When does it make sense to go Guard/Reserve?

[upontherocks]

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I am a GMO separating from the military for residency. As I'm doing this, I'm being approached to go over Guard/Reserve opportunities. As much as I enjoyed my time and got to do some cool things, I've gotten a pretty rotten deal and experience all considered, especially for my background and compared to my civilian peers. That said, if things aren't as bad/worth it on the Guard side of things, would it be worth trying out? Are the benefits worth it? Is Tricare on the reserves really that good? I've somehow managed to come out in one piece so far. My future goals are to have my own practice, or something more on the business side of medicine, or the VA, depends on how things work out in the future.

 

[armytrainingsir]

It makes the most sense for a former HPSP doc with 8-10 years AD in a specialty that is at lower risk for deployment and yet in a critical wartime specialty. In that case, with HPSP credited as good years, over halfway there.

Tricare lets you be mobile and not tied to getting care in your own system as most hospital employee insurance plans require you seek care in their system first.

When I went back into the reserves, I was solo practice, paying $1500/mo for BCBS and a $7500 deductible. Tricare was $210/mo at the time. $1000 deductible. That kept more money in my pocket than my 05 drill pay put in it!

Reserve retirement pay, Tricare from 60-65 yo, and TFL is worth somewhere between 700k and one million IMO. If your spouse is younger and not working, you’re on the hook for about 25k per year for their health insurance and related costs if you retire at 65 and go on Medicare.

When you say ‘crappy deal’, I’m guessing you had the typical doc in a box type GMO job in a less desirable location with some crappy leadership and time in the field. In exchange, you have zero medical school debt and can buy a house with no money down. Lots of BC/BE primary care physicians have a crappy job in a miserable place AND $200k of debt. 😉

And you still get to board first at the airport, lol.