Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 03/18/2002

Dear Sgt. Shaft: 
After reading the critical comments about current health care in the February 18, 2002, issue of the Washington Times, I would like to briefly outline my and my wife's more favorable experiences. I retired from Air Force service in 1988. We participated in Champus and later were enrolled in the Tricare system. I carried the TROA/Mediplus supplemental insurance since retirement and we regularly used the Primus clinics associated with the Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, Dewitt U.S. Army hospital and stayed with that system as the transition was made to Tricare. We have been seen regularly for many years: first at the clinic in Burke, Virginia; then at the clinic in Woodbridge, Virginia; and now at the relatively new facility in Woodbridge. We could not be more pleased with the treatment we have received and the care we have been provided. Granted that until last fall we had only minor complaints and preventive maintenance-type treatment--but I have been treated for blood pressure, cholesterol, and indeed had some cancer-exclusion exams, etc. We were both enrolled in Tricare upon its establishment and both transitioned to Tricare for Life at age 65. The transition at age 65 and disenrollment from Tricare meant essentially no change in at the Family Health Center of Woodbridge, except that as an "SPP" patient I did not have to pay the fee. My treatment, regular appointments, and pharmacy availability continued to be excellent. I have written numerous complimentary comments concerning the Woodbridge Health Center as being the best medical facility I experienced in 30 years of service. The transition to Tricare for Life was likewise seamless and consistent in excellent service. We opted to eliminate the long-held Mediplus supplement as being unneeded effective with the advent of TCL on 1 October 2001. Then, in August 2001 my wife was diagnosed as having a faulty heart valve. The Woodbridge clinic made quick appointments for detailed diagnostic tests and treatment at Walter Reed -- a good distance away for us but a good and competent place to go. My wife was hospitalized at Walter Reed for a few days on two occasions, first to check for infection and later as a precaution following further tests. Her treatment was again excellent. She chose to have surgery at the Fairfax Inova Hospital and thus had a combination of both civilian and military medical treatment from August through November 2001 -- neatly straddling the changeover to Tricare for Life and our dropping of the Mediplus supplement when TFL became effective. My wife's treatment was superior, her surgery successful, and her recovery and continued treatment excellent. Except for a flow of confusing papers coming from Medicare, TCL, and the Mediplus supplement, we were very pleased that the health system accommodated this transition period effectively. The bills were all paid in a timely manner and our expenses were minor. Needless to say, we think the military medical service available to us has been and continues to be superior. With the added benefit and assurance of Tricare for Life it has only improved. 

J.E.B.
Fairfax Station, VA

Dear J.E.B.:
I am glad to hear you and your wife are getting good care through the Tricare program. However, the other missives I have received points out your good care as an anomaly.

Read on

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Not that I was actually IN the 10th Mountain Division, but I did survive Ranger School.

I am an Army retiree who (Herndon, VA), live closer to Bethesda than Walter Reed and got "fair" medical care until I turned 65. I am used to the military way of triage and prioritizing, but of course I noted the undeniable drop in care once I retired, then again when I turned 65.

I have TRICARE, the social security Medicare (or is it Medicaid? I mix 'em up) supplement I pay for each month, plus I pay for the USAA TRICARE supplement, none of which I have used in the past two years. My wife is employed and uses her business medical plan, in which I am not enrolled. I have yet to use my medical services.

I tried several times to get a physical, but you have to -- seemingly -- qualify in the Men's Olympic Aerials before you can get on a Physicals list from which they randomly select folks, but only on rainy Tuesdays of an odd-numbered date. Of leap years.

As I understand it, Medicare pays a first chunk, then the part B Medicare supplement, then the USAA supplement. 

Whew! How to decipher?

I am in good health, but I do want to get a physical and learn the correct procedures to get screening, appointments, etc.

I have a chronic leg rash (which comes and goes) that doctors at Bethesda and Walter Reed declined to treat ("You're just getting old!") which I'd like to have checked. How do I handle the routine stuff, let alone the complicated?

To whom do I go first? Bethesda now treats me as if I were a leper. (No offense to lepers.)

Bethesda? 
The closest formerly PrimeCare office somewhere on Jaguar Street in Fairfax? 
A private doctor?
How do I get started?
Can you point me in the right direction?

J.S.
Herndon, VA

Dear J.S.:
Hopefully by highlighting the pros and cons of Tricare for Life, health care for our nation’s military retirees and veterans will improve.

Shaft Kudos
The Sarge joins the Veterans of Foreign Wars in congratulating the Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Chris Smith (R-NJ), on his yeoman’s work for veterans. During the 107th Congress, Chairman Smith sponsored five major pieces of veterans’ legislation that have been enacted into law. Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander-in-Chief James N. Goldsmith recently presented the congressman with the 2002 VFW Congressional Award for “outstanding service to the nation.”

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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