- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Babies: 9 - 12 Months
3sthecharm
member
re: soldiers and private insurance
3sthecharm
member
I cant believe they would even put this out there considering the administration is trying to get a federally funded healthplan available for all citizens. Jees if the federally funded program we have for our vets wants to treat the people who protect our country this way just how do you think they will treat joe schmo ? By the way, the Federal employee program insurance available to congress and other federal employees is golden compared to most other plans on the market. They should allow military families to be considered federal employees for insurance purposes too then theyd have the same great care as the people making the laws!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: re: soldiers and private insurance
I completely agree that the US govt is responsible for seeing its soldiers receive adequate care.
However, have you seen the care that veterans tend to receive? I have a friend whose husband died in 2007, seven months after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by the VA hospital. He had to go through the VA for his care, and they didn't schedule him an appointment with the oncologist until 2 weeks before his death.
Given the atrocious care that has been reported recently at some of the VA's biggest and best facilities, maybe this idea is on the table as part of an improvement in care for veterans. After all, it is only something that is not being removed from negotiation, not something that is even being introduced in committee.
I am not sure where this is coming from but as a former sailor and Hospital Corpsman, I have to say that the military health system is great. I know there are many people that don't like it but my personal experience has been wonderful. Now, veteran's health, on the other hand, leaves a lot to be desired. VA hospitals are awful.
I used to work at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD and we used to get senators and congressmen in all the time. They were getting the same level of care, albeit a bit more VIPish in the bedside manners sense, than the military folks.
Yeah, it's a horrible proposal and never should have made the light of day.
I'm pretty satisfied with the health insurance that I have as a military family member. I have access to civilian docs and civlian hospitals, no co-pays, $2 Rx drug coverage. It cost us $0 for my c/s and hospital stay last year. Good stuff indeed.
I'll take that! I pay a grand a month in premiums and I had to pay a 50 dollar copay yesterday for Emerson's antibiotics. My section cost me about 1200 dollars and Emerson's tubes has cost me 1500 dollars out of pocket.
How close are you to a Military Health Facility? When DH was active duty and I had Tricare Prime, I had to go to an OB on base, I would be on the hook for over 30% of the cost if I chose not to. I hated my birth experience because of that Doc (I had to switch halfway through the pregnancy). Military docs (the ones I have ever seen) know that their salary is paid without being nice to patients so they don't try to give good service. But, if you don't live close to a MTF, you can go to civilian docs as you described. Tricare is different everywhere, it sucks!
After researching this more after the ridiculous thread earlier, there are absolutely NO details on it. So I'll believe it when I see the bill.
Based on what I read, it sounds to me like it means the vets will have the option of using private insurance in the event they can't / don't seek treatment at the VA. I am interpreting it as privatization-- that the govt. will contract private insurance, not go after individuals.
I'm about 5 miles away from a MTF. The plan that I have is called USFHP and it's available in selected areas of the country. I think it is part of Tricare Prime.
It's pretty sweet, the only caveat is that I cannot seek treatment at a MTF, I have to go to a civilian hospital. Of course, that is a problem that I don't mind having!