[caseycasebeer]

I would appreciate other TriCare for Life (TFL) beneficiaries thoughts and opinions on this.

Billings that I receive from VA seem a little strange. My experience is that having Medicare/TFL results in most "covered procedures" being free or almost free at private provider's. But that doesn't seem to be the case at VA.

My objective is to receive competent medical attention, while not costing the gov't more than necessary. I assumed that going to VA would ultimately be less costly to the gov't than receiving the same service(s) from a private provider since VA services are provided through gov't employee's.

If I go to VA there is invariably a smallish (ie. $50-$85) bill that arrives a couple weeks later. On the other hand, if I go to a private provider Medicare covers most of the cost and TFL covers virtually any remainder. When I asked VA about this I was told that since Medicare/TFL/VA are all governmental entities, "...one branch cannot bill another branch for services..." thus the cost for service is passed along to the patient. Case in point: In 2012 I had a colonoscopy done at VA/Gainesville and received a bill for $85. The test results required a follow-up colonoscopy in 2013, and I chose to use a private provider; and Medicare+TFL picked-up the whole cost. I don't want to quibble about the $85 bill (damn cheap for a colonoscopy...), but I'm also pretty sure that going to the private provider ultimately cost the gov't more (...lot's more) than having it done at VA.

One very astute advisor (at VA) told me that the best thing to do was use VA for services not otherwise provided by Medicare/TFL (ie. hearing aids) but to use private provider's for other medical needs. Does that fit with what other's have experienced, and do you have any recommendations?

...sorry for the too-long post.

Best,
Casey