ANA Discussion Forum
General Category => Insurance => Topic started by: GM on August 13, 2009, 10:46:01 am
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Occasionally I see another prior military member posting.
I thought that it might be a good idea to start this topic thread under insurance since we deal with an elusive healthcare network. We might be able to learn how to deal with using TRICARE when it comes to our AN's.
Although I had my AN treated while on active duty, I retired in 2005 and deal with yearly monitoring.
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Good topic. My son is army and deals with tricare all the time. It can be a challenge. The only advice I have to offer is to get in touch with your case manager early on for any health problems. Good luck to you who are military. And thank you for all you do for us!!
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How has anyone dealt with TRICARE and choosing your treatment option? If you had surgery, how did you select your surgeon using TRICARE? Did you have to use a case manager?
I have looked up and found that radiosurgery is an option that they will pay for...I was active duty at the time I had it so I didn't have to deal with this side. But as you know when you retire...it's a whole new world with TRICARE.
Gary
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Just trying to keep the thread alive...any military / prior military out there that can share their experiences with TRICARE?
GM
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GM
Soory, I can't help. After I retired I started working for a Germany Company and have my health insurance through them. I am really glad I don't have to use Tricare here in Germany and I'm really not sure how it works with retires in germany or if it works. Its really good to see other active and ex military on this sight even though I don't like it that its because of an AN that they hve to join us. If you here of and military searching for a good Dr in germany let me know.
Dan in Germany
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My best advice for dealing with Tricare: Beat your head against a brick wall until you pass out. We have Tricare Prime for Active duty.
They were great when we were not near a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) - I was able to go to great doctors and they paid for just about everything. Now that we are back near a Military Treatment Clinic, it's back to the head against the brick wall approach. I refuse to go to the MTF as they are the ones who misdiagnosed me in the first place. If you don't succeed in killing me the first time, I don't give you another chance! Of course, it requires months of fighting to get them to agree to let me see a civilian doctor, so I've been paying to use the Point of Service option, which is fine until it comes around to MRI time - that could get expensive!
On the bright side....15 months until my husband retires! ;D
Lori
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Thanks for the input! This was exactly what I was looking for. There have been many posts on how people have dealt with their insurance companies...buy none are TRICARE. As you know ...it is a totally different animal.
My AN was discovered while I was on active duty. I was fortunate that my USAF ENT doc wasn't comfortable with my hearing loss findings and decided to probe further (refer to Portsmouth ENT clinic). I am on the other side if retirement, I retired in 2005 from the military.
I still have annual MRI's at Portsmouth Naval Hospital because they have been tracking me since 2003. But, it feels like a "hand-shake" agreement that could fall apart any year. It almost did this year . The MRI clinic wanted to refer me to a civilian provider for an MRI, but my ENT nurse at Portsmouth was able to get me in. I'm sure she she reties...my follow ups will get complicated.
Again, thanks for the inputs!
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I just noticed you're in Virginia also. Maybe we'll run into each other at Portsmouth! I'll treat you to a cup of coffee. Do they still have that good coffee and bagel place right near the ramp from the parking garage to the hospital?
Lori
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Why yes they do! ...and I'll take you up on the cofee ;)
There has been a support group that been trying to kick off. We had a few meetings in Richmond...but it's been a while since we've got back together.
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Well, count me in for the next meeting. Sounds great!
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GM
Just now saw this thread. I'm another military member.
a DW-dumb dependent wife! of active duty.
See my sig! I have had good success with the military so far.
The only prob is not being able to "shop" around for docs.
I have a great case manager who knows me, and she is so great, so that is the deal. Keeping in touch. If your CM leaves, find out who her replacement is and send her candy!!! My AN surgeon trained at HOUSE thankfully and he did an awesome job. He felt awful about the facial nerve being cut but I'm alive and I didn't stroke out during the surgery, so I count my blessings.
You just have to have faith in the system, retired or AD and keep on top of your condition. ??? ??? ???
My story is long and complicated, and I have to be extra patient as i await my facial fate.
I've had surgeries at Madigan Hospital, in Tacoma, WA
Wilford Hall in San Antonio, TX
University of WA in Seattle.
We are here to stay so I'm fortunate to be near Madigan Army where I follow up with the oculoplastic surgeon for my cornea issues. He will remain there forever (I hope) and I have follow ups with him. Hopefully some eye tweek surgeries maybe next year.
Anyway, glad to meet another military forumite! It is definitely a different approach.
Maureen
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Maureen,
Hope you heal quickly and your facial nerve heals fully. Sounds like you have had a good experience with the military system. I'm hoping others see this thread and contribute as well...
Have a great weekend all!
GM
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I think there was a thread by GreenGiant who was active duty enlisted. He had surgery (probably about 6 mos ago), and is being discharged due to the hearing loss. I can't believe that with all the hearing loss in the Army. I know several years ago there was a long thread by either an active duty or just retired Army person in Alabama (Ft Rucker maybe).... I think it was DAN. But the thread dealt with his complications during surgery... didn't discuss TRICARE, but I'm sure he could share his dealings with TRICARE.
I'm a DAC and do some work at Tripler AMC here in Hawaii, but no dealings with TRICARE. Good luck...
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OTO
Had two kids born in the PINK hospital in Honolulu!
We lived there 4 years, chased babies in diapers. It was great fun. Didn't have to worry about winter clothes!
How do you like it there? Island fever??
Maureen
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I am a member of Tricare Prime. My husband is retired Navy. I was diagnosed in March 2009 with acoustic neuroma. I immediately found this web site and immediately chose House Ear Clinic. I live in Virginia. Tricare Price would never downright deny me, but the hoops they had me jumping through, combined with the stress of the diagnosis was making me crazy. I finally spoke with someone at Tricare that said the process or approval would be alot easier if I stay within my "region". Okay, that I can do. I contacted Dr De La Cruz at House and he referred me to Dr Moises Arriaga at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh. (Dr Arriaga has since returned to his practice that was temporarily closed in New Orleans following Katrina). From that day on Tricare has been wonderful! I had my surgery (TransLab) on July 14, 2009. They paid for the microsurgery, all the hospital bills, the anesthesia, the tons of vestibular tests, the neurosurgeon, and, even the cost my husband and I incurred in getting to and from Pittsburgh, not to mention our hotel and meals! I couldn't be more pleased with the outcome. And, today, I have my first post op audiogram and I begin the journey in getting Tricare to pay for a BAHA. Wish me luck!!!!
If anyone has any question concerning Tricare, or would like a further explanation, please feel free to contact me. I'd be happy to help!
Anne
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Hi Anne!
I had my BAHA paid for by Tricare, so you shouldn't have a problem with that, but you already know about the hoop-jumping required! They're good at that.
I just switched to Standard because I was told I could not go to a doctor in town, I had to go to the Tricare Prime clinic. I appealed their decision and was denied. I could appeal again, but it would go through the same people again, so it's probably not worth the effort. They just don't seem to get the whole concept of wanting one doctor to oversee all of my medical care. They say they get it and they assign me a primary care physician at the clinic, but I've never met her, never requested her and don't even know anything about her. Aside from the fact that you see someone different every time you go anyway so the whole primary care manager thing seems to just be on paper. I am glad that you've had better luck with Prime.
I'm in Virginia too - near Oceana. If you're nearby maybe we can get together and compare scars over a cup of coffee! Or we can meet GM in Portsmouth! ;D
Lori
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Anne,
Welcome fellow Virginian! Wow...great experience with TRICARE! Since we have a "unique" type of health insurance, any experience is helpful.
I'm up for coffee!
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Lori, How did you get TriCare to pay for the BAHA? I have been denied. My doctor and Cochlear have both filed appeals on my behalf and still waiting to hear on that. I have a temp surgery date of 07DEC and hoping and praying it comes thru in time. Believe it or not, I have never even been to Portsmouth Naval. All my medical needs have been met and approved by TriCare thru my primary care physician. And they approved my AN surgery out of state! I just hope they come through on the BAHA. Coffee sounds excellent!!!!
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My audiologist said that Tricare typically denies the BAHA the first time around, but they approve it when you appeal. The way my doctors deal with them is to just send all the documentation and the letter of medical necessity on the first request ( I guess that's what they usually ask for in order to process the appeal). I would imagine it's less work for them in the long run (the doctor, that is, not Tricare, as they seem to enjoy making more work for themselves).
I'm sure the person who does the insurance at your doctor's office already knows this, but make sure it's coded as a prosthetic and not a traditional hearing aid - there's a completely different code.
I will tell you that it took over a year to get Tricare to pay the hospital after my BAHA surgery due to a coding error by the medical records department and the inability of anyone to admit that they could have possibly made a mistake. It was a year of passing the buck and finally took a phone call to the hospital administrator to straighten it out. Tricare paid the doctor and paid for the processor, but didn't pay the hospital, so I was getting the bill. I mean, come on, lets be logical here - do they think I had the surgery in the parking lot or something? Anyway, it was all eventually paid for but not without the typical aggravation I have come to expect with Tricare.
Portsmouth Naval is actually a really nice hospital, just hard to get an appointment sometimes due to the volume of patients they have. Good coffee though!!
Lori
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I retired AF. I had trycare (try and they don't try that hard IMO!) I didn't like it so I got Mailhandler's 15 years ago beings I work as a federal Civilian employee. One day I will probably have to go back on trycare. I was not diagnosed while I was in the Military but I did have it, far as I can remember my first symptom was in 1987 with a droopy left eye lid. yep I had hearing loss But this was before the WWW, they just keep readjusting my base line. I was in a career field that required hearing tests every year and beings I was around LOUD jet engines I just figured it was normal. Got stiffed at three different bases. Course after I get out the migraines started and my hearing kept getting worse and 7 years later the big AN was discovered.
I can't believe how much medical costs has gone up in the last 6 years. When I had my first MRI it costs $2200 I thought that was outrageous. Well, guess what Had one two months ago and it was $3400 now. my Hernia operation cost $48,000. and I wasn't in the day clinic 4 hours. My AN cost in 2003 $214,000. I don't want to know what one cost now? IMO insurance is mostly not the bad guy, it's the risen costs that got to be controlled. It the Fed's want to control something they need to do that IMO by establishing a rate of charge that both parties have to except.
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RC -
Had to laugh at your Trycare comment! I told my husband they call it Trycare because they're trying to kill me with their care! :D
My husband has the same issues with his annual hearing tests - they just keep readjusting his baseline. That's helpful. He's not the one with the AN or the SSD, but there are times I'm sure his hearing is worse than mine. Or maybe it's his listening that's worse than mine.... ::)
Lori
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I'm just trying to keep this thread open for active/Separated/Retired militarey and TRICARE (Life/Standard/Remote) Insurance patients.
Anyone with recent instances that we can share for those of us that are military/post military?
GM
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TRICARE is now on Facebook! I joined the group yesterday. What's good about this is that we can get immediate feedback from TRICARE, keep up on new items/issues, and contact with MANY fellow service members that are dealing with TRICARE!!!
http://www.facebook.com/TRICARE
Be well all...
Gary
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That's great to know, Gary.
Thanks for sharing that. I'm going to check that out.
Lori
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Gary
Somehow I have missed this thread in the past. Here is my experience. I am retired Navy and my primary care physician was at the Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. My wife kept complaining that I was loosing my hearing so I set up an appointment to have the tests. The doctor decided after the tests that he could help my lose with a stepedectomy. He performed the surgery there at Balboa and, for some reason, the operation failed and I ended up SSD on the left side. Needless to say, I did not opt for the same surgery on right side. They gave me the option of a bi-cros aid or BAHA. I knew nothing about BAHA and elected to go with the bi-cros. What a pain that was with the wires going around the back of the head. Shortly after that, I turned 65 and Tricare Prime dropped me and so did Balboa. I now had Tricare for Life (TFL). My primary insurance now is Medicare with TFL secondary.
I was very unhappy with the bi-cros and did research on the BAHA. I made an appointment with a doctor in Portland, OR and was told I was eligible for the BAHA and the Medicare covered everything. I have had the BAHA for a year now but have now registered it with the VA because they determined my hearing loss was service related. The VA provides the batteries for my Intenso as well as insurance.
My biggest concern is finding a Primary Care Physician that takes Medicare. Hard to find sometimes in rural areas.
Paul
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Not sure if my tale fits into this thread, but I'd like to tell all you ex-military types that this morning I picked up a brand new TransEar at the Milwaukee VA Hospital. My AN surgery was performed in 1969 by Air Force MD's, so the VA accepts responsibility for my audio care. I first heard of TransEar last year - on this forum, in fact - and immediately contacted the VA. So, long story short, 41 years after going under the knife, I'm spending the day taking my new ear for a test drive, driving my wife nuts and cruising around the house listening for what I've been missing all these years. It's an odd experience and the TransEar is a strange (and uncomfortable) little device, but amidst all the whistles tweets and hoots caused by my constantly messing with something alien stuffed into my ear canal, I believe I'm hearing a dial tone on my left side for the first time in 4 decades. I don't know what it cost the taxpayers, but I'm forever thankful.
John
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John -
this is incredible. A TransEar after 41 years of being SSD! Amazing!
I'm so glad you are getting good results with it.
It's my theory that if there's something you can do to help with your SSD, you should go for it.
You're a perfect example of that!
Congrats,
Jan
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John
The VA also performs the BAHA procedure at some locations.
Paul
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John,
Thats great news about the transear! Thanks for posting!
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John,
Congratulations, after 40 years! See the journey is never ending.
Interesting info, thanks for sharing.
Maureen
I was going to have my surgery at Wilford Hall in summer 06 but the wait was sooooo long, what with the war and all.
Ended up having it at Madigan in Tacoma, WA, (where husband was at the time) and then some follow up eye procedures at Wilford.
BIG Place.
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Have a few questions for anyone here that had their AN while active duty. While tricare has not been a huge issue for me (i am not near a base ) finding out what will happen to me after surgery is like finding a needle in a haystack. I contacted the VA but they cant/wont tell me anything that's helpfull. I an having Trans lab surgery which mean I will have some balance issues and also be SSD on the right side. I am trying to find out how the military and VA are going to react to this. Will I be required to meet an MEB? What am I looking at with Disability with the VA when I do retire? Since I am close to 20 anyways is the possibility good the AF will leave me alone and just let me retire? Any insight to these would be most helpfull.
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I too was on active duty when my AN was found. I kept failing my annual hearing test (I was in the Air Force and worked on aircraft). I was originally steered into surgery and I took some time to investigate the process and asked about Gamma Knife (Radiation)...I went that route. As for the medical review boards...they are conviened if your world wide deployment status is affected by your AN or treatment. I was originally scheduled for a MRB, but it was called off since my WW deployable status wasn't affected.
Ironically my AN was annotated on my VA evaluation as 0% but I didn't get any disability comp for it...amazing sice I lost 95% blalane in my left ear and a good bit of hearing. I'd be happy to talk over the phone if you'd like. Just send me an email on this site....(don't post your phone number in these posts), and I'd gladly talk to you.
Gary
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To SBRN: I had AN surgery while on active duty in 1969. My VA disability rating is 20%....10% for the SSD and 10% for scalp/skull scarring resulting from the surgery (I don't really understand that one, but I'll take it). A higher rating would be awarded to you if there are additional complications or if your "good" ear's hearing level is also diminished. If you live in a State offering County Veterans Service Offices, I recommend you get the latest info there. Hope all goes well.
JJW
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My AN was summarily missed by the Military Doctor's at Keesler Medical Center in the late 70's. Their explanation for my SSD (Left) was aircraft noise and my failure to properly wear hearing protection...basically I was told I was a dumb ass and it was all my fault I went deaf.
Thank goodness I have excellent medical insurance with my employer. I'd hate to think of having to rely on TriCare and / or any government agency for my survival, especially since we went to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Active Duty GI's deserve the full attention of the "system" and are rightfully getting it...as best the system can provide. I feel sorry for anyone else who has no choice but to rely on the VA for example.
Take Care!
;)
Doc - USAF Retired!
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Sorry about your bad luck with Keesler, Doc. Plus they didn't have MRI's back then, even if they did they probably would have done the same thing!
I was originally going to have my surgery at Wilford Hall in San Antonio with a surgeon who my husband's med school buddy recommended.(My husband is an Occupational Medicine Doc in the navy)
But they kept pushing me off because of the active duty guys, which i understood. finally got a date, and the surgeon was going to be PSD ing, so I ended up referred to Dr. Crawford at Madigan who was very good.
So far so good for me.
I've had a couple of surgeries at UW in Seattle, thanks to Tricare, but then again my husband is still active duty. I think I'm done with all the major surgeries (I said NO MORE) , and plan to have a easy brow lift at Madigan, along with another go at the BAHA.
Maureen :)
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I remember you saying before your husband is a Military Doctor. My guess is you're probably right; they would have missed the AN even with an MRI.
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Has anyone that is ex military went though the VA with your AN? My husband is ex military and lost his job just before being diagnosed. We are trying to get his benefits started though the VA so he can go though them for treatment now.
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If your looking to file for benefits (VA), I'd suggest contacting your nearest Disabled American Vetrans, they offer a free service for vetrans in filing for VA benefits. I'm sure that they can also offer other advice when looking for treatment for vetrans.
http://www.dav.org/veterans/VeteransAffairs.aspx
...this Vetrans Administration site should also be helpful.
http://www.vba.va.gov/VBA/
Best wishes for your husband...this ANA Support Forum site is a Godsend...I'd suggest that you have him post a few posts here as well...
Gary
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Any new military veteran's out there...active duty, seperated, or retired trying to deal with TRICARE and your AN?
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Any new military veteran's out there...active duty, seperated, or retired trying to deal with TRICARE and your AN?
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GM - there is an active duty person Chris75 who started a thread in the Microsurgery Options subforum. He's going to Tripler in Hawaii....
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Thanks...
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Just thought I'd throw out a little note that may be of interest..
My husband just retired from the Navy at the end of January. I recently started seeing an audiologist at the Naval hospital and need to get a new BAHA as mine, sadly, bit the dust. :'( My last audiologist, who I saw before my husband retired, and I determined that I need and Intenso, rather than the Divino that I currently have. I spoke to the insurance reps at Cochlear about the situation and they said that as long as I had a letter of medical necessity from my doctor, they were confident it would be covered by Tricare.
Imagine my surprise when I found out that Tricare will only pay for the BAHA for the retiree, not the dependent family member, even when the initial BAHA was covered because he was active duty at that point. The neurotologist and audiologist are fighting them on it because I was misdiagnosed by the MTF for 5 years to begin with, and they feel that if my AN had been diagnosed sooner, I might not need the BAHA in the first place!
What I found even more interesting is that if I need a new abutment, Tricare will pay for that procedure, but they will not pay anything towards a processor. Huh? Why would a need a new abutment if I don't have anything to hook up to it?
So, those of you who are active duty or AD dependents, be aware that your coverage may change after retirement. Perhaps it would have been helpful for that information to be shared during TAPS class? Fingers crossed that logic will prevail in this case,otherwise I'm looking at coughing up a few thousand dollars for a new processor. I'm not terribly optimistic that Tricare will be logical.
Lori
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Lori, I hope this all get hammered out for you soon.
As a side note...you as a dependent who was misdiagnosed by the military has something that your husband does not....you could actually sue the military.
GM
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Lori,
Sorry to hear of your run in with Tricare re: your BAHA.
Yep that could be my scenario when my husband retires in a couple of years (?) Though I WILL be going to the same hospital that did the brain surgery and BAHA (Madigan). I wonder if that will help, in case I do have probs down the road. (wishful thinking on my part)
Let us know what transpires, and hope, (fingers crossed) that you get your BAHA. Geez.
Maureen
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Do you think it would be too much to ask that they put a titanium screw in James' head and I can wear his processor? ;)
I'm just going to add this to my list of things to fight Tricare about. They've also denied a request from 3 different doctors for the blood test to rule out NF2, but they are willing to cough up a few thousand dollars for an MRI of my entire spine. Hmmm.... couple of hundred dollars for a blood test that only has to be done once, or a few thousand dollars for an MRI that will need to be done annually.....doesn't seem like a tough decision to me. Let's see how long it takes them to realize that their efforts to save money are costing them more in the long run. It would be nice if they could come to that conclusion before I have to spend 4 hours sitting still inside a noisy tube, but since it's scheduled for the beginning of next month, I guess I'd better get used to the idea.
Oh, how nice it would be to just suffer from the common cold for once....
Lori
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Do you think it would be too much to ask that they put a titanium screw in James' head and I can wear his processor? ;)
Oh, how nice it would be to just suffer from the common cold for once....
HA! Humor is good medicine. Common sense is not that common as you think.
Actually i would not like to just suffer the common cold! My tinnitus and equilibrium would put me away with the cold!
Life is a b%$#! ~ always a fight going on somewhere. Hang in there, Lori ;)
Maureen
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My Tricare Report....
I am a dependent wife of a retired air force serviceman. We have Tricare Prime. I'm happy to say that Tricare really came through for me recently. They paid for everything (except my co-pay, of course). This is starting in 2008 with my Cyberknife treatment to my actual surgery 7 months ago, with three more hospital stays shortly thereafter for related complications, home health care providers, to my most recent unrelated gall bladder surgery. They paid the lion's share of my numerous medications. They provided me with a case manager who did most of the coordination with doctors' offices and dealt with Tricare administration through my ordeal. I don't know how I would have managed without this help because Tricare can be confusing and I was in no shape to handle this myself.
At this point, I can say that Tricare service was very good. We are near Scott Air Force Base, in southern Illinois. Scott no longer has a major Medical Treatment Facility (MTF); just a clinic. But when they did have doctors working there, it was the audiologist and local ENT there who discovered my AN and referred me to the specialist, so I remain grateful to them for that too.
So, I am, at this point, a Tricare fan!
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Wow! whoop...whoop for TRICARE!! I'm happy all worked well for you. Please stay in touch so others that are military can learn from you.
Gary
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I sure will. Happy to answers any questions.
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Ok, this little bit of information might be something you all knew already, but I just found out about it (a day late and a dollar short, as usual...)
But ....did you know that while you or your sponsor are on Active Duty, Tricare will cover the cost of hearing aid batteries? I wish I had know this before my husband retired as it would have saved me 3 years worth of battery purchases. I'm not sure what the process is for this benefit but I'd check with either the Tricare people or your audiologist. My civilian audiologists did not know about this benefit so I guess it's not something Tricare broadcasts, but the audiologist at the military hospital here told me about it and all the doctors in her office seemed to know about it. Always nice to save a few bucks here and there.
Lori
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I see that this topic is mostly about Tricare which doesn't apply to me. But there have been posts about VA benefits so I'll do my bit to keep this thread alive.
I'm not retired and I don't have a service connected disability but I qualified for VA health benefits early in 2011 and, based on limited income (social security), have modest co-pays.
I had my first physical in Nov and all went well.
In Dec I discovered a substantial loss of hearing in my right ear. I learned that VA provides hearing aids under certain circumstances so I reported the condition to my primary physician and was referred to the Audiology department at the VA Medical Center.
The audiologist confirmed almost total loss of hearing in the right ear and slight loss of hearing in the left ear and provided me with hearing aids (free) and referred me to ENT for further evaluation.
ENT set me up with an MRI where the AN was discovered on the right side vestibular nerve. I'm on watch and wait and due for another MRI in Oct.
Since I was also experiencing balance issues the VA has referred me out for Videonystagmography (vng) testing at ASU's speech and hearing department.
The point of this post is to encourage veterans to apply for VA health benefits regardless of any other considerations and see if you are eligible. And keep applying annually. If you get turned down now you might be eligible at another time.
I'm 65 and never expected to have such a potentially costly medical condition this soon in my life. But now that I have it I am really greatful for the VA benefits.
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I was diagnosed a month ago at JBER (Join Base Elmendorf Richardson), Anchorage, AK. I've had nothing but issues so far with Active military doctors wanting to refer me to another MTF. I'm guard by the way. He submitted a referral to Triwest which promptly told me not to bother to ask about it for 2 weeks. In that time Triwest lost their contract to United Healthcare and they never processed my referral because they never "received" it. So I've been this entire afternoon sitting outside my ENT's office trying to get him to submit a new referral which he adamantly wanted to send me to another MTF. I insisted this time around that I didn't want to see a military physician at all and I wanted to go to Stanford if at all possible. After 2 hours of waiting around he relented and I hand walked a printed copy of the referral to United Healthcare and talked to a supervisor directly.
Not necessarily related to insurance but I should point out that I started having symptoms 7 years ago. I went completely deaf in my right ear. The military docs just wanted to monitor it. A week later my hearing came back (mostly) but I had tinnitus. I was 23 at the time and didn't really know any better. I never received steroids or an MRI then.
If anyone takes a lesson from what I've been through with military healthcare it should be this. Don't trust the system to work for you at all. Call everyday and INSIST something be done with you standing there if possible (as I had to with my referral).
Sorry if this is a bit of a rant. Been a frustrating afternoon.
TSgt Brian Thibodeaux AKANG
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If anyone takes a lesson from what I've been through with military healthcare it should be this. Don't trust the system to work for you at all. Call everyday and INSIST something be done with you standing there if possible
Agree.
As satisfied as I am with the care I get at the VA I sometimes have to punch through the front line bureaucracy to get things done.
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I just heard back from United Healthcare Military and Veterans and they approved my "care". They will not cover transportation (I live in Alaska) though. Not honestly a big deal for me since I fly for free (perk of the civilian job). I'm working on the specifics with a Tricare supervisor as to what they will cover though. Don't want to get blindsided by some bureaucracy and technicalities. Already going to be hard enough giving up work for a year or two.
Brian
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Hi all. I had my surgery in June 2013 for left side AN. I am AD Army and will retire in Oct 2014, start terminal leave in June. I have had great success with Tricare, having my surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The only bill I received was for $280.00 for a private room. Tricare would not approve a private room so I paid the difference out of pocket. No my quest is to get approval for the soundbite hearing device. I have been working for about a month trying to figure the insurance piece out, and finally getting some help from my Doctor. Hope to hear something soon. I will keep everyone updated on the process.
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Hi all. I had my surgery in June 2013 for left side AN. I am AD Army and will retire in Oct 2014, start terminal leave in June. I have had great success with Tricare, having my surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. The only bill I received was for $280.00 for a private room. Tricare would not approve a private room so I paid the difference out of pocket. No my quest is to get approval for the soundbite hearing device. I have been working for about a month trying to figure the insurance piece out, and finally getting some help from my Doctor. Hope to hear something soon. I will keep everyone updated on the process.
I don't think you'll have much trouble getting approved since the loss of hearing was medically related to your AN.
But why soundbite?
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I am also retired Army. I now live in Michigan and because we do not have any MTF's available I lost prime last October and went under TRICARE Standard/Select. However, I turned 65 and now Have TRICARE for LIFE and with Medicare it was great. I picked my own surgeon for foot surgery (both of my feet) and did not pay a dime. I am hoping for the same luck on my AN.
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I have Tricare Standard (my beloved husband is medically retired Army). So far things are going smoothly, though I'm still pre-treatment.
For two ENT visits, a Neurotologist visit, vestibular testing, MRI, hearing tests, and related blood work and medications, we've been billed $6,126.35, Tricare allowed $1291.30, paid $975.26, and we've paid $316.04. The only delay was getting the MRI approved. Hopefully I don't hit the glitch with the followup MRI later in the summer.
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Anyone had any luck getting Tricare to cover the Phonak CROS II? I'm dependent of a medically retired service member, so Tricare Standard. I've read BAHA should be covered, but not the CROS II, which seems crazy when BAHA is much more expensive once you factor in the surgery?