Short Term Medical Insurance??

JP13 Senior Member momoville

Anyone have any experiences with this? About to separate from Active Duty and BlueCross BlueShield is gonna run me about $240 for 4 months worth...80/20 coverage up to 5K, then 100% after 5K with a $250 deductible. Basically saves me about $180 a month versus getting on my wifes insurance plan. They only cover "major" stuff (which is fine and understandable) and dont cover any prior related problems within the last 5 years.

Possible gray area b/c i had surgery on my right shoulder and recently had an MRI on my left shoulder that shows significant "wear"(got the MRI to validate a VA claim, elected no surgery b/c i can perform almost all normal activities)......Im wondering if they would even cover me...and if i had a freak accident that involved serious shoulder issues...would I be in for the "run around"??

Your $.02, thoughts, experiences?

thanks-

lacedog Rookie Va Beach

talk to your command career counselor or its equivalent. they will point you in the right direction before you get out.

Radium Epic Member SoCal Tracon

I dont really have good insite on this, especially since I didnt think I'd get in any trouble med wise (I'm super healthy minus freak accidents).

The VA told me that they will cover any stuff 100% from service related (so I'd ask them about that).

On a more personal note, about 2 months after I got out (didnt sign for any extra coverage, or ever bother to get blue cross or anything)... I cut my leg open on a jar of salsa. Went to the ER, got it stiched up (last time I ever recycle!), and said "I'm ex military, here is my id card, I'm not sure if I'm covered or not".... Well guess something was covered because I never recieved a bill, and its been quite a while since then (like 8 months).

I would def get ahold of your med people (airforce was Tricare) and see whats up.

SkylinesSuck Senior Member asleep at work

They briefed me about 2 weeks ago as I was outprocessing that I was automatically covered for 6 months for full medical, and 3 months for dental. If I was in for less than 6 years, it would have been 2 months full medical and the same dental. I didn't believe them since it sounded too good to be true, but I went back and confirmed with somebody else that worked there. Still seems too good to be true, but take it for what it is. I was thinking about calling the number for authorizations that they gave me just to double check, but I haven't done it yet.

JP13 Senior Member momoville

Who briefed you this? I thought when i was in TAPS, they said tricare was like 700 a month for temp insurance (or some crazy $hit like that).

chickymcnuffin Rookie

Yeah, Tricare ends the day your EAS (separation day) hits unless you pay for it! For a family plan it would cost us almost $1000 a month - way too expensive! But yeah, Tricare even told us that the day of your EAS, you actually drop out of their system.

SkylinesSuck Senior Member asleep at work

They were the people in the actual Tricare office in the hospital. Keep in mind, many of the other people in the Air Force outside of ATC are complete morons, but I heard it from a SrA, and 2 TSgt's all at different times. I do remember what they briefed at TAPS about the over priced crap, I just thought something changed. Maybe I should call the actual autorization number they gave me on the little card and ask tomorrow. Even if I'm not supposed to get it, they are the final say since they pay the bill. My friends who also got out a little before be said they were covered, but they have 30% disability and I don't know if they were confusing VA benefits with Tricare.

JP13 Senior Member momoville

If you do call them, let us know and post that phone number.

thanks
jp

chickymcnuffin Rookie

Yeah, I'd call! My husband just EAS'd in Sept and he's talked to Tricare several times and they all said the same thing!

Wponcho Junior Member Orlando

I was "told" from different people that I'd be covered the same amount. However, when you separate you are completely not eligible for Tricare. My son had surgery the day before my complete separations date and they wouldn't pay for the follow-up appointment even though it was approved prior to my separation. I wasn't even eligible for Tricare Reserve Select, even though I joined the Reserves. Another however:

Service connected disabilities are a different story. I am receiving 30% disability, but I'm in the Reserves and I'll have to pay all the money I receive during the year back when taxes come around. They give me the option of writing a check for the total amount awarded, or they'll take it out of my Reserve Drill pay until I pay the total amount back. Try paying $5400 over the course of one weekend a month two weeks a year. It turns out that I get it one year and then spend the next year paying it back.

Bottom line, you have to call the VA and then the Deers people. The Deers people are the ultimate knowledge people on your specific eligibility requirements. Through the TAPS briefing they said you can only continue with Tricare if you are in a stop loss or something of that nature. Hope this helps.