Tri-care and on-line providers

Yes, folks, the Texan is correct! If I were to go to the VA for anything I would have to pay an amount that is figured on how much I am making at my current job. Did that when I needed hearing aids years ago. Insurance does not cover them so every penny comes out of pocket, and believe me, they are not cheap. Unfortunately, as the Texan says, we give 20 + years of our life to our country and all we get is the Purple Shaft with a Barbed Wire Cluster. It's kinda like welfare, sit on your can, do nothing, and get money and benefits by the shovel full, work your butt off, keep your nose clean, work your way up the chain to a good paying job and get the green weenie!

Well, this is gonna bite when I retire then. ugh!

The Texan wrote:$100/mo straight out of our SS check, for the FREE health care for life we were promised in the 50's, when I was sworn in, through the 70's when I retired. Yes, we pay for our medical care.

others of us who worked for state government don't get SS check and got shirked on the free insurance we were promised for life and will have to come up with the $100 / month for medicare B (that I will be forced to take based on spouse's not my own work)

Not sure if you know this, But as long as you have Tricare, Optigen has a hardship form you can sign and they will write off the balance of your "copay" if you are unable to pay for any reason. They can't work with the VA, but, as long as its tricare and or medicare, they can work with it.

The Texan wrote:

GumbyCT wrote:I see, so it comes right out of the check?

fwiw - I served 33

Then you know that up to age 65 we are responsible for 25% of the cost and after 65 we pay $100/mo straight out of our SS check, for the FREE health care for life we were promised in the 50's, when I was sworn in, through the 70's when I retired. Yes, we pay for our medical care, unlike my brother and sister-in-law, who did 4 years and now have full free VA health care.

I had no idea. My understanding is that IF you get rated as having a Service Connected illness/injury/disability, etc or qualify via their "Means Test" (financially) then you can be treated thru the VA system.

I am not aware that retirees are not eligible. I have been told by the Patient Advocate there arfe people who have served 2 days, had a nervous breakdown (w/family history of same) but got a VA rating and even get dental care, which is rare in the VA system.

Perhaps I missed something, perhaps you did. I would be asking questions IF I were you.

Air Force Retired wrote:If I were to go to the VA for anything I would have to pay an amount that is figured on how much I am making at my current job.

I don't believe there is a charge for CPAP equipment or supplies, period. But you have to qualify the Means Test first.
I submitted a copy of my sleep study to my Primary VA doc who did whatever needed to be done. It took about a month but it took that long with the civilian docs/dme too.

drj130 wrote:Well, this is gonna bite when I retire then. ugh!

I understand that during discharge these days they have a VA rep or equivalent speak to you during out-processing to make sure you get the right info.

I can only hope that is the case Gumby

drj130 wrote:I can only hope that is the case Gumby

All I will say is if you want to avail yourself of VA services, after you retire from the Military, start planning now. If you are not lucky enough to earn a disability while on active duty, or lay the groundwork for a service connected future disability, go onto welfare when you retire, or some other backdoor way, you can forget ever using their services. I have had this discussion with more than one VA counselor and the ways I pointed out were the ones they pointed out as they only way for a retired service member to enroll in the VA plan. IMHO, the VA is the most abused system in the government and needs to be seriously evaluated and then overhauled big time.

I have received my equipment and supplies from Optigen, Inc. prior and post retirement. Awsome support and they absorb my copay portion, which is a nice perk. Highly reccommned their services.

Toll Free Phone: (800) 273-9114

I am retired with Tricare Prime. Optigen just started sending me monthly rental bills that were not discussed. Are other people doing this?

Russ in CT wrote:I am retired with Tricare Prime. Optigen just started sending me monthly rental bills that were not discussed. Are other people doing this?

I think you need to ask your insurance provider. This is a 5 - 6 year old thread and things may have changed since then. And, you need to get "the rest of the story" from your provider. NEVER rely on the DME to give you that information, reliably.


Den

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I began getting my supplies from Optigen last year. I asked for 6-month automatic renewal of my CPAP mask. After more than 6 months and no mask I called and rep told me that my doctor did not check my prescription block for recurring replacements (checked the one time box I guess). My doctor office sent new prescription but I have not received my mask. Will have to call to see what's going on. My biggest concern was that I told them I wanted every six months and no one ever called to tell me that I would not be getting any more masks or that the prescription was expired. Nor did they contact me when my doctor submitted the new prescription. However, we are in a small town and get other meds via mail so this is most convenient option for me. Had no problem with Tricare and supplement paying.

I recently fired Optigen. I used them for years until recently out of the blue they said no more waiving my copay portion without an extensive form being filled out. I thought it was a quid pro quo - they charged higher prices to Tricare and in doing so, would waive the copay. Will, since they don't want to waive copay I took a hard look at their prices. Grossly overpriced it what I found. The other problems are getting ahold of anyone. I think they were bought out or something because whenever you call, it took them forever to answer the phone. New address is in a city near Tampa not Jacksonville. I will just order my own supplies on the internet and then submit claims to tricare.