Retired Military Medical Support System

[TCLaD]

How is the medical support system, ie, doctors, hospitals, specialty clinics as they relate to Tricare Medical Coverage? If I understand it, there building soon an entire Veterans Mewdical Center? Your comments will be appreciated.

[nkrifats]

Being retired military myself I would be interested in what is available.
I use medicare and tricare for life. Thanks to any retired military providing information.

24 years Navy, Retired Chief

[Bryan]

This doesn't address quality of service as that varies from provider to provider, whether you are "in" or "out" of the military support system.

IMHO, having Medicare (A and B) and Tricare For Life is a great deal. Almost every medical facility in and around TV takes Medicare. You need never mention TFL as Medicare will automatically send the claims on to them and they will cover whatever Medicare doesn't.

The VA here is great for routine and recurring "stuff" - not so hot for emergencies and sudden illnesses. I recommend you get into the VA system as soon as you can and use them for all routine things like annual physicals, eye exams, hearing tests, etc. They are very good at that. If you need something they don't offer here at the VA Clinic in TV, the local DAV provides a free van ride to the VA Hospital in Gainesville weekdays. The DAV Scheduler/Dispatcher works out of the VA Clinic in TV and the riders meet at 0645 hours at the Spanish Springs Transportation Center for the ride to Gainesville. The only drawback - it goes up and comes back once a day. If you ride it and have an early (and short) appointment, you may have several hours to kill in Gainesville waiting for other riders to finish their appointments. Development a relationship with a local doctor to handle short term "stuff" like the flu, bigger boo-boo's that happen sometimes, etc.

Currently under construction in TV is a humongous (I think over 90,000 square feet) VA Clinic. It is on the north edge of TV, just off of CR 42 and near the Mulberry Grove Recreation Center. Scheduled opening for that is late 2010 or early 2011, I believe. It will offer lots more services that the current clinic near Laurel Manor offers but there will still be some needs to go to Gainesville.

For your meds, the TFL service through Express Scripts works extremely well for me. I highly recommend it. No need for Medicare Part D if you use TFL.

In summary, get into the VA system and use them for routine stuff. Using your Medicare and TFL, have a private doctor for non-routine stuff. Use TFL/Express Scripts for meds. You should be well setup and have no problems getting service - quality of service I won't address as it varies so widely.

[BUC]

Sounds good to me, I hope to be in the T.V. in a couple of years. I'm a retired Builder Chief , Navy SEABEES, Are there any military installation in the area?

[nkrifats]

Bryan,
Thank you for the details and your time.
BUC,
I closed in May and am part time now as I am still working. Will be full time in 2011.

[barb1191]

Sounds good to me, I hope to be in the T.V. in a couple of years. I'm a retired Builder Chief , Navy SEABEES, Are there any military installation in the area?

MacDill AFB located in Tampa is probably the closest military installation to TV. About 1 1/2 hrs' drive on Rte 75 not far from the Tampa airport.

[Army Guy]

Bryan, I new you could set us all straight.
Hope you are doing well, we have been so tied up with getting our place ready to move in I have not had much time at all.

Army Guy

[Sgt Mac]

Hello and Thanks for Serving.
Sick Call for you and family in The Villages;

Tricare for a list of Drs who have opening in TV look at the web and get the list we have one in lake sumter a very good one

MacDill AFB is the spot for ID cards but it will take all day, my wife needed a new one we got to MacDill at 0700 and left at 1430 this is the spot for the big PX etc

VA in the Villages very good stop by the first time and in about 4-5 weeks you can get your first appt. a bigger one is coming as posted

Vet service officer is at the county office stop by and make a app. see what
info about Florida/ Vets etc

The Villages Hospital is a first class very good hospital also walk in and take a look

The Villages Military Retirees Activities good info updates I think meeting etc
430-1679

Da Sgt
USA, Ret

[Cliff]

nkrifats, greetings from a fellow Chief. Bryan gave you a very informative review of what is and is not available to us here. As you know, service to retirees at military bases is on a space available basis. After many years of restricting myself to military bases, I finally figured that the short time vets were getting better service through the VA. By all means, sign up with the VA ASAP. I even managed to get a hearing aid from the VA wich was impossible through the military. NAS Jacksonville is a great base (although a long ride) if you prefer the Navy association. Big PX, Commissary, hospital, etc, etc. Very much like the Air Force at MacDill. Scripts for your prescriptions is also a GREAT system. Delivered right to your mail box. If I can be of help, send a private email and I will do all I can to help you. There is also a small Commissary/PX/Class VI near the Orlando airport. Not much of a selection there though.

[Bryan]

Just a small word of warning for those thinking of going to MacDill to shop. If you haven't been there lately, the BX/Commissory parking lot is a zoo. Even mid-week, mid-month you may drive around for hours trying to find a spot to park. The problem is new construction across the street at Southern Command (??) closed all their parking areas (temporarily, I hope) so all those folks are using the BX/Commissory lot for parking.

Temporarily, I have switched to Partrick AFC on the Atlantic side. Commissory and BX just a nice, maybe nicer, than MacDill. The ride is almost the same (maybe a little longer) but there are lots of tolls - get a SunPass or something like that for the tolls.