Experience with Tricare Reserve Select

[the_world_has_gone_mad]

Sorry - perhaps not the ideal forum to ask this question. Getting closer to commissioning as a (future) flight surgeon in the Air Force Reserve with no prior service so I started looking at the 'benefits' that come with this decision and looked at Tricare Reserve Select. Would be great if anyone would be willing to share their experiences if they have any/provide input:

1. Is it correct that the monthly cost is around 240$ for a family (which would be an almost 600$ monthly cost saving in my case from the amount I "pay" for health insurance as a salaried physician at an academic medical center at the moment... - of course this is pre-tax, but still...).

2. Is the maximum annual co-payment/deductible really only around 1200 $ (the "catastrophic cap" listed on the TRICARE website)? (When one of my kids needed to be hospitalized for two nights that co-payment alone was around 2500$ ... charged by the same hospital system I was employed in at that time....)

3. How do you 'sign-up' when you are non-prior service? Do you have to do that when you commission or is there something like an annual 'open enrollment' period like in the civilian world?

4. Any caveats to keep in mind?

5. In general how 'accepted' is Tricare by non-MHS providers? For my situation especially in the NYC area where there are relatively few bases close by? It would be a bit difficulty to 'hike' down to McGuire if the use of primary care out-of-network providers would be severely restricted.... but basically the majority of healthcare in NYC is mostly large academic medical centers (as an employee of one of them - basically you end up with very high copays if you see anyone 'outside' of the system's PCPs/specialists - do academic institutions usually accept Tricare Reserve Select? Apart from my children we have very little ongoing 'healthcare needs' at the moment. Would the current providers we use have to specifically accept 'Tricare Reserve Select' or is it 'Tricare' in general what you need to check for?

6. Is it possible to 'switch-back' to the insurance provided by your civilian employer (my wife also works and is eligible for separate insurance coverage) if needed? Is that process similar like in the civilian world, i.e. once a year during open enrollment?

Thanks for all advice and comments!!

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[DMBandFan86]

Yes that is about the monthly cost. You can sign up when you are eligible during open enrollment or qualifying life event such as joining the military. You sign up online. Yes you can change your health insurance yearly during open enrollment or a qualifying life event. You can have 2 insurances if you want, Tricare would be secondary if you do this.

There are only certain circumstances where you would actually want to go to a MTF, otherwise go anywhere else

Reserve Select used to be better as far as in network providers. Tricare is cheap because they don’t pay the providers anything. So now you will find a smaller list of in network providers. The cost for out of network isn’t too much more though.

 

[armytrainingsir]

I haven’t had a single bad experience with Select for the past 8 years. That said, I’ve always lived in an area with multiple military bases, so everybody takes Tricare.

Generally, speaking, hospitals,labs, scanners, and pharmacies are what are so dang expensive, not physician fees. Worst case, you negotiate a cash price with the physician as a self pay patient. You’re still way ahead financially.

Anyone can see a TRICARE patient and be reimbursed. Therefore, as a physician, as a practical matter, you can always ask your colleagues to see you in the office, and they will still get paid even if they don’t normally see Tricare.

 

[armytrainingsir]

To answer #5 specifically , Ive never heard of a hospital or academic center or their employed physicians not taking Tricare.

I’m a fan of Select overall, even more so given the cost.

 

[TheEarDoc]

Tri-care reserve select is great. Even living in an area not close to military bases there were tons of providers and my government insurance had less benefits than the tri-care reserves did and it cost me about twice as much. Unfortunately for me since I worked for a government civilian position I am not eligible for tri-care reserve select and I have to take my employer offered insurance which is crap I think, but hey another one of those less than active duty things I guess.

 

[the_world_has_gone_mad]

Thanks for all the feedback! Well as in general opinions on this forum tend to be rather on the negative side ... I guess Tricare Reserve Select is definitely something to look into ... especially since we as physicians also know how to 'navigate' the healthcare system better if one ever hits a 'pre-approval' etc. roadblock .... Just one question if someone know ... if 'Tricare' is accepted by a provider / institution this mean 'all the different types of Tricare' ... or would I have to specifically look for providers accepting 'Tricare Reserve Select' ?

 

[DMBandFan86]

Google “Tricare find a provider” and then put in the information you are looking for with TRS.

 

[Correlate Clinically]

Tri-care reserve select is great. Even living in an area not close to military bases there were tons of providers and my government insurance had less benefits than the tri-care reserves did and it cost me about twice as much. Unfortunately for me since I worked for a government civilian position I am not eligible for tri-care reserve select and I have to take my employer offered insurance which is crap I think, but hey another one of those less than active duty things I guess.

For what it's worth (and I haven't verified it directly), I was asking questions about my eventual switch over to the reserves and was told that starting around 2030 (maybe 2029?) reservists in a GS or VA position will be eligible to buy TriCare reserve select again. It was tucked in one of the NDAAs awhile back.

 

[TheEarDoc]

For what it's worth (and I haven't verified it directly), I was asking questions about my eventual switch over to the reserves and was told that starting around 2030 (maybe 2029?) reservists in a GS or VA position will be eligible to buy TriCare reserve select again. It was tucked in one of the NDAAs awhile back.

Good to know. I know AGR/Miltech positions are slated to be able to take TriCare reserve select vs. government insurance, but I had no heard about all GS positions. It would make more sense and be more cost savings for all the organizations, but then again it makes sense so the federal government isn't on board.