Need help choosing between Tricare Standard or Tricare Prime.

[Charle&Brandon3]

I have to choose between the two health cares by tomorrow. I was wondering what you ladies chose and which one is the best to have for a family of three? Need answers ASAP!

 

Thank you ladies!

[Angie]

• TRICARE Prime (Enrollment required)
  • Most comprehensive and affordable coverage
  • Most care received from an assigned primary care manager (PCM); referrals required for specialty care
  • Providers coordinate your referrals/authorization and file health care claims
  • Easy to transfer when you move
  • Available in the U.S. in Prime Service Areas
• TRICARE Prime Remote (Enrollment required)
  • TRICARE Prime option in designated remote locations in the United States
  • Most care received from an assigned PCM; referrals required for specialty care
  • Providers coordinate your referrals/authorization and file health care claims
  • Easy to transfer when you move
  • Only available to active duty service members* and their families
• TRICARE Prime Overseas (Enrollment required)
  • TRICARE Prime option in overseas areas near military treatment facilities
  • Most care received from an assigned PCM; referrals required for specialty care
  • Providers coordinate your referrals and authorization and file health care claims
  • Easy to transfer when you move
  • Only available to active duty service members* and command-sponsored family members
• TRICARE Prime Remote Overseas (Enrollment required)
  • TRICARE Prime option in designated remote overseas locations
  • Most care received from an assigned PCM; referrals required for specialty care
  • No claims to file (in most cases).
  • Easy to transfer when you move
  • Only available to active duty service members* and command-sponsored family members
• TRICARE Standard and Extra
  • Most flexibility; visit any TRICARE-authorized provider (network or non-network)
  • Schedule appointments at your convenience
  • No referrals; authorization required for some services
  • You pay a percentage of the total cost (cost share)
  • May have to file your own claims
  • Not available to active duty service members*

 

http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/ProfileFilter.do;jsessionid=TqKB5C...

[Angie]

My 2 cents is I don't know why anyone would take standard...it says schedule appts to meet your scheuldle that is BS,...if you are going to see a doc on base you can only go on the waiting list to see a doc..the Prime you make appt's to see them.  Sure with the standard you can see any doctor...but you pay the difference...so if Tricare would only pay $50 for something and the doc changes $200...you pay $150 PLUS your co-pay.

 

Prime all the way!

[Beth]

It depends on where you are in my opinion.  We have Prime and I love it, we've never had any issues.  We haven't paid a dime for anything, meds, appointments, and we have a 4 month old.  Did all my care on prime and had a great experience.  I love it. 

[Anti M]

We are Navy retirees on Prime, and I love it (except for dental, that is completely different).  I had major surgery yesterday, and I won't pay more than $55 as my co-pay.  My prescriptions on base are filled for free, off base they are all $9 or much less.  My offbase appointments have a co-pay of $12, and I've only been turned down for one referral, which was genetic testing for cancer genes.  Everything else has been no problem.  

My biggest beef is vision, as a retiree, I only get an exam every other year, and glasses are not covered at all.  Still, not bad, I use an AAA discount at Lenscrafters.

[Craig]

I love Tri-Care prime.  I had surgery recently, I paid $40 total.  Just one bill was $107K.   I had lots other too.  Again, total out of pocket $40.  I only had one prescription not approved.

The way to think about Tri-Care is:

Tri-Care Standard - Ghetto.  You might as well be on welfare.

Tri-Care Prime - Champagne.  You get all the bells and whistles.  The doctors are great, the service is great.  

The only thing that sucks with us retirees is our payments go up in Oct 2012.  From $460 to $520 per year.  That's $60 more per year!  A lot of veterans are really ticked, but frankly I could care less, to me it's not that much.  A lot of my friends pay $520 per month...  Woo-hoo for Tri-Care.....   

[Anti M]

I didn't know it was going up, but hey, that isn't much, and practically nothing.

[Charle&Brandon3]

Thanks ladies! I applied for Tricare Prime and I will fax them my form tomorrow morning!

[AlwaysReady]

All of our kids are on Prime. I was on prime till we became pregnant and I switched to Standard because I wanted the choice of going to the dr I wanted with out jumping through the hoops Prime was making me jump through to get my referral. I will switch back to prime after the baby is born :)

[Anti M]

I'm lucky, our local AFB downsized their hospital to a clinic which is tremendously busy.  I can get referrals over the phone!