access to military hospitals in remote locations?

[CloudBee]

I know that it's common for a civilian to be flown to a military hospital if you are being medevaced out of a dangerous area, were involved in a terrible accident and your family is working with the local US embassy to get you home, etc.

But what about when a US citizen is visiting a remote location where we have military installations and hospitals... do citizens have access to the hospital if needed?

I'm going to Guam and Saipan in August for vacation, and will be about 11-12 weeks pregnant. (I also have some heart problems I was born with, and always keep a list of major hospitals in the area when we travel.) It looks like Guam has a small private hospital that may be adequate if something goes wrong, and Saipan appears to have a tiny hospital or medical clinic.

However, I assume that the medical facilities on base are far superior to the small facilities that are privately owned.

Do you know if in remote locations like Micronesia, the military would grant access to the on-base hospitals if you are a US citizen and have insurance?

This may sound like a crazy question. But again, I have heard time and again on the news, of critical civilian patients going through hospitals on foreign US bases when there have been emergencies and they are being shipped/medevaced home.

Any insight you have would be great, thank you!

[beachy]

No.

[fuddyduddy]

I'm not sure, but it wouldn't hurt to call the hospital(s) in advance and ask.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 14:02:58 GMT -5 fuddyduddy said:

I'm not sure, but it wouldn't hurt to call the hospital(s) in advance and ask.

Thanks. My dad is a vet and though when I was a kid he was retired from the military, he contracted by the navy. We had some sort of Blue Cross plan through the government, and we had access to medical facilities on bases when we traveled.

Maybe he could get his hands on contact info for me.

Again, I know it's a bit of a long shot, but if you're paying out of pocket/insurance and are in a remote location, it could seem a little logical, considering they accept patients in true emergencies via life flights.

[beachy]

Jul 25, 2012 15:02:18 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Jul 25, 2012 14:02:58 GMT -5 fuddyduddy said:

I'm not sure, but it wouldn't hurt to call the hospital(s) in advance and ask.

Thanks. My dad is a vet and though when I was a kid he was retired from the military, he contracted by the navy. We had some sort of Blue Cross plan through the government, and we had access to medical facilities on bases when we traveled.

Maybe he could get his hands on contact info for me.

Again, I know it's a bit of a long shot, but if you're paying out of pocket/insurance and are in a remote location, it could seem a little logical, considering they accept patients in true emergencies via life flights.

So basically any American overseas at any point or for any reason should be able to access military bases and get military care just because they have insurance? Also, there is a difference between your dad traveling and being contracted by the Navy and you traveling for pleasure as a complete civilian.

[softspot]

Jul 25, 2012 15:20:16 GMT -5 beachy said:

Jul 25, 2012 15:02:18 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Thanks. My dad is a vet and though when I was a kid he was retired from the military, he contracted by the navy. We had some sort of Blue Cross plan through the government, and we had access to medical facilities on bases when we traveled.

Maybe he could get his hands on contact info for me.

Again, I know it's a bit of a long shot, but if you're paying out of pocket/insurance and are in a remote location, it could seem a little logical, considering they accept patients in true emergencies via life flights.

So basically any American overseas at any point or for any reason should be able to access military bases and get military care just because they have insurance? Also, there is a difference between your dad traveling and being contracted by the Navy and you traveling for pleasure as a complete civilian.

Beachy, why are you being so bitchy about this? I think it was an innocent question.

OP, your dad likely had access because he retired, not from a contact.

[fuddyduddy]

Here is a link to Naval Hospital Guam's website (the "Contact Us" page): www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnhguam/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

According to their "Hospital Information" section, they provide healthcare to Guam's local population, so it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to do the same for traveling American civilians.

I hope your vacation goes smoothly and I am sorry that you received an antagonistic response on this board. I think your question was a valid one and you may find information that will be valuable to other people planning trips overseas.

[JakJak]

Jul 25, 2012 16:22:18 GMT -5 fuddyduddy said:

Here is a link to Naval Hospital Guam's website (the "Contact Us" page): www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnhguam/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

According to their "Hospital Information" section, they provide healthcare to Guam's local population, so it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to do the same for traveling American civilians.

I hope your vacation goes smoothly and I am sorry that you received an antagonistic response on this board. I think your question was a valid one and you may find information that will be valuable to other people planning trips overseas.

:Y: I hope you have a great vacation and congrats on the pregnancy!

[basilosaurus]

There was a situation in Japan where a family member visiting had an emergency and was treated at the on base clinic. It was a huge clusterfuck to work out afterward since he had no legal right to those facilities and should have been transferred to a local hospital.

So, in your case, you might get treated in a real emergency, but it would be against protocol, generally, and heads might roll afterward. You traveling for pleasure is not comparable to people being evaced out of a war zone.

Your US insurance isn't going to reimburse the cost to the military hospital (there's no billing mechanism to do so) which is why it isn't logical to expect to be treated at those facilities.

[basilosaurus]

Since there is at least 1 civilian hospital in Guam, and she seems to want access to the naval hospital because she assumes it's better, that's why I'm thinking it's a no-go.

www.gmha.org/gmha_new/ Looks nicer than most MTFs I've seen

And because I have nothing better to do, I looked up the naval hospital. Right there on their website, no need to call:
Access To Care

All patients presenting for treatment (age ten and above) are required to show a valid Uniformed Service Identification Card before treatment will be rendered. The only exception is in the case of a serious medical emergency.

I don't see where they're treating the general public with a statement like that.

Saipan also has a medical center. If your conditions are so bad that you always need access to state of the art emergency care, then you probably shouldn't put remote islands on your itinerary. You should be at a minimum getting some really good travel insurance because I'm guessing most US insurance won't cover emergencies overseas, even if care was given at a MTF.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 15:20:16 GMT -5 beachy said:

Jul 25, 2012 15:02:18 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Thanks. My dad is a vet and though when I was a kid he was retired from the military, he contracted by the navy. We had some sort of Blue Cross plan through the government, and we had access to medical facilities on bases when we traveled.

Maybe he could get his hands on contact info for me.

Again, I know it's a bit of a long shot, but if you're paying out of pocket/insurance and are in a remote location, it could seem a little logical, considering they accept patients in true emergencies via life flights.

So basically any American overseas at any point or for any reason should be able to access military bases and get military care just because they have insurance? Also, there is a difference between your dad traveling and being contracted by the Navy and you traveling for pleasure as a complete civilian.

What's your problem with my question? You make it sound as if I feel entitled to PAY FOR SERVICES. I'm inquiring if services would be available to me.

What's your beef?

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 15:29:36 GMT -5 softspot said:

Jul 25, 2012 15:20:16 GMT -5 beachy said:

So basically any American overseas at any point or for any reason should be able to access military bases and get military care just because they have insurance? Also, there is a difference between your dad traveling and being contracted by the Navy and you traveling for pleasure as a complete civilian.

Beachy, why are you being so bitchy about this? I think it was an innocent question.

OP, your dad likely had access because he retired, not from a contact.

Hm, that could be.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 15:32:21 GMT -5 Stan said:

I don't understand the enmity. I have absolutely no idea, but if there's an emergency that a local hospital can't handle, I've known of American military doctors giving care to the local population, which I think they should if they have the ability to and it's needed.

After scoping out the hospital website, it looks like they may offer care to civilians at the local hospital if there's a need. That's neat. They list a bunch of outreach programs they are involved in, too.

My main reason for asking is because in my mind (and maybe I'm wrong) the military hospital would be pretty state of the art compared to a local one. Even though it is in a US territory.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 16:22:18 GMT -5 fuddyduddy said:

Here is a link to Naval Hospital Guam's website (the "Contact Us" page): www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnhguam/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

According to their "Hospital Information" section, they provide healthcare to Guam's local population, so it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to do the same for traveling American civilians.

I hope your vacation goes smoothly and I am sorry that you received an antagonistic response on this board. I think your question was a valid one and you may find information that will be valuable to other people planning trips overseas.

Thanks for the info. We travel often, and it's always been a genuine question, partly for curiosity sake.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 17:03:30 GMT -5 JakJak said:

Jul 25, 2012 16:22:18 GMT -5 fuddyduddy said:

Here is a link to Naval Hospital Guam's website (the "Contact Us" page): www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnhguam/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

According to their "Hospital Information" section, they provide healthcare to Guam's local population, so it is not out of the realm of possibility for them to do the same for traveling American civilians.

I hope your vacation goes smoothly and I am sorry that you received an antagonistic response on this board. I think your question was a valid one and you may find information that will be valuable to other people planning trips overseas.

I hope you have a great vacation and congrats on the pregnancy!

Thanks! We're really excited. One of our reasons for choosing Guam is because we have had several family members stationed there, and they all loved it.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 17:07:30 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

There was a situation in Japan where a family member visiting had an emergency and was treated at the on base clinic. It was a huge clusterfuck to work out afterward since he had no legal right to those facilities and should have been transferred to a local hospital.

So, in your case, you might get treated in a real emergency, but it would be against protocol, generally, and heads might roll afterward. You traveling for pleasure is not comparable to people being evaced out of a war zone.

Your US insurance isn't going to reimburse the cost to the military hospital (there's no billing mechanism to do so) which is why it isn't logical to expect to be treated at those facilities.

Point taken.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 21:17:50 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Since there is at least 1 civilian hospital in Guam, and she seems to want access to the naval hospital because she assumes it's better, that's why I'm thinking it's a no-go.

www.gmha.org/gmha_new/ Looks nicer than most MTFs I've seen

And because I have nothing better to do, I looked up the naval hospital. Right there on their website, no need to call:
Access To Care

All patients presenting for treatment (age ten and above) are required to show a valid Uniformed Service Identification Card before treatment will be rendered. The only exception is in the case of a serious medical emergency.

I don't see where they're treating the general public with a statement like that.

Saipan also has a medical center. If your conditions are so bad that you always need access to state of the art emergency care, then you probably shouldn't put remote islands on your itinerary. You should be at a minimum getting some really good travel insurance because I'm guessing most US insurance won't cover emergencies overseas, even if care was given at a MTF.

I do have medical insurance that covers medical care at our out of network rate, which is 80%.

Guam is not considered overseas with my medical plan.

I would never travel to remote locations without access to hospital. In my original post, I clearly stated that the local hospitals appear adequate. I wouldn't travel if my conditions were so grave that I would be putting myself at significant risk. I am absolutely fine to travel.

I posed my question, merely because a military hospital would likely be more advanced and offer better care. I had no idea if they accept paying patients who were civilians - especially in places where there is limited or no other care option.

It's fine that they don't appear to. I was just curious.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 21:32:47 GMT -5 Stan said:

From the info section, "Navy Medicine continues the proud traditions of providing healthcare and sound relations with the populace of Guam." I'm just defensive for OP because I think she was just asking an innocent question and I think there was unfair enmity.

It was an innocent. It bothers me that some of these posters seem to think I'm entitled and should be seen at THEIR hospitals.

Example:

I wouldn't roll my eyes if someone asked if they could still purchase a cup of coffee in my office cafeteria (if I had one), and wanted to pay. Assuming the coffee in their building across the street sucked, or there was none available.

They would have no experience with my building and how it works, and wouldn't know if you needed an access card to enter.

I just had a simple question on something I have limited experience wtih. ahh

[basilosaurus]

I don't feel I was being mean, just answering the question. It was an innocent question, and a factual answer. There's a little bit of naivete in the question, but no biggie. I don't assume that anyone knows that there's no real billing mechanism in a mil hospital and that treatment there is considered a benefit.

But, yeah, I bristle a little bit with people assuming local care isn't going to be good enough and that as an American she should be able to choose what she erroneously assumes will be better care. That's the only entitlement I see, not that it would be for free.

[basilosaurus]

Jul 25, 2012 21:32:47 GMT -5 Stan said:

From the info section, "Navy Medicine continues the proud traditions of providing healthcare and sound relations with the populace of Guam." I'm just defensive for OP because I think she was just asking an innocent question and I think there was unfair enmity.

I was digging around on the site, and I assume that implies they provide care as volunteer/service hours, since they mention projects, or provides some sort of humanitarian clinic.

It pretty explicitly said you need an id to get care unless dire emergency.

[nsl]

Jul 25, 2012 21:32:48 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Jul 25, 2012 15:32:21 GMT -5 Stan said:

I don't understand the enmity. I have absolutely no idea, but if there's an emergency that a local hospital can't handle, I've known of American military doctors giving care to the local population, which I think they should if they have the ability to and it's needed.

After scoping out the hospital website, it looks like they may offer care to civilians at the local hospital if there's a need. That's neat. They list a bunch of outreach programs they are involved in, too.

My main reason for asking is because in my mind (and maybe I'm wrong) the military hospital would be pretty state of the art compared to a local one. Even though it is in a US territory.

My H is a military physician, so I've spent a lot of time around MTF's. I would never, ever assume the bolded is true.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 22:04:13 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

But, yeah, I bristle a little bit with people assuming local care isn't going to be good enough and that as an American she should be able to choose what she erroneously assumes will be better care. That's the only entitlement I see, not that it would be for free.

Not once did I say I should be allowed to utilize a military hospital. I was inquiring if it were an option. I did not in any way say that it should be an option.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 22:15:22 GMT -5 nsl said:

Jul 25, 2012 21:32:48 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

After scoping out the hospital website, it looks like they may offer care to civilians at the local hospital if there's a need. That's neat. They list a bunch of outreach programs they are involved in, too.

My main reason for asking is because in my mind (and maybe I'm wrong) the military hospital would be pretty state of the art compared to a local one. Even though it is in a US territory.

My H is a military physician, so I've spent a lot of time around MTF's. I would never, ever assume the bolded is true.

I should have said "a local one in Guam".

Do you think the local hospital in Guam could be better? Honest question. I'm trying to get an idea of what a military hospital's level of care would be like, as it seems like my vision is completely off!

[nsl]

Jul 25, 2012 22:18:58 GMT -5 CloudBee said:

Jul 25, 2012 22:15:22 GMT -5 nsl said:

My H is a military physician, so I've spent a lot of time around MTF's. I would never, ever assume the bolded is true.

I should have said "a local one in Guam".

Do you think the local hospital in Guam could be better? Honest question. I'm trying to get an idea of what a military hospital's level of care would be like, as it seems like my vision is completely off!

Standard of care =/= "state of the art." I've never been to Guam, so I have no idea what the local hospitals would be like, but Defense spending is not generally focused on making sure that those who have access to military treatment facilities have access to cutting-edge medical treatments and equipment. MTF's provide treatment that meets the accepted standard of care for American hospitals. They aren't cushy, and they aren't generally as concerned with bells and whistles as civilian facilities.

[basilosaurus]

I have Tripler here, one of the top army hospitals. It's still low-frill. I'm sure the standard of care is adequate, but it's not fancy in the least. If I had a choice, I'd want to go where they pamper me

cloudbee, do you really not see how "sure, they have local hospitals, but can I go to the american one because it's probably better" doesn't indicate some level of entitlement? That's how it reads to me, even if that's not your intent.

[beachy]

Jul 25, 2012 22:04:13 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I don't assume that anyone knows that there's no real billing mechanism in a mil hospital and that treatment there is considered a benefit.

But, yeah, I bristle a little bit with people assuming local care isn't going to be good enough and that as an American she should be able to choose what she erroneously assumes will be better care. That's the only entitlement I see, not that it would be for free.

This was basically my point, and I've pretty much agreed with everything you've said.

I however assumed she did know that there was no billing system, and was saying that as an American who pays for insurance in America she should be able to access American medical care overseas for basically free. So if that's not what you meant, sorry. But that's how it seemed. But I do agree with Sibil that if you are that concerned about the level of medical care you would be receiving in remote locations that I probably wouldn't be traveling to them.

[CloudBee]

Jul 25, 2012 22:50:25 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I have Tripler here, one of the top army hospitals. It's still low-frill. I'm sure the standard of care is adequate, but it's not fancy in the least. If I had a choice, I'd want to go where they pamper me

cloudbee, do you really not see how "sure, they have local hospitals, but can I go to the american one because it's probably better" doesn't indicate some level of entitlement? That's how it reads to me, even if that's not your intent.

Pamper me? Seriously?

No, it's not entitlement. It was a logical question from a civilian. You seem so sensitive and are basically screaming "lay your hands off my hospital". Why? I'm not trying to take anything from you, or impact your life. Or cost you money, or a paperwork headache. I'm asking questions.

Right. The hospital IS American, so it didn't seem far fetched to ask if I might have access to it IF I needed a resource they had that a local hospital did not, when spending time basically in the middle of nowhere. Oh yes, and I expected to pay, and have insurance, and had no idea how billing would work.

Sure, that's entitlement. Right. That I was curious if I could have access to, and pay for, an American hospital in an emergency. You're so spot on there. ^o)

[fuddyduddy]

For those of you who stated that military hospitals are not equipped to handle private insurance billing, this says otherwise (under "Third Party Collection"): www.med.navy.mil/sites/usnhguam/Patients/Pages/HealthServices.aspx

[travelingturtle]

I wouldn't think that any services available to military or civilian personal on a military base would be accessible to a non-military American.

Sure, it's an American hospital, but it's a military hospital first. Even for the times when someone who is not military goes to a military hospital, I would assume that it was part of some military mission to help them or something.

As for the private insurance billing, I'm curious if that is more for the civilians on the base... or even dependent spouses who have a job that includes insurance? I just say that because I don't even know how someone would get on base that didn't have an ID card (other than an ID card-holder letting them in), but then how would they even be able to make an appointment? I'm not making any of these comments to be snarky (because everyone on here seems to be so defensive about this), but I'd be surprised if the private insurance billing is meant for those not directly involved in the military base.

You may not see it as taking away from someone else, or impacting others life, but there are limited resources available to military stationed at bases. If they had to (not saying you said they had to) think about adding additional support and supplies and for people who were on vacation, that would cause more employers (and aren't military salaries paid by taxes?), additional paperwork and all of that. Even here in Germany, as a US citizen living here, I have no access to military bases. My parents are retired military, and I can go on base with them if they are here, but even they don't have access to a lot of the products/services on the base. Simply because it takes it away from the people it is meant for - the people stationed at the base. Believe me, I would love it if my parents could access the commissary when they are visiting and I could stock up on Reece's Peanut Butter cups... but, that's another story.

[beans]

Wow cloudbee, I'm sorry you're getting such seemingly hostile responses here... I thought your question wasn't too crazy out of line, and to me doesn't even seem all that entitled or unreasonable to ask, especially if you are not all that aware of military medical care, or had an experience where your dad was able to use the system previously as a contractor or whatever.

Not sure why people are all upset, but it does seem like there is a fair amount of ASSuming going on in this post.

OP- so it seems like a possibility that in a life-threatening situation you could go there, but there are other options for medical care that you can access as well. I hope you have a safe and uneventful trip!