cb1111
Newbie
- Location
- Virginia, USA
I'm always amazed at how badly the military does retirement briefings.That’s fucked. And incredibly devious
one interesting privilege disabled and retired vets have. We have no idea how the fuck health care works. Since we get it and always had for free. Sure the va is flawed as fuck but it’s hard to be ungrateful since it’s free. Even I wouldn’t know how to get health care. I dunno, do u call someone? Do you go somewhere and buy the shit?
In very basic terms - if you're a veteran, you can go to the VA - the world's largest healthcare provider. In addition, if you are retired, you can get Tricare (until you are 65 and then you enroll in Medicare and get Tricare for Life). Tricare gives you access to Military Treatment Facilities on a space available basis, but more importantly, takes the place of Medicare supplement plans (and the pharmacy part D) and covers most (all?) co-pays.
If you are a retired veteran (it is technically possible to be retired but not a vet) and have only used tricare to date, then you should sign up in the VA system as well even if you have no intention of ever setting foot in a VA facility. Why? Because there are some things that are covered by the VA that Tricare and Medicare do not cover - one example are "durable medical products" that covers the gamut from wheelchairs to Oxygen to adult diapers and bed pads. The consumables will be mailed to you.
You need to sign up for the VA well before you need it.
I have a colleague who is working on assuring that medical benefits aren't downgraded. That organization (a bunch of old farts that have good connections to Congress but no tech skills) needs social media and website help, so if anybody wants to volunteer services please PM me.