Military mamas I have a tricare question

itravelsize · March 2016

how/why did you choose between tricare prime or standar.?

jhburton · March 2016

I have Prime and I haven't had any of the problems associated with it (waiting time for referrals). We live close to post, so it's not a problem for me to get over there easily and I like not having to worry about co-pays or getting reimbursed. I also don't have any medical issues or history that require seeing a specialist. For me, it has been the easier option. We are PCSing soon to a post that does not offer OBGYN services, so I will have to get a referral to see someone in town. Depending on how that experience goes, may or may not change how I feel about prime!

Edited because I wasn't done yet.

LizaKate1213 · March 2016

I chose standard because I wanted the freedom to choose my own doctors. The nearest bases are each 45 minutes away and I had no interest in traveling to them. We live in the same town I grew up in (DH is Active Guard Reserve) and I would have had to change all of the doctors I have had for years, and DS's pediatrician. It was a no brainer for us!

laxin31 · March 2016

Both my son and I have Prime. I am only in there for my annual or maybe some allergies. Where I currently live we get referrals out if they can't see us due to only having clinic. My son has not had any issues except for a ear infection here and there and we get referred to a urgent care if we can't get into the clinic. I have had Prime for almost 10 years at big hospitals and clinics and no major issues.

littleloviegirl · March 2016

With my first we didn't have obgyn at our base so we got referred off base on prime, it was great, never got a bill. With our second we were at a big base with a hospital so they had all their pregnant moms seen and deliver on base, but they never answered their phone or called back in a timely manner, so we switched to standard for the pregnancy for me and never got a bill. Pregnancy is completely covered. Where we are now they don't have a hospital on base so I am on prime and got referred off base. For our kids, we have gone back and forth - started prime bc we got referred off base due to short staffing on base, then at our last base we went standard bc our kids kept getting uti's and ear infections on the weekend and we were tired of the ER (bc they had a hospital there they just had you go to the on base hospital anytime after hours). Now here they are back on standard and I don't love it but our kids have kind of outgrown needing a dr very often outside of well visits. But as far as pregnancy, I prefer to be seen off base, I have just found the care to be much better and more prompt. Good luck!

mpunger · March 2016

I have standard, this was suggested to me by one of our old roommates. We live only 15 minutes from base. Joint Base Andrews, hubby is in the Air Force. Sadly I did not have a chance to choose my doctor. The day before we were starting the process to get me in tricare I took a fall down the stairs almost snapping one of the bones in the side of my foot. Wound up having to go to the ECC or else we'd have to pay out of pocket, this was also the visit when they told me that I'm pregnant.

I I guess it really depends on the staffing situation at your base hospital, if it's not staffed well then I would suggest prime. We are at a large joint base so staff is up to par.

kittiesandcoffee · March 2016

I've got prime. It's just easier for me even with the base being 30 minutes away. I've never had an issue getting an appointment and it's nice to have all my doctors (OB, GP, and PT) in one place.

Hunterloren · March 2016

I chose standard because I really wanted an all female dr.'s office. Also, I live 45 minutes from the military hospital on a good day. My second was a VBAC, and our mil offices don't do that. So, those were all my reasons. We are still at the same duty station for our third and I stayed with my office.

bethashli · March 2016

I've asked this a lot also. The advice I got was all really similar. It's pretty split between people I know but the first thing suggested was to check out the on post hospital, meet your doctor and midwife, tour the birthing units, and see how you feel about it. It's definitely nice not having to worry about anything monetary. But the friends I have who switched to Standard did so because there was something about the on post process that they weren't comfortable with. Plus my friend has given birth twice and her out of pocket expense for the birth was $30 so the money part isn't a huge issue. You have some time to decide also. It's a personal preference kind of thing but those were the pros/cons that my questioning boiled down to. Personally, I'm seeing how the on post route goes first, just for the sake of convenience. Hope something in that helped!

JaJuanY · March 2016

I don't have a choice because I'm active duty, but even if I did I probably would stay Prime. I have never had an issue with any of my military doctors or nurses and I love the care I get, although I may be biased because I work in the hospital. One thing you may want to look into is the ability to keep seeing the same provider throughout the pregnancy. If you are stationed near a large, teaching hospital, they may have you see a different provider every time, there's no continuity, and it could be an intern, resident, attending, civilian or military. That has been the experience of most of my friends who have delivered at my current base, although the last hospital I worked at we were more consistent. I would say go in with an open mind, know that all the military providers have to have the same credentials as those in the civilian world, but there are certain amenities/procedures that may not be available to you if you decide to stay Prime.

itravelsize · March 2016

thanks ladies for your insight this is our first and tri care has been a lil frustrating with moving. I like the idea of checking out the base facilities I have no idea what's even here yet. Hoping to find what works best for us so I guess sticking to prime for now

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