Tricare Prime To Standard & Back To Prime

[F16 1UB]

:confused:We're currently enrolled in Tricare Standard after being removed from Tricare Prime. We now have an option to go back to Tricare Prime!!! Has anyone switched back to Tricare Prime???

Also called our regular doctors office who "was" accepting Tricare Standard but no longer accepts Prime!!! Just had routine blood work done and Prime used to cover it. Was somewhat surprised the amount that Standard has billed me.

Have 16 months to be eligible for Tricare For Life. All too confusing....

[rdhdleo]

When they changed things basically they cut down the number of TriCare Prime physicians available. I chose not to go to Standard and switched Doctors. That said though I am eligible or TriCare for Life in a couple of months and will then with back to the Doctor I had here in The Villages. Luckily since my Doctor is with Family Physicians Group it was an easy transition to their Leesburg office as my records were in their commuter. Will be just as easy when I switch back. Standard does cover less which is why I switched Doctors for the interim period.

[KateNelson]

We want to go back to Prime too. Standard bills are killing us. We've reached our $300 deductible but the remaining co-pay is what is out of control. $85 for blood work!! We are looking into Southlake Family Health Center in Groveland and the Leesburg office. They both accept Prime. Prime also covers eye exams where Standard does not. Has anyone used either of the two facilities? I don't mind a 30 minute drive if they are good. We used to drive 1.5 hours in NH to use our Prime provider.

[alemorkam]

I didn't know we had the choice to go back to Prime. I live in The Villages and I thought we had to use standard. Did you get a letter telling you you could switch back?

[Sleeper]

Why not buy a supplemental program like MOAA (& several others) offers to cover the copays, etc... I have always been told it's a must if you are on Standard.

[KateNelson]

Hi, We do have a MOAA Supplement and they have yet to pay us a dime. When I called them they said they needed to research if any of our treatment was for any pre-existing conditions. (it was not) They also told us the review hadn't even started yet. (over 2 months ago) Also we find it very expensive, especially if they aren't going to cover anything. Over $1300 per year plus you have your deductibles with them and Tricare standard/extra. Tricare Prime for a family isn't even $600 and I never see a bill. We will be sorry, however, to leave The Villages healthcare system as they are great. We'll go back once we are TFL. Thanks for your input.

[KateNelson]

I called Tricare. You must sign a driving waiver before they will let you go back to Prime. The offered MacDill, but that is too far for us. They gave me Express Care of Leesburg, Leesburg Community Health Center and South Lake Family Health Center. I don't know anything about them, So I was hoping some of our readers might be familiar with them. The Leesburg Community Health Center has admitting privileges and the Villages Hospital and Leesburg Hospital. South Lake has the South Lake Hospital. Both places are about a 40 minute drive, but luckily we are pretty healthy and usually only need our yearly physicals. Once I get things straightened out with MOAA, our supplement company, we will be switching. Honestly, things shouldn't be this difficult. So much for that military benefit!