military health care

jaesmommy · December 2014

Anybody a military spouse or on the military themselves? If so do you like how they do things in terms of prenatal care?

LaBellaVida · December 2014

I'm a spouse. Yes, I'm generally pretty happy with my prenatal care.

Currently we live far from a base, so I get to see a civilian Dr.

Last pregnancy I switch to standard so I could deliver with a civilian Dr. I just didn't particularly care for the military hospital.

Honestly, I can't complain about free health care though.

tslmom87 · December 2014

It depends where you are. I loved the hospital and care I received At fort hood. Here in Hawaii, the care I received was awful and I switched very early on to standard for both my Dd 1 and I.

Can't complain about free healthcare though. If you don't like it there is always standard you can switch to.

LaBellaVida · December 2014

Or you can switch to private insurance. .... And pay $$$.

Maries1987 · December 2014

I get seen on base and I have no complaints! They take care of everything from the apts to the vitamins to the ultrasounds and have made it really easy. I have had an uncomplicated pregnancy, but my friend who was seen at the same base hospital felt the same as I do. They do have a small L&D which is the only set back. If there were to be a problem, we would have to be transferred to a place that had a NICU.

Samiantha101 · December 2014

I hated our clinic. After a resident doctor told me my daughter's condition was fine, she admitted literally just a moment beforehand that she was not familiar with the condition, I switched my daughter to standard. We literally never seen our PCM or even the same doctor twice. They lost track of my daughter's vaccine records. I had made an appointment for my annual pap, and the nurse told me I was the last patient before lunch and had me re-schedule my appointment, after they had already taken my vitals, etc.

I won't even get into the list of crap my husband has been through. The system is so broken. I'll stick to standard. The costs are really minimal in comparison to the treatment we receive.

lilmisssweeti · December 2014

Depends on the post and whether or not you have prime or standard. My prenatal care has been great with the centering group offered at my midwife on post.

WillCMyInk · December 2014

I'm in the "not near a base" camp so I'm being seen at a civilian doctor. I have no complaints in terms of the care I've received for pregnancy.

Financially, I've had some major hiccups on standard (civilian doctor ordered tests that weren't covered and I ended up with hundreds of dollars in medical bills). Medically I've had some pretty sub-par care from actual military physician's though (obvious UTI, was told I didn't have one, ended up in the ER 2 days later with a kidney infection).

jaesmommy · December 2014

I live on post and I'm seen by a doctor on post. I like it for the most part I do get to see the same doctor each time with the exception of one time. But I do not like how much their prenatal schedule differs from those with civilian doctors. I wish there were more ultrasounds! They do not do cervical checks until week 39 when most women get checked at 36 weeks.

southernyankeegirl · December 2014

jaesmommy said:
I live on post and I'm seen by a doctor on post. I like it for the most part I do get to see the same doctor each time with the exception of one time. But I do not like how much their prenatal schedule differs from those with civilian doctors. I wish there were more ultrasounds! They do not do cervical checks until week 39 when most women get checked at 36 weeks.

That's just different doctor-to-doctor, even on base. My friend got her Navy doc to do ultrasounds a half dozen times during her pregnancy, and I have heard of others (with civilian and military doctors) who only get the anatomy scan at 20 weeks.

Considering TriCare pays for maternity care 100% (Standard or Prime), I'd say we all have it pretty darn good! I am on Standard and haven't paid a penny for my prenatal care since getting pregnant, and expect to only pay around $30-40 for my hospital stay post-delivery.

Maybe if you want more ultrasounds consider one of those elective ultrasound places to see your little one in 3D and get some keepsake photos?

sanbry · December 2014

I'm a spouse and have been seen on base for both my pregnancies. Our base has a full medical center and they just completely remodeled it. The women's clinic staff is wonderful and I've had no complaints. It's definitely dependent on the base, our last base just had clinics so they referred off base to civilian providers for prenatal care.

LaBellaVida · December 2014

It's pretty standard to not get more then 2 or 3 ultrasounds your entire pregnancy, unless your high risk. There is no medical need otherwise.

Cervical checks are optional. No need to get them done until your in labor because that's really when it matters.
Unless again. ... Your at risk of PTL, ect.

WillCMyInk · December 2014

jaesmommy said:

I live on post and I'm seen by a doctor on post. I like it for the most part I do get to see the same doctor each time with the exception of one time. But I do not like how much their prenatal schedule differs from those with civilian doctors. I wish there were more ultrasounds! They do not do cervical checks until week 39 when most women get checked at 36 weeks.

How many ultrasounds have you had? It's not uncommon to come out of an uncomplicated pregnancy with only 1 to 2 ultrasounds. Also, cervical checks don't really tell you a whole lot. Some women can spend 3 weeks dilated to 2 or 3 cm and even be 50+% effaced without going into labor. You could be checked tomorrow at 1cm and then go into labor tomorrow night.

It sounds like you're actually pretty lucky to have an OB that doesn't want to be constantly up in your business.

LaBellaVida · December 2014

So really they don't "differ" all that much to a civilian Dr.
I like my civilian Dr. Because I feel like I'm
spent more time with during my appointments.
I like that if I have an appt at say 9 am I'm waiting no more then 15 min. Unlike at a military clinic I've waited well over an hour for a checkup.

As far as Cervical checks, it's standard to not get them unless your high risk. No medical need to get them, until your in labor.

Ultrasounds are the same. There is no medical need to get them unless your high risk. You *might* get 3 your whole pregnancy, military or civilian Dr. That's standard!

If you don't like it switch to standard or get your own private insurance. I assure you, you'll get the same type of care.

jaesmommy · December 2014

I've had two ultrasounds. It just seems line many other women who aren't high risk seem to get to see their LOs a little more

southernyankeegirl · December 2014

jaesmommy said:
I've had two ultrasounds. It just seems line many other women who aren't high risk seem to get to see their LOs a little more

Again, different doctors. It's not a military vs. civilian thing - some military doctors give lots of ultrasounds, some give few. Some civilian doctors give a lot, some give few.

We don't have military obgyns near me so everyone goes to civilian obgyns. There's two practices to pick between - one told me I would get an ultrasound at 20 weeks for anatomy scan and that was it. The other told me they would do an additional growth scan in the third trimester, and that they have a portable machine that they can use for a quick peek during appointments.

Since my first visit with the Obgyn at 11 weeks, I have had 5 ultrasounds. Two were on the portable machine, one was a cervical check after serious Braxton Hicks, the anatomy scan, and a growth scan). If I had chosen the other doctor, I would have gotten 1.

You want to see your LO more, there's always the option to go pay one of those elective 3d ultrasound boutiques. Not quite sure why you think insurance needs to cover a medically unnecessary ultrasound just because you want a peek?

Don't envy civilians their health insurance, if that's your whole reasoning - most civilian health insurance ends up with Moms paying hundreds if not thousands for prenatal and labor & delivery costs and deductibles and copays. You could pay for several elective ultrasounds out of pocket long before you'd meet the costs that an average civilian pregnancy has.

Maries1987 · December 2014

I have prime and like I said, get seen on base and have had 4 ultrasounds so far. This is an uncomplicated pregnancy. I'm 34 weeks and know I can expect at least one more at 36 weeks. It must vary from place to place.

I haven't gotten far enough to need cervical checks, but my Dr said he could start checking early but that was only if I requested it.

When I looked at how much civilians are having to pay I was shocked! We literally haven't spent a penny on my medical care during this pregnancy. I told my husband we better hurry and finish our family before he gets out!

Samiantha101 · December 2014

Is there a reason you are wanting more u/s? Like I said before, I am on standard, and I too have only had two u/s. It's pretty standard.

sanbry · December 2014

On prime I've had about 5 on base, 3 of which were 1st tri bc I had some spotting in the beginning. One was the anatomy scan and one was a 5 min check to see if the head was down. I've also paid for two 3D ones off base and will have only one more on base at 36 weeks unless something comes up. So I've had a lot for not being a high risk pregnancy. And I'm seen on base. Like the others said, it depends on the doctor.

lauren.nolting · December 2014

I read an article a few months ago about Tricare possibly covering the cost of breast pumps for all members, not just NICU moms--has anyone looked into this? Not sure if it got approved.

lilmisssweeti · December 2014

lauren.nolting said:
I read an article a few months ago about Tricare possibly covering the cost of breast pumps for all members, not just NICU moms--has anyone looked into this? Not sure if it got approved.

Depends on the hospital, Womack on Bragg doesn't supply one for every baby born. They go to NICU first and then you may get one with a healthy child or you may not.

Samiantha101 · December 2014

lauren.nolting said:
I read an article a few months ago about Tricare possibly covering the cost of breast pumps for all members, not just NICU moms--has anyone looked into this? Not sure if it got approved.

You heard incorrectly. This is mostly true for a lot of other insurance companies though, but of course Tricare is exempt, of course.

lauren.nolting · December 2014

https://breastfeedingincombatboots.com/2014/10/tricare-breastpumps-coverage/

lilmisssweeti · December 2014

Samiantha101 said:

lauren.nolting said:
I read an article a few months ago about Tricare possibly covering the cost of breast pumps for all members, not just NICU moms--has anyone looked into this? Not sure if it got approved.
You heard incorrectly. This is mostly true for a lot of other insurance companies though, but of course Tricare is exempt, of course.

Mainly because Tricare is considered a "benefit" not health insurance.

robsbabygirl08 · December 2014

For the most part I have been very happy with Prime. At Eglin I saw the same provider the entire pregnancy and he delivered me as well. He would also bring the portable U/S machine in the room when he had extra time and let us take a peek at DD.

At this base it hasn't been too bad, but I'm over all the Interns. As far as appointments go, I've seen the same NP all 30+ weeks. But the 3 times I've been up to L&D for PTL, it's a crap shoot. I never know if I will be seen by an intern, resident, or staff. That's my only complaint. Oh, and that the hospital is over 30 miles away, which in this traffic sometimes takes 2 hours.

Samiantha101 · December 2014

lilmisssweeti said:

Samiantha101 said:

lauren.nolting said:
I read an article a few months ago about Tricare possibly covering the cost of breast pumps for all members, not just NICU moms--has anyone looked into this? Not sure if it got approved.
You heard incorrectly. This is mostly true for a lot of other insurance companies though, but of course Tricare is exempt, of course.
Mainly because Tricare is considered a "benefit" not health insurance.

They can word smith it all they want; it's health insurance for all intents and purposes.

southernyankeegirl · December 2014

Samiantha101 said:

lilmisssweeti said:

Samiantha101 said:

lauren.nolting said:
I read an article a few months ago about Tricare possibly covering the cost of breast pumps for all members, not just NICU moms--has anyone looked into this? Not sure if it got approved.
You heard incorrectly. This is mostly true for a lot of other insurance companies though, but of course Tricare is exempt, of course.
Mainly because Tricare is considered a "benefit" not health insurance.
They can word smith it all they want; it's health insurance for all intents and purposes.

Yeah, I don't think that's the reason for the exception. Plenty of companies offer health insurance as a benefit, and if they create their own plan it would be the same concept. Similarly, TriCare Prime might be able to make that argument since it's a closed system (meaning it has its own exclusive providers) but Standard would have a hard time distinguishing from other types of health insurance.

I think it mostly has to do with the fact that Congress has to approve any changes to the coverage by TriCare. And we all know how much they like to do things like pass bills...

Bigboneded · December 2014

I was military, now spouse, but am getting my OB care through VA. I have had varied experiences with military, civilian, and VA medicine. If you have a good doctor, you're golden.... but there are inattentive "bad" doctors all over! I've experienced billing problems in all three- but not always! It really varies. It's good to have options. Good Luck!

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