Jan 21 2010
TRICARE Wants You?
That’s right.
TRICARE is expanding its outreach so they can hear from beneficiaries like us, using online social media communication tools.
In March, TRICARE will launch a media center Web page that will serve as its central hub for social media activity—a kind of one-stop-shop for the latest news, beneficiary information, and communication activities.
To do this “TRICARE NEEDS YOU!”
Before they launch their media center they want to hear from “YOU” and get your feedback through Facebook or Twitter on ways to improve beneficiary services.
You probably already know that younger folks are all about using social media networks to stay in touch, but, did you know that’s increasingly becoming the case for those, well, more mature folks like us as well?
You got it.
Much of this is of course due to the explosion of technology in the U.S. This technology has even inched its way up the steps of Capitol Hill. My sources are telling me National Health Care Reform is fueling the debate. That is, older Americans don’t want to be left out of this important debate and they are flocking in huge numbers to social media outlets so they can stay connected and weigh in on these critical issues.
It’s important to let the military and veterans’ health care and benefits providers know what’s on our mind — just like MOAA lets the Administration, Congress, the Pentagon, and VA know what our members have to say.
GO FOR IT!—Click here on TRICARE —to tell them what’s on your mind and to learn more!
21 Responses to “TRICARE Wants You?”
I may need to go on TRICARE soon as my employer’s policy will be cancelled. I’ m 63, retired Reservist w/spouse.
I call the Tricare folks, but I still don’t trust that I may have to pay more thn I currently pay or that I may not be able to chose the family doctor or services that I want.
I don’t live near a military post………I’m fifty miles north of Pittsburgh, PA.
Help………what are my options?
Don’t let the goverment reduce retired benefits that we earned. I am afraid we are slowly loosing ground already. I use the mail order for my medicine and the co-payment keeps going up. I am thankful for Tri-Care. I am afraid Obama’s wasful spending will reduce retired benefits.
I would like to know why TRICARE for Life does not authorize payments for Chiropractic services? Authorization is given for Physical Thearpy visits, which sometimes include treatments very similiar to Chiropractic treatment. My experience with physical thearpy treatments reflect a larger amount charged for this service than for chiropractic services. Personnally I perfer chiropractic treatments as the results are more immediate.
MOAA efforts to police Congress regarding TRICARE and MEDICARE is outstanding. Keep up the good work.
Why use FACEBOOK and TWITTER instead of just asking vets to log on to your web site and send messages. It seems Facebook and Twitter are more work than they are worth.
My husband and me live in Shasta Lake, Ca. We have been retired since 1999. The closest military base from our home is Beale AFB, over 2 hrs. away. We have been using Tricare Prime, but recently we have been asked to switch to Tricare Standard. Yes this gives us a wider choice of Dr.s but most of them do not take new paitients. So if we want to switch and pay less in preimiums we still have the same amount of Dr.s who don’t take new patients. So I tried calling and saying I’d be paying with cash and you have to have insurance. So the way I figure we would pay less is only by not using DR.s. Does this make any sense after serving 22yrs.! I agree with the 4 posted comments. But what are we to do? Rene?
will there be a coverage we can get to help fill gap between medicare & tricare when our coverage is reduced???? why it always the middle class & seniors get the brunt of giving to the less fortunate?????
After serving for 20 years I retired. Eventually I held a position that qualified me for under Ohio’s retiree system. When I qualified for Medicare the State of Ohio returned to me the monthly Medicare payment deducted from my Social Security check in lieu of making any medical payments.
Starting January 1, 2010 the State of Ohio decreed that I must join the Humana health system at a rate of $60.40 per month or lose the repayment of the Social Security funds ($96.40). After state and federal taxes there is less than 10% of the original amount left.
My wife and are are quite satisfied with the combination of Medicare and TFL but we have no choice. We either lose all of it or over 90% of it.
Watch politicians very, very closely! Especially when they say they are not going to raise taxes. Our situation does not show at a tax but, in reality, that is what it is.
I agree that chiropractic care should be included in our Tricare allowables. Since using one recently I have reduced my back pain, am healthier, have more energy and require less other medical help.
I believe the evidence clearly proves that seniors have increased life-expectancy and standard of living since social security, medicare and other entitlements were adopted. Evidence also indicates that our children, grandchildren and continuing generations will bear the costs of benefits we have, but haven’t fully paid for by actuarial standards. MOAA has frequently expressed the opinion that military benefits will eventually need to be somwhat reduced as part of an overall national effort to match benefits with available resources.
Personally, I use Tricare Prime and my wife uses Tricare Standard. We have the MOAA supplement policy. We’ve always had access to good medical services and the integration of Tricare/MOAA reimbursement is very nice. Once in awhile, we pay direct because the provider refuses to accept Tricare, but many people with other medical insurance have more difficult situations getting care or reimbursement.
I’m in favor of MOAA working toward fair solutions to these problems, even if the solution means having to pay a bit more for medical services.
i agree tricare should include chiropractic care it would save them money in the long run, the same as preventive care services…
i’d prefer to use good old email and the website for info rather than enroll in social media. thnks.
I find Government determining what prescription I receive vice what my Doctor prescribes!
Must be a really scarey time for you and your family. I’ve always found that more information tends to make things less scarey for me. Perhaps contacting TRICARE or going online and doing some additional research may help. Good luck.
MOAA will do our best to hold the ground on our benefits. But, we’ll need you and everyone you know to weigh in when we ask for your help. Get your friends to sign up for our Weekly Legislative Update and tell them to respond to alerts when we need to drive home a message to Congress. Thanks much for your support!
Thanks much for your kind remarks an for your membership. Tell all you know to join us in our efforts to make sure we keep our benefits and our Powerful Voice Strong!
Not sure I can answer your concerns. This is the very concerns TRICARE wants to know.
Well, I think there is a forum and vehicle for everyone to get their information and to share their thoughts. Thanks for sharing yours.
Take your concerns to TRICARE–your voice is important and they tell us they want to hear from you–so let them know your thoughts!
Looks like we need to watch the landscape locally and federally. Thanks much for your comments.
Bill, very good points. Like you, at the end of the day, MOAA wants to see fairness and transparency in the process. One way to ensure that is for all beneficiaries to stay engaged in the issues and encourage others to let their members of Congress know how they feel about their actions. The best way to do that is through our Weekly Legislative Update. We make it easy for you and others to link directly to their members and tell them what’s on, all our minds.