Special Pay

[jlovele1]

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I was wondering if anyone knows if you graduate from UHUHS (therefore have a 7 year payback) do you still receive special pay for your specialty? Or since you owe them 7 years and graduated at no cost, do you forfeit that pay.

I know they base the contract for special pay on the # of years you sign up for, so just wondering how that works.

Also, what is the difference in ISP and MSP and do you receive both (particularly if from UHUHS).

Thanks!

 

[HighPriest]

You are, I think, one of the many unfortunate victims of the complicated system of additional pay that the Army uses to mock the discrepency between what you make and what your civilian counterparts make.

You have VSP, Board Cert Pay, ISP, ASP, and MSP.

VSP (variable specialty pay): It is a monthly payment based upon your years of service

Board Cert Pay: obviously you need to be board certified. This is a monthly pay that is also dependent upon your years in service. Obivously, you don't get this during residency.

ISP (incentive specialty pay): Pay that you recieve every year based upon your specialy. It is highly variable and illogical. You sign a year contract every time you accept it. This can be concomitant with your current ADSO. You don't get this during residency.

ASP (additional specialty pay): $15,000 that you get every year after residency. You need to qualify for VSP and you sign a year contract every time you accept it. This can be concomitant with your current ADSO. You don't get this during residency.

MSP (multi-year specialty pay): this is what you're thinking of. This is additional pay for people who sign up for additional years of service AFTER their ADSO. You can resign for 2+ years, and the pay is based upon how many additional years you go for. This is also specialty dependent.

--EDITED FOR ACCURACY--

 

[HighPriest]

Just remember: in the military special pay is special like your momma means when she calls you special. There's actually nothing special about it. It's awkward and confusing and nobody would use the word special to describe it other than it's momma.

 

[jlovele1]

Just a little complicated! Hahaha, that's ridiculous. So this is what I understand:

During residency: only VSP (after AD for 1 year)

After residency: VSP, ASP, Board Cert and ISP during ADSO

If you decide to continue when ADSO over, then you receive all the above and MSP....all for signing continuing contracts of X number of years.

 

[HighPriest]

That sounds about right. Obviously you only get board certification pay once you pass your boards.

 

[Chonal Atresia]

Just to rub it in a bit.

My 1st year salary this past year as an employed surgeon at my new practice was more than what I would have made in the military with all of the special pays noted above + 4-yr MSP + ancillary moonlighting income of 70K/yr (which I averaged over the last 5 years on active duty). This income will at least double once I make partner in 2 months.

Morale of the story - do NOT join the military for the money. You will be miserable once out of residency when the financial r$%^ begins. If the pay isn't bad enough, your fearless leader is a nurse.

Cheers!

 

[backrow]

Just to clarify one point and confuse another....

VSP you will receive during intern year and for all years beyond. (Not sure what the 1yr mentioned above is...)

You do not have to complete your initial obligation prior to receiving MSP; however, you must have 8 yrs of creditable service AND it will add to your obligation. So, technically you could sign it starting 8 years after USUHS graduation. It also means you would not receive it for the back-end years near the end of your career. It's a "money now OR money later" type deal.

 

[HighPriest]

I could be remembering it incorrectly, but you are supposed to have 1 year of active service prior to recieving VSP. I suppose for USUHS students, that means that you would get VSP immediately after completing medical school.

I'm sure that's accurate for the MSP. I have never considered signing an MSP agreement, nor have I ever owed so much time that my ADSO extended out far past 8 years. (Thank whatever diety kept me from making that mistake).

 

[colbgw02]

Interns get VSP at a rate of $100/month. I'm not sure where you're getting that 1-year thing either.

 

[HighPriest]

Well, there you have it. I honestly don't remember when I started getting it. It's enough to fill your car with gas so long as you drive something affordable. I guess if that $100/month is enough to get you to sign, then you're gold.

I got it off the armytimes website (obviously not the best resource):
http://www.armytimes.com/article/20100510/BENEFITS02/5100326/Other-pay-Medical-Special-Pay
I had to look it up because I couldn't remember when it kicked in.

But DFAS (clearly a better resource) says you get it, and I'm sure the other gents here are correct.

 

[TurtleDO2012]

Basic pay- everyone earns- based on rank and time in service- monthly amount

BAH- (Basic Allowance for Housing) based on rank and local zip code- monthly amount. NONTAXED

COLA- (Cost of Living Allowance) based on specific location- monthly amount. NONTAXED

BAS- (Basic Allowance for Sustenance) $253.38. Same amount for every officer. NONTAXED

VSP (variable specialty pay) "pay for just being a doctor" (earned if serving for at least 1 year as a physician)
-starts the first month of intern year at $100 a month then increases thereafter based on years of service.
-Cut offs are intern year- $100/month, <6 years and not an intern- $416.66/month. At least 6 but less than 8- $1,000/month. Then it goes down a little afterthat.

ASP (Additional Special Pay) "pay for just being a doctor not in initial residency"
-amount is a lump sum payment of $15,000 currently.
-Incurs a 1 year ADSO date signed and is served congruently with any other ADSOs. This is important to sign as early as possible so that it doesn't extend your ADSO in the final year of payback.

ISP (Incentive specialty pay) "pay for completing a specialty"
-amount is dependant on specialty, you earn for only one chosen specialty/fellowship;
-lump sum payment once a year

BCP (Board cert pay): monthly amount given once you confirm with finance that you have achieved board certification.
-Amount is the same for all specialities, you only get it for one specialty. Amount changes based on years of service.
<10 years of service $208.33/month, at least 10 but <12 years $291.66/month and etc up to 18 years or more $500.00/month.
MSP (multiyear specialty pay)
-medical officer committs to remain on active duty for 2, 3, 4 years after completion of any other active duty service commitment. Amount depends on specialty and number of years extending commitment
-Need to have completed all AD service commitment incurred for medical education and training or has at least 8 years of creditable service.
-Amount is an annual payment

(ECISP) Early Career Incentive Special Pay
-Officer of Medical Corps of the Army or an officer of the Air Force designated as a medical officer
-within 18 months of completing their medical education and training obligation
-Agrees to ramin on active duty for a period of not less than 4 years
-one time offer
-Can not receive a regular ISP, MISP, or MSP in addition to ECISP

http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/Volume_07a.pdf

 

[pgg]

(ECISP) Early Career Incentive Special Pay
-Officer of Medical Corps of the Army or an officer of the Air Force designated as a medical officer
-within 18 months of completing their medical education and training obligation
-Agrees to ramin on active duty for a period of not less than 4 years
-one time offer
-Can not receive a regular ISP, MISP, or MSP in addition to ECISP

http://comptroller.defense.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/Volume_07a.pdf

I don't believe ECISP has ever actually been implanted.

 

[colbgw02]

I don't believe ECISP has ever actually been implanted.

I knew it. The Manchurian Candidate was actually a documentary, wasn't it?

 

[pgg]

Er, implemented. I can't believe there'd be much demand for it anyway.