Military Retirees

[grampi]

Who here is a military retiree? Can you explain to me what happened with Tricare over the last year? Recently I've been getting billed for higher copays on everything. I get my prescriptions from Express Scripts and my generic meds used to be free. Now there's a $7 copay per script. I also found out that all of my doctor visit copays have gone up. I used to have a $12 copay for all doctor visits, except for ER visits, which were $30. Now my copay is $20 for seeing my primary care doc, a specialist is now $30, and I have no idea what my copay is for an ER visit, and I'm afraid to find out. I received no notices for any of this. Who made these changes, and why weren't those of us who were already in the system grandfather claused? I don't even understand how it's legal for them to do this to us...I know it's the government and they don't seem to be bound by the same rules as everyone else, but to me, this seems like a breach of contract. What the heck is going here?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: grampi
Can you explain to me what happened with Tricare over the last year?

https://tricare.mil/changes


Quote:
I don't even understand how it's legal for them to do this to us...I know it's the government and they don't seem to be bound by the same rules as everyone else, but to me, this seems like a breach of contract.
Unless you signed a contract that guarantees you the rates will not change for life, then I don't see how it's a breach of contract. Rates are subject to change, typically.

 

[dave1251]

Congress made the changes to save on costs. Also the new retirement system is closer to a 401K now. Changes is all I have to say.

 

[Propflux01]

Hit me with the [censored] too.. $12 to $30 on copay. I don't do script because I work on an installation anyhow so getting my drugs isn't an issue. I think they slipped that one in on us.

 

[skyactiv]

I'll give you my prospective as a non greedy UPS Teamster.
You should feel lucky about your low co-pays. And mentioning why you weren't grandfathered means you don't care if others are thrown under the bus.
Your personal out of pocket health care cost are a dream compared to over 90% of the U.S. population.

 

[chunt]

For those of us on Medicare with "Tricare for Life" the only change was the prescription drug charges. I would not be surprised if us older military retires get increases in our cost of care in the future.

 

[53' Stude]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
I'll give you my prospective as a non greedy UPS Teamster.
You should feel lucky about your low co-pays. And mentioning why you weren't grandfathered means you don't care if others are thrown under the bus.
Your personal out of pocket health care cost are a dream compared to over 90% of the U.S. population.


He is a military retiree. Give him a break already

 

[Dallas69]

Washington never runs out of money for foreign aid though.

 

[AirgunSavant]

My worthless OBC is $933.00 a month for a silver plan with a $40 deductible and
they don't have the doctors i need in the network.
So i go to my own doctor for $250. a pop and it is what it is.
I often just don't go. The worst thing it could do is kill me..... lol

Oh and they soak you $50 more a month for worthless $5k life insurance...
Life is good!

 

[Dave Hess]

Uncle Sam can raise it and you simply pay more.

My wife is a retired USAF major.

 

[thastinger]

30 years here but I have a civilian job now that has a "tricare supplement" plan. We're on standard and the supp plan is a couple hundred bucks a month for a family of 4. There are still caps and co-pays for "name brand" drugs though.

 

[BJD78]

I have been retired from Army since 2013, fortunately my health has been pretty good and I do not need any prescription drugs currently. Other than an annual physical I rarely use it. I did have a stubborn prostrate infection about 2 years ago that put me in the hospital for 2 days and Tricare kept sending me small bills for about 2 years. Almost every month there would be a bill ranging from about $25.00 to $50.00. Felt like they were just bleeding me out by sending small bills out every month for a procedure that had taken place over a year ago. I feel ortunate to have a decent dr. who accepts Tricare. Tricare does not pay the provider well so many refuse to take Tricare( I do not blame them) My doc is a veteran ( Coast Guard)and I think he takes retired vets out of pity as he knows how Tricare is. I am 58 so provided that I live past 65 , from what I understand at that time we are booted from Tricare and put on Medicaid or Medicare. Tricare premiums are certainly fairly low but the way they bill is confusing and bills keep coming in years later. Also they keep sending a lot of these "this is not a bill" statements as well. As far as what is going on I imagine that the Tricare executives need to keep those million dollar salaries and bonuses somehow and raising fees and co pays is pretty easy so they do it.

 

[pbm]

Originally Posted By: Dallas69
Washington never runs out of money for foreign aid though.


So True....and so ridiculous.
I believe that a certain amount of 'foreign aid' comes full circle to bribe Congress people to keep it flowing....Our elected officials often really don't put Americans first...

 

[Wolf359]

Originally Posted By: Dallas69
Washington never runs out of money for foreign aid though.


They ran out of money a long time ago. They just keep borrowing it.

 

[Dave Hess]

Originally Posted By: Wolf359
Originally Posted By: Dallas69
Washington never runs out of money for foreign aid though.


They ran out of money a long time ago. They just keep borrowing it.


More like printing it...

 

[wwillson]

Politics - lock time