Post for Military mommas...I have a question about tricare...

[3greatkids751]

I had my 3rd dd back in Jan of 08 and I delivered her at an Army Hospital in VA where we live.  Well needless to say I HATED the hospital..they do as little as possible to it, the staff there were wonderful but I don't have my own private room (doesn't really matter but still it would be nice KWIM) also there was something wrong w/ the AC in the room cause it would be FREEZING in the daytime and BOILING hot at night... I just don't want to have this baby at that hospital again... This is my last baby and I want the experience in a nice hospital and stuff like that... so if I have him in a NON military hospital will Tricare have a cow about it???  Or does it HAVE to be in a Military establishment????   I didn't really know what my options are, thanks so much ladies I really appreciate it.

[kimber2431]

here is a bump. call tricare in your area they are really helpful they will give you all the info you need.

[lexiandrobsmom]

I dropped down to Tricare Standard, and can see any Dr. that I want now.  Tricare covers 100% of maternity.  But the only catch, is that you can not go back to Tricare Prime for 1 full year.  Hope this helps.

[mom2ljh]

If you're Tricare Standard, you can go anywhere that accepts Tricare.  If you're on Prime, you'll need to get a referral to a civilian provider.  I'm on prime but have a civilian PCP so my referral was approved quickly and my son was born in a civilian hospital.  We kept him on Standard so we could keep his civilian doctor without any issue.

[rebeccasmommy09]

A lot of it is going to have to do with what you have available in your area and who your OB is. In my area, we don't have a military hospital so there is no choice but to deliver off base. I would call Tricare and talk with them about what your options are. 

[twinmamaof3]

like a pp said you can go down to standard.  I have delivered at a military hospital, I had my own room and everything, it was nice.  I was there for 9 days.  (induced five weeks early then my p kept spiking while on bp meds so they made me stay, also oe of my legs was super super swollen)  then with the twins i was life flighted to the city to a civilian hospital and I had my own room but it was rather small.  ut i have o complaints

[Cavalrybaby02]

Go to your PCM or even the OBGYN clinic and ask about getting a referral to a civlian OB, then all of your care would be taken care of off base/post and you could deliver at a civilian hospital.

Keep in mind, most civilian hospitals don't have private rooms (tricare doesn't cover them either, unless you just happen to be in a double room alone), and you have to ask them to change the temperature for you if you don't have a thermostat in your room.  So it could easily be very similar to the military hospital.

I delivered DD at a civilian hospital and DS in a military hospital and the hospitals and care were very similar.  I had a double room to myself in both hospitals, but they were both the luck of the draw.

Edit:  You do NOT have to go down to standard.  Most places will refer you to a civilian OB if you ask for it and you can remain on Prime.

 

[3greatkids751]

  I'm on Tricare Prime and I mean I LOVE my OB but she's not the one who delivers me.. I have to go on a Military base and I'm delivered by a totally different group of dr's, whomever is on call in the maternity ward for the night I suppose.  I am just not used to that, I am used to seeing my provider my whole pregnancy and have THAT OB deliver me KWIM.. but since DH is in the Military it's a whole new ball game now, I have to go w/ whatever THEY want.. I wanted to deliver at a birth center but the ONLY one I found doesn't take prime and they want like so much money out of pocket and this and that...then I REALLY wanted a home birth and Tricare just WASN'T hearing that.... I hate it because I feel as though I HAVE to have the birth THEY want in order for it to be covered... I at least wanna pick the damn hospital KWIM lol..

Quoting lexiandrobsmom:

I dropped down to Tricare Standard, and can see any Dr. that I want now.  Tricare covers 100% of maternity.  But the only catch, is that you can not go back to Tricare Prime for 1 full year.  Hope this helps.

[mom2ljh]

I think this varies by region.  All the hospitals around here have private maternity rooms.  I had a private room the whole time I was in the hospital.  The Ombudsmen on my husband's boat delivered somewhere that had semi-private rooms and had to pay $30OOP for the private room.

Quoting Cavalrybaby02:

Go to your PCM or even the OBGYN clinic and ask about getting a referral to a civlian OB, then all of your care would be taken care of off base/post and you could deliver at a civilian hospital.

Keep in mind, most civilian hospitals don't have private rooms (tricare doesn't cover them either, unless you just happen to be in a double room alone), and you have to ask them to change the temperature for you if you don't have a thermostat in your room.  So it could easily be very similar to the military hospital.

I delivered DD at a civilian hospital and DS in a military hospital and the hospitals and care were very similar.  I had a double room to myself in both hospitals, but they were both the luck of the draw.

 

[3greatkids751]

  Yah... well DH wants be to have him in DC and they have some really nice hospitals up there, I have looked at them and everything. I mean it doesn't matter but still it would be nice KWIM.. The only thing that REALLY sucked is the whole non private room and stuff, there's NO bathroom in the room and we have to walk down the hallway to use the bathroom and HOPE there's nobody in it at the time.. it was just a pain in the butt...

Quoting Cavalrybaby02:

Go to your PCM or even the OBGYN clinic and ask about getting a referral to a civlian OB, then all of your care would be taken care of off base/post and you could deliver at a civilian hospital.

Keep in mind, most civilian hospitals don't have private rooms (tricare doesn't cover them either, unless you just happen to be in a double room alone), and you have to ask them to change the temperature for you if you don't have a thermostat in your room.  So it could easily be very similar to the military hospital.

I delivered DD at a civilian hospital and DS in a military hospital and the hospitals and care were very similar.  I had a double room to myself in both hospitals, but they were both the luck of the draw.

Edit:  You do NOT have to go down to standard.  Most places will refer you to a civilian OB if you ask for it and you can remain on Prime.

[ladyraven16]

While my hubby was at Marine Combat Training my son and I were on Standard. I went to midwives and paid all of maybe 100 dollars to have my youngest. I had a private room the whole time and no issues or complaints.