Topic: Military Benefits, different than when you joined?

[Law101]

I don't want to go off topic but I think this point is important to the current disscusion.

How many promises made to the military regarding future benefits have been changed or taken away over the years since WWII?  I know of several that affected family members of mine.

I also would like to point out that any type of Military "bashing" does not contribute anything positive to our communities or our efforts to promote a supportive envirement to those families who remain here while their loved one is deployed.  Nor does it encourage them to take an active part in our communities while they are stationed here.  It also does not encourage them to retire here.

[Geezer Glide Taz]

Not even since WWII. I joined in 1977, and was told i had free medical and dental for life.
Now I have no dental at all through the miltary and have to pay the same rates as anyone, and I have to pay for Tricare Prime medical insurance.
 

[Coyote]

I joined in 1976 and was never told I had free dental for life.  Also, you don't have to pay for Tri-care prime.  You still get treated, but if you have tri-care prime, you can make appointments and get to the head of the line.  That's worth the measly $230 a year for me.  My husband chooses not to...that's his call.

[mandie_81z]

My mom pays for Tricare prime and she still can't get an appt. when she needs one. I think its a waste of money.

[Coyote]

I can't believe that.  I get an appointment each and every time I call, plus the last two were same-day appointments.  Depending on the problem, sometimes you have to wait a couple of weeks like anyone else who sees a doctor.  Plus, you don't need an appointment to get lab work done.  I really don't think you have your story straight.

My mom pays for Tricare prime and she still can't get an appt. when she needs one. I think its a waste of money.

[mandie_81z]

Excuse me but just because you can do it doesn't mean everyone can. My mom rarely needs an apointment and every single time she's called its been weeks and weeks you have to wait. When she has a sinus infection, which is usually the problem, she usually has to go to the emergency room. I'm not saying it isn't better lately, she hasn't been sick, but in the past she has had problems. Wow, now I remember why I usually keep my mouth shut on here and try to just reply on boring topics, because I guess I'm not entitled to my opinion. You basically just called me a liar but what I see it as is two people having different experiences. Maybe my mom has bad luck and is sick when everyone else is and maybe you just have good luck and are able to get in right away. IF the situations where reversed do you know what I would have said. I would have said wow, my mom has really good luck with getting appointments, maybe she can tell me her secret so I can pass it on to you.

[fknarmyguyretired]

appointments can be difficult to get sometimes, sometimes if you try a couple days and can't get one you either just have to to the ER or ask for a referal to go off post.

[Coyote]

If you have tri-care prime, you ALWAYS get an appointment.  It might not be when you want it, but you ALWAYS get one.  You seem to know quite a bit about what your mom does each and every time....

[mandie_81z]

1) I lived with her for quite a few years before my dad moved back here because two people, big house, why did i need to move out.
2)We ride to work together so if she has an appt. it affects my schedule as well
3) I'm very close with my mom and we email each other during the day so if she has trouble getting an appointment, or with a co-worker, or anything she emails me about it to get it off her chest.
What's wrong with that. And I'm not trying to sound defensive but i'm just stating the facts. I'm VERY glad I have such a good relationship with her. Let me tell you after Joe's mom was murdered it really made me realize how much she means to me.

[~kathy~]

[/quote

I can't believe that.  I get an appointment each and every time I call, plus the last two were same-day appointments.  Depending on the problem, sometimes you have to wait a couple of weeks like anyone else who sees a doctor.  Plus, you don't need an appointment to get lab work done.  I really don't think you have your story straight.

Everytime I would call over and try and get my mom an appointment she couldn't get in when she really needed one. My dad died 13 months before he would have had 25 years in the army and they were told that they would have free dental and medical because my dad knew he wouldn't be around for my mother (but never told my mom) so he asked to be sure she would be taken care of when he died, and they told him yes she would be well she no longer has dental and she has tricare. up until 7 years ago we thought her medical was taken care of and then she had congestional heart failure and had to have a mechanical heart valve put in and her bill was out of this world so finally since it was the  army's mistake for not telling her they went ahead and helped with the bill and she got the tricare and now has medicare to. What really ticked me off the most was hearing her be told they would no longer let her see a doctor on post because of her age she had to get a doctor off post, the only thing she can have done there is getting her echo's done. It's not right for people who put there time into the military to have what they earned taken away.

[mandie_81z]

Same thing with my dad. He has to go to the Lake, Columbia, and Richland. He only has about 20% of his heart working so he has appointments all the time. But he's well taken care of at those places so I can't complain too much. Its just sad that they do that.

[fknarmyguyretired]

now this statement is just not accurate for myself or my family,
 
  if it is accurate for you, you have been very lucky
 

If you have tri-care prime, you ALWAYS get an appointment.  It might not be when you want it, but you ALWAYS get one.

[Coyote]

Dental care for retirees or their dependents was NEVER a benefit.  The only time dependents get free dental care to this day is when they are accompanying the service member overseas.  That's it.  I don't know who "they" was that told her anything, but to complain of no dental care is obsurd.
 
And Armyguy...you really say that you or your family has tri-care prime and have called for an appointment and are told "no." and that's the end of it.

[Law101]

Not even since WWII. I joined in 1977, and was told i had free medical and dental for life.
Now I have no dental at all through the miltary and have to pay the same rates as anyone, and I have to pay for Tricare Prime medical insurance.
 

I know exactly what you are saying.  Promises have been made to those who have served in almost every conflict and then those promises have been decreased or broken years later, usually during peacefull times.  I think once a promise has been made it should be kept, no matter who was in office at the time it was made. 

[Coyote]

I think this is some sort of rumor or "buddy talk."  Nothing has been taken away or changed in a harmful way.  It's only gotten better.  No one has any proof of it otherwise.

I know exactly what you are saying.  Promises have been made to those who have served in almost every conflict and then those promises have been decreased or broken years later, usually during peacefull times.  I think once a promise has been made it should be kept, no matter who was in office at the time it was made. 

[Law101]

My cousin's husband retired about 10 years ago.  He was the oldest Chief Petty Officer in the Navy at the time with 38 years of active duty.  He was promised full medical and dental for himself and family.  At retirement he discovered he had to pay additional for coverage for his wife and dental for both of them. 

[Geezer Glide Taz]

I think this is some sort of rumor or "buddy talk."  Nothing has been taken away or changed in a harmful way.  It's only gotten better.  No one has any proof of it otherwise.

No, sorry it was not buddy talk, after the Vietnam was was the beginning of the volenteer Army, and that was one of the sales tools they had back then, which even after 10 years, we were still authorized and that was free medical and dental for life. It was not until the early 90s that we lost our Dental, and Tricare became a thing you had to pay for a few years after that.
Did you also know that a retiree can no longer even use a PX facility overseas?
Say what you want, but but our entitlements are getting less. And you do know that 2009/2010 your tricare price will almost double.

[~kathy~]

Say what you want, but but our entitlements are getting less. And you do know that 2009/2010 your tricare price will almost double.

That is terrible!!!!!!! I will inform my mom about that. Don't they care about the people that are on a set income?

[Coyote]

I retired 10 years ago and free dental was NOT a benefit for the retiree or dependent.  This is well...my cousins wife's brother-in-law said....

[Eeyore]

When my husband went on Active duty in 1988 - He too was promised free dental and free medical for himself and his family ---
When he left active duty 12 years later - He still had his care, I no longer had dental.  and so it goes. . .

Now he is in the USAR and we get to pay med insurance like the rest of you - but I like seeing the same Doctor every time.  We are very happy with our Doctors here.

[Coyote]

I just want to know who made these "promises" of free dental care for life.  It had to be in writing people.

[Eeyore]

I beg to differ - I have seen military dentists at 3 installations.  If there were enough dentists to see the families of the service member they did.  I don't know about here - We were back East at the time.
The Med/Dental Benefits have changed much like retirement pay has changed - this is why when you get the paper work, there are a few different charts depending on your entrance date.

Dental care for retirees or their dependents was NEVER a benefit.  The only time dependents get free dental care to this day is when they are accompanying the service member overseas.  That's it.  I don't know who "they" was that told her anything, but to complain of no dental care is obsurd.
 
And Armyguy...you really say that you or your family has tri-care prime and have called for an appointment and are told "no." and that's the end of it.

[fish]

when I was stationed here in the early 80's, routine dental care was available to family members. it was done at harper dental clinic. there was a kids program.
 
retired active duty , it didn't matter then. the dental care was available.
 
medical was always available and there were few off base referrals. Fitzimmons  was used for serious problems. that has been replaced by columbia.
 
I have had very few problems getting appointments with tri care prime.
 
One big benefit though is the prescriptions. that saves a lot. my daughter is type 1 diabetic and the hospital saved a lot on the medications.
 
I don't look at the bx as a benefit as I don't buy much there. too many things are cheaper off base. but the commissary is good.
 
a lot has changed since 1974 when I enlisted though.

[mandie_81z]

When we moved back here in 88 we had dental. I remember going to the clinic and getting my teeth cleaned, etc. But then in the 90's it was taken away but I didn't mind, although I wasn't paying so I wouldn't, because they weren't as rough at the new dentist. I know a lot has changed since we moved back here. What was promised at sign up I can't say, so I can't get into that argument.

[Coyote]

That's great...and back in the 80's, there weren't as many soldiers here like now.  If they can provide dental care that's really great!!!  I agree with that 100%!  But PROMISES of free dental care for life was not made.

I beg to differ - I have seen military dentists at 3 installations.  If there were enough dentists to see the families of the service member they did.  I don't know about here - We were back East at the time.
The Med/Dental Benefits have changed much like retirement pay has changed - this is why when you get the paper work, there are a few different charts depending on your entrance date.

[Eeyore]

Yes promises for dental care for soldier and family were stated - for us it was for as long as we were a part of the army.  It was a stated part of the benefits of joining.

That's great...and back in the 80's, there weren't as many soldiers here like now.  If they can provide dental care that's really great!!!  I agree with that 100%!  But PROMISES of free dental care for life was not made.

[Strictly Confidential]

1983 - free medical, and 50% of base pay with retirement at 20 years.  At the time I retired the military had 3 different retirement programs - mine, high-3 and then one other.  Mine didn't change, but many of the younger Soldiers got moved to the high3 which on average would mean they got less retirement.
 
Free medical was the deal - I pay 460 a year now for my full coverage - that is an insignificant sum that I don't even notice coming out of my retirement - but the principle of the matter bugs me a great deal - they changed the rules while the game was still being played - let a Soldier decide the terms of their committment are going to change and see what happens, lol.
 
Diability laws continue to change, but thankfully, though painfully slowly, for the better.  It was preposterous that a soldier paid their own disability from their retirement for years and years.  A soldier that lost a leg or arm for example would have 10% of his retirement exempted from taxes - meaning he/she got a break that amounted to wnat, 20,30 or 40 dollars?  Heck of a trade for a limb - compare that to what a civilain employeer would pay... that was a "what the hell are you thinking congres" moment.
 
I pay 960.00 per year for dental, directly out of my retirement - this plan covers me, the wife and my son who is 14.  Not a great plan, but very comparable to what most employeers provide.
 
The only thing I can really complain about is the horrible backlog for appointments at Wood.  4-6 weks is the average wait - my wife had a lump in on of her breasts, confirmed by Mammogram - doctor deemed it highly suspect and  said she needed a biopsy.  The tried to schedule her nine weeks out.
 
Nine weeks to languish and wonder if you have cancer or not - In the end I had to invlolve the patient representative to get her seen in 3 weeks rather than 9.
 
The hospital here is under-staffed for the number of people they serve and they are a victim of their own process.  You can call them and say I need to see this doctor because I have this problem - I know this because I have been seen for it before.  What do they do?  Tell you you must se a general practioner in a clinic (wait for 1-6 weeks for that) who will then confirm that you need to see "that" doctor, and then you can wait another 1-6 weeks for what you know you needed to be seen for in the first place. Then you end up seing a different doctor in order to reduce the wait time from XX weeks to x weeks.  You have to go through your entire history again, and many times fight for your meds - you may walk out with a different treatment plan all together due to this doctors personal opinions about your condition, or what meds he/she like to prescribe...
 
Anyone that deals with Tricare knows how amazingly inept and painful it can be - and they can give you a great synopsis on how horrible government managed healthcare can be...
 
Think of this as a small snapshot of a problem that will grow immensly after we get "national healthcare" managed by the government....

[Geezer Glide Taz]

I retired 10 years ago and free dental was NOT a benefit for the retiree or dependent.  This is well...my cousins wife's brother-in-law said....

I am not talking when I retired, that is true, byy the time i retired, in 1998, dental was no longer there, but when i joined in 1977, we were all told by the recruiter and every Army ad showed military retirees getting all this for life. Over the years, these benifits have gotten less and less

[retired1_us]

I am not talking when I retired, that is true, byy the time i retired, in 1998, dental was no longer there, but when i joined in 1977, we were all told by the recruiter and every Army ad showed military retirees getting all this for life. Over the years, these benifits have gotten less and less

I enlisted the tail end of '75 and was promised in the same ways.  And yes, the ads were all over the media saying the same things.  It wasn't just the recruiter.  So we didn't read the fine print.  What 17 - 18 year old does?  We were taught (in that era) to trust our government to take care of us.......benefits have eroded and will continue to until someone steps in again to fight for change and reform.

TRI (to) CARE isn't insurance.  It is a management agency.  They manage appointments.  As Coyote said, you can still be seen.  This is true, just not as easily / soon.

I think it ironic and interesting that Ft Knox has a treatment facility devoted to nothing but retirees.  Walk-ins welcome.  TRI CARE free.

[Traveler]

When I got married here in 1992 my wife got dental work done at Harper. Shortly thereafter it was a thing of the past.

The only other thing I want to add........

Remember this is the care you get with government run healthcare. Old machines, old technology and short staff.