Tricare Prime vs. Standard for Retirees...

[audette]

So, DH retires in days (all the paperwork is done), and we need to make a few final decisions - one of them being if we should opt for Tricare Prime or Standard.

From where I sit right now, Tricare Prime seems the better option, even if it does involve some money up front (annual premiums, and frankly, they are _very_ reasonable for the coverage).  We're 15 minutes from the nearest MTF, and it's a small one, so they hand out referrals like candy.  There is a large enough retiree population in the area, that finding specialists that take tricare is pretty easy.

Obviously, that might change if one of us finds a job that moves us somewhere else, but the sorts of jobs we would be looking at would typically come with health insurance, so we'd probably swap back to Standard at the next opportunity to do so, and use it to augment employer insurance.


Am I missing something about Standard that makes it a good option?  It's the default - we have to take action to get on Prime.  That alone makes me think that prime is probably our better option.


(most of DH's health issues are service connected, so the potential costs there are not horrible; for me, however, I have a few things going on, a couple of them chronic, requiring infrequent checks and tests and daily medication)

[calmcosmo]

I have no idea about the difference between active and retiree but I am a huge fan of tricare standard. It saves me a TON of time to be able to pick my own doctors and skip referrals. I also feel like I've gotten better care.
I am willing to pay a bit more money for flexibility, choice, and time.

[ilovecandy]

I almost always pick prime. For referral I have always just emailed day dr and they did it no problem (they knew my past history with those issues). Also I am cheap lol.

[blondemoment123]

Prime for sure.

[dcn]

We are prime and I like it. I'd do that for now until you are more settled and change it down the road if you want.

[morecoffeeplease]

I don't have experience for retirees but I'd go with prime. We were on prime at the last duty station (small) and absolutely loved it. We were seen out in town or the nearest city for all specialists because the clinic was so small.

But now that I'm working full time at the new duty station we are on standard. There is no way we can get to the doctor on base during their clinic hours. I miss prime.