Tricare Copay Increase

[69Stang]

Went to an Orthopedic Office yesterday for a visit and while checking in the desk wanted $30 copay. I disagreed and they informed me that the copay has went from $12 to $30 for specialist visits and up to $20 for PCM visits. Icing on the cake was I had to pay $18 from the shortage from a 10 Jan visit.

Sure would have been nice if Tricare would have informed me of the increase. Spoke with several other retirees at work and they were never notified either. Heck, the Ortho office didn't find out until late January.

Anyone given heads up about the increase?

https://tricare.mil/Costs/HealthPlan...ons/Copayments

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by 69Stang

Went to an Orthopedic Office yesterday for a visit and while checking in the desk wanted $30 copay. I disagreed and they informed me that the copay has went from $12 to $30 for specialist visits and up to $20 for PCM visits. Icing on the cake was I had to pay $18 from the shortage from a 10 Jan visit.

Sure would have been nice if Tricare would have informed me of the increase. Spoke with several other retirees at work and they were never notified either. Heck, the Ortho office didn't find out until late January.

Anyone given heads up about the increase?

https://tricare.mil/Costs/HealthPlan...ons/Copayments

From what we just figured out, it is now called Humana Military, although tricare is still out there. Called the "tricare" line, and THEY couldn't even explain it . . .

And no, until your post, I wasn't aware of any copay increases. But I but Congress's medical didn't get cut

[corjaguar]

Which tricare plan are you enrolled in?......

[69Stang]

Originally Posted by Hit_the_Rhod

From what we just figured out, it is now called Humana Military, although tricare is still out there. Called the "tricare" line, and THEY couldn't even explain it . . .

And no, until your post, I wasn't aware of any copay increases. But I but Congress's medical didn't get cut

Seems they kept the increase hush hush so we couldn't raise a big stink before they passed it.

Originally Posted by corjaguar

Which tricare plan are you enrolled in?......

I'm in Tricare Prime.

[Goofy1]

I'm retired military and haven't paid for "health insurance" for years and the copay at the local VA were always reasonable. This past year I hit the majic 65y.o. age bracket and was told that now I have to pay for Medicare/cade! And I get moved from Tricare North to Tricare Prime!!

I went to a cardiac appointment this month and now I'm wondering how much that will cost me!! I'm not sure about you but it takes me a long time to get comfortable with a doctor and I had a good cardio one. At the appt she said she was leaving the clinic and going back to education.

[Wayne M]

Over 65, USFHP, no copay for doctors. Prescription medicine depends on Generic, (Free); Brand Name ($20); Non-formulary ($49) and that is mail order. $10, $24, and $50 for local walk in.

[flywithcoop]

Originally Posted by Goofy1

I'm retired military and haven't paid for "health insurance" for years and the copay at the local VA were always reasonable. This past year I hit the majic 65y.o. age bracket and was told that now I have to pay for Medicare/cade! And I get moved from Tricare North to Tricare Prime!!

I went to a cardiac appointment this month and now I'm wondering how much that will cost me!! I'm not sure about you but it takes me a long time to get comfortable with a doctor and I had a good cardio one. At the appt she said she was leaving the clinic and going back to education.

When the wife and I hit 65 we got Tricare for Life. No copay. We were notified by Express Scripts that the medicine copay had gone up and we have to pay that increase on some meds. I have 90% disability from the VA which means free care for life. I enrolled in Medicare just in case there was an emergency and the VA was not available. We were notified of the Tricare copay increase through DAV Facebook posting. We see Doctors and pay nothing. Medicare does cost somewhere around $134 a month and is well worth the cost. Monthly payment comes out of our SS check.

[corjaguar]

I have tricare for life on top of Medicare....I never had a copay...they did charge me once, but the refunded me the cost. Meds are through express scripts free....had to pay 8 bucks for the colon oscopy prep....

[wa8yxm]

Well you know who pays Tri-Care beyond your share right, You know who negotiates the contracts. You need to talk to them.

Alas I do not have Tri-Care so I can not advise beyond that.

[LookAtUSNow]

I do recall getting an email about the increase but was unable to find it. Here is a copy of an email about tri care changes that I did get and thought it might be of interest:

The three current TRICARE Regions will become two on January 1, 2018. The North and South Regions will combine to form the new TRICARE East Region, while the West Region remains mostly the same. The new regional contractor for TRICARE East will be Humana Military, and Health Net Federal Services, LLC, will manage TRICARE West. For more detailed information visit TRICARE.mil/changes
red circle with cross
This is your benefit - what you need to know
Current referrals and authorizations that carry over to 2018 are still good.
TRICARE Select replaces TRICARE Standard and TRICARE Extra. Go to TRICARE.mil/changes to learn more
November 1, 2017: A new network provider locator is available at HumanaMilitary.com/east
December 2017:
There will be a delay for TRICARE Prime enrollments and Primary Care Managers (PCM) changes during the transfer of files to Humana Military.
If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime and are being assigned a new PCM, Humana Military will notify you.
January 1, 2018: Find your EOBs, referrals and authorizations, eligibility and claims detail, contact information and more on beneficiary self-service at HumanaMilitary.com
red circle with cross
TRICARE is changing - what you need to do
Check to be sure you and your family members are current in DEERS at TRICARE.mil/DEERS. Starting January 1, 2018, you must be enrolled in a TRICARE plan for TRICARE to pay for civilian care. If you are currently enrolled in TRICARE Standard or Extra, you will be transitioned to TRICARE Select on January 1, 2018. If you are in TRICARE Prime you will remain in Prime.
Get a DS Logon at dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect. You can use your existing Humana Military login or your DS Logon to access the beneficiary self-service features at HumanaMilitary.com
Confirm and/or update your communication preferences in beneficiary self-service at HumanaMilitary.com We will send future communications electronically.
Establish your monthly automated payment with Humana Military by December 24, 2017 to avoid an interruption in coverage. For current north beneficiaries, electronic payment information by bank funds transfer or credit card does not transfer between contractors. To submit your information go to HumanaMilitary.com/east
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Connect with us!
Find us online at HumanaMilitary.com/

[69Stang]

LookAtUSNow, I do recall getting that and I thought maybe the increase was buried in the message somewhere, but reading it again I don't see the increase mentioned. Thanks for posting that.

I guess this copay only applies to people under 65 years old. Once you go to Tricare for Life no copay, but you pay for Medicaid.

So Tricare for Life is free?

[Hooligan]

Originally Posted by Goofy1

I'm retired military and haven't paid for "health insurance" for years and the copay at the local VA were always reasonable. This past year I hit the majic 65y.o. age bracket and was told that now I have to pay for Medicare/cade! And I get moved from Tricare North to Tricare Prime!!

At age 65, you should be in Tricare For Life and Medicare. TRicare for Life acts as a supplement and pays all expenses not covered by Medicare. You do have to enroll in Medicare Part B and pay the premiums.
More info here: Caregiver: TRICARE Program for Retirees

[tbos1958]

I have Tricare Prime now under Humana and all I have been charged for PCM copays so far this year is 12. Knowing my PCM that could be a mistake. We’ll see.
Edit: I just checked Tricare.mil and the copays have gone up for Prime. I guess I’ll be getting another bill. Sure would have been nice if they had kept the promise the government made to me back in the 70s for free medical care for life. Oh well, what’s new?

[Hit_the_Rhod]

Originally Posted by corjaguar

Which tricare plan are you enrolled in?......

Tricare Prime