[Laurie in PA]

My DH turned 60 this year so he got his reserve retirement and Tricare. So far we have only used the
prescription coverage. I carry our insurance through my job, but I would like to compare Trcare and a
supplement with my Blue Cross.

Does anyone have Tricare and if so, what supplement do you have. I am really looking for something
that will cover everything Tricare doesn't.


Thanks

[Sara Arell]

We have only Tricare now and no supplement Laurie and we do just fine with it. We used to have the departments healthcare when Rich was full time but dropped it when he went to part time because it would have been too expensive. But quite honestly, we do very well with our Tricare - no major illnesses though and they have amazed us at how much they pay for procedures and stuff - and our co-pays on prescriptions are mostly $3.00 except for Rich's bp meds which are $22.00 just because the doctor wants him to take the name brand Tricare doesn't always pay as much on brand names - HTH

[patsyt]

Congrats on dh's reserve retirement and good luck in choosing a supplement. I would just caution you when getting quotes from BC. My dh worked for them for 30 years and when he retired 4 years ago my insurance premiums were only supposed to go up the same as the employees'. Well in those 4 years my premiums have increased by 377% with a 47.5% increase for next year alone! In addition, we've had the same type of policy for 30 years and they have now added a deductible and changed from a 100% ocverage to 90%-10%. Also mid-year 2009 they changed drug coverages and their formulary so some prescriptions that were covered are no longer covered - they do this every year but I don't think it's fair when I paid for an annual policy and they change mid-year!

[Sara Arell]

Patsy is right about what she said - and that is the biggest reason we just stick with Tricare - even though if you have health care through your company, you are going to have to weigh out the cost of what that costs you against what you may or may not pay out of pocket - we were very surprised when we dropped our major co and went strictly with Tricare at how well off we did - even the department paid it for Rich we had to pay for mine and the cost was considerable -

[CRS]

I have Tricare and the only problem I have had so far is finding a eye care provider in the network. I pay $3 for generic Rx and I haven't paid a penny for a single dr. visit yet (we've had it for a year now). I was lucky because my dr's were already in the network and I didn't have to rearrange anything. My uncle has had it for years and loves it. If you have any questions, but sure to check out their website. I've found it very helpful!

[Sara Arell]

Right, Carla - they don't help much with eye exams but they did help when I went to an opthamologist rather than an optomotrist - but I had that cataract surgery then and so guess that was a different consideration - but I have heard that if one goes to the opthamologist (sp) that Tricare is more apt to pay - that would be on the web site as well, but they also send us books all the time on our coverage.

[SandiC.]

tricare automatically becomes secondary if you have other insurance

[Smiles]

(I'm explaining this as if TRICARE would be your main coverage)
As a retiree/dependent of a retiree, you have to pay a small monthly fee for TRICARE Prime, but you wouldn't need a supplement with that.
If you are in a "remote" location where there are not a lot of TRICARE doctors, you would need TRICARE Standard or TRICARE Extra.
For active duty and families, there are no co-pays for doctor visits.
For retirees and their families, there is currently a $12 copay per visit.
For anything but your primary care doctor (if you're Prime, the doctors you see must accept TRICARE) you'll need a referral through the TRICARE system. They have improved the referral process tremendously, at least in the Western Region. The 3 regions all have a different company managing it. Carla can advise you how the one for the NE is. I get an email when my referral has been approved.
The pharmacy has 3 tiers - one for generics, one for brand names, and one for non-formulary, which is what Sara is referring to. If you use the mail order pharmacy you get three months for the same price as one month at a local pharmacy.
Once your husband reaches 65, he'll go on TRICARE for Life. It is a Medicare supplement. Currently there is no fee for TFL.
You'll also go on TFL when you reach 65. I believe that if he reaches 65 before you do, you would still pay the monthly fee for your coverage.
If you need contacts or websites for information, PM me.

Congratulations to your DH for reaching his Reserve Retirement! He is now eligible for everything active duty retirees are. If he didn't go to a Retiree Services Office, and there is one not too far away, I highly recommend it. (I have a list of RSOs if you need a phone number) I attended a seminar for active duty folks separating or retiring, and they welcomed Reserve Retirees approaching age 60.
This time is the true payback for all those long weekends and training times in uniform. Please thank him for his Service for us.
(My DH retired out of the USAR and I retired from the AGR program).

[Sara Arell]

Very well explained, Gayle - thank you

[Laurie in PA]

Thank you, everyone. I'm still at a loss what to do, I pay around 200 a month to have him on my high option Blue Cross, but I don't know if it is going to go up this year or not. I may drop down to a lower level Blue Cross with a deductible and higher copays and let Tricare pick up some of the deductible.

I do insurance billing for a hospital and this should all be cut and dried for me. I've been asking the Tricare billers
about what they are seeing as far as cost shares and it really doesn't seem too bad.

I do love the prescription plan! We haven't had one since he left the service.