've dealt with them, I've yet to meet one. I don't mean it to be disrespectful to a pp who said her spouse was a doctor. The bottom line is that I have legitimate concerns for military doctors because when I needed care, it was substandard. I'm talking medical malpractice bad. I've also had friends who have had amazing experiences. I'm just not one of them. I have a list of examples that are not frivolous or silly.  I don't trust most doctors now, civilian included, because of the experiences I've had with military doctors.

iLUVmySAILOR68

Like was said before, it depends on the base.  You can always make the request, however if they provide the services at the base medical they most likely wont let you.  I found out I was pregnant a week after my husband left for deployment, moved halfway across the country in March so when he got back he would have a home to come home to.  I completely understand all the questions.  What you need to do is get it confirmed by base medical and if its like the base my hubby is stationed at its small and they don't do anything with pregnancy.  They had me go to a 20 minute class on base and gave me options of OB and Midwives in the area that tricare prime covered.  I would just call and schedule an appointment and ask there!  Hopefullly you can see someone off the base, they seem to be more sensative to your needs and questions!

bootsandheels

I switched to Standard because maternity care is 100% covered and that I would've had to deliver at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Virginia. I know many women here who chose to switch over to Standard mostly because Portsmouth is tough to get to if the tunnel is backed up. While many women have had great experiences there, we have two hospitals that are much closer to us than Portsmouth and it just seemed natural to go with a private hospital and care. 

katiep337

Wow! Thank you all so much for the wealth of information and opinions. I think I am going to see how it goes on base...so far so good. They offered a really informative class, and from what I hear other women say, the docs are great. It can just be hard to get an appointment with the admin staff. Again, I truly appreciate you all taking the time to respond!

sanbry

I see you are in LV. We had our daughter at the Nellis MTF and my husband was allowed to stay, as were the other husbands whose wives delivered that night. We had a fantastic experience. Not sure why they told you your H couldn't stay...