Reply to Spinoff regarding health insurance

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I feel bad even saying this one, but here are my Tricare retiree figures:

I pay no premium for myself or family as a medical retiree. I have a $300 family deductible for in- and out-of-network and a $3,000 family OOP max. [/quote]

Yes, you do pay a premium (called an "enrollment fee").  They take it out of your retirement pay.  It's not a lot, but there is a premium.

Also, when you are 65, you will be required to buy Medicare Part B.  So, what is "low cost" today, will cost you more when you turn 65.  [/quote]

You don't pay that as a medical retiree (Chapter 61 retirees). And in any event, the $375/YEAR in family enrollment fees for Tricare is a lot lower than any civilian premiums I've seen.

I don't think the $200/mo of Medicare Part B coverage (plus free Tricare for Life) outweighs the zero premium $3,000 OOP max health insurance completely untethered to your employment for decades.

But if you think my benefits suck, that's fine. I love them. [/quote]

Awfully defensive, aren't you?

I mentioned the enrollment fee and the requirement for Medicare Part B because we too have Tricare.  And we are happy with it.  BUT, DH will turn 65 next year (and is still working his civilian job).  That means we will be paying around $6000/yr for him to have Medicare B -- because Tricare requires it.  That's $6000 we didn't have to pay in any past year.  Then when I turn 65, we get to pay another Medicare B premium for me... so, depending on our income at that time, it might be $3000 for each of us, or it could be another $3000/yr for me.  Next year, our DD will age out of Tricare (when she graduates from college).  Tricare doesn't cover young adult kids until they are 26.  It drops them when they graduate from college or up to the day before turning 23.  So, we get to pay another $4500/yr for her.  When my son graduates in a couple of years... we get to pay the same per year for him.

This is all just to keep the Tricare that we always had.  So, our "premium" expenses with Tricare will go from $375/yr, to $6000 + $4500 next year, and then another $4500 added on to that in a couple of years .... JUST to keep tricare!

It's been good for us all along... and then they really amp up the costs.   You wouldn't think that would happen when you turn 65, or your kids are 22... but that's how Tricare works.  [/quote]

That’s a high part B premium. I guess you’re still working and at very high paying jobs. Once you retire, it will be a lot cheaper. The young adult thing is annoying, I agree.

If you don’t like being forced to pay the part b premiums, you can always forego Tricare for Life, at least as I understand it. I think for the typical Tricare beneficiary, the cost saving for Life for free more than make up for the Part B premiums.

In any case, we come out waaaaaaay ahead of the average civilian on healthcare costs, and it’s not close. I’m honestly surprised to hear anyone complain that our retiree benefits aren’t good enough.

This free, top-notch PPO is what will allow me to open my own law firm a few years down the line. I am so grateful for it. [/quote]

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