Changes to TRICARE starting in 2018

[majfrizz]

Since we are under 65 and full time on the road we currently have TRICARE standard. I have been reading all the changes and the still proposed office copays that will take effect starting in 2018. I have never seen anything so confusing in all of my years in the military. Has anyone else been able to keep up with these new changes, and some are still not finalized by congress. I know they will not effect TFL, so in 2 more years I don't have to worry about them. And they are not going to publish any new hard copy guidance, all information will be on the web.

Bob

[Poppy01]

We've stuck with Tricare prime just because it has experienced fewer changes, and $500 a year isn't too bad for insurance. I've gotten over the fact that I wasn't getting free medical care...

[Lv2Roam2]

Bob
Agree with you - its difficult to tell what's actually going to result, and I spent my whole career in medical stuff. I've been using MOAA's website to stay informed. Now less than a year from TFL we'll probably stay with Prime so we can save some brain cells

[majfrizz]

I thought about using Prime, but I was concerned about being FT having to have the PCM do a referral while I am on the road.

What complicates things worse, I have other health insurance which is primary before TRICARE, and I never know what my portion is until after the fact. They use some type of highly classified formula when it deals with other insurance. Before all of these future d
changes, I was thinking of suspended my other insurance.

I remember the old days when military health insurance had no costs and was not so complicated.

[Poppy01]

I had other insurance in the past and kept Prime. When Prime is secondary, we didn't need referrals from PCM for anything. This was 15 years ago, so not sure if it has changed, probably has. You can always call them and ask...btw I had heard a couple of years ago that they were trying to get people out of standard and get them into Prime.