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You don't have to go to a base to get health care. Normally, unless you live right on base, you'll get assigned a Primary Care Manager which will be a local, private doctor who accepts Tricare. You don't get to initially choose who you see, but you can change your PCM on DEERS if you're not satisfied. You do, however, have to go to a doctor that accepts Tricare, just like you would have to find a dr who accepts whatever private insurance you're on. The catch is that not nearly as many doctors take Tricare, so your choices can be somewhat limited. That's been my experience as a Navy wife, but Tricare works the same across the branches.
My sister is a Marine wife and opted out because she gets good insurance through her work that she would have to pay for whether on it or not, so she decided to not go on Tricare for now.
If you're planning on living with your parents or staying around that area (not sure if your husband is deployed or if he has gotten new orders that include his spouse) you should stay under your parents if that makes you happy. Although, now that you're married you might want to check to make sure you still qualify for their insurance since you are technically no longer their dependent. Also, you may want to consider switching anyway because military insurance is so incredibly cheap. It will take some financial burden off your parents (I have no idea what the cost of police health insurance is though- maybe it's just as cheap).
As for having to go on base.. I'm pretty sure you're only forced to use military providers if you have tricare prime. I currently have tricare standard and go to whoever accepts it. (someone please correct me if I'm wrong!) The only downside of tricare standard is you pay a slightly higher co pay. If you do a google search for tricare you can read about tricare prime vs. standard.
@maureen9004: We have Prime, and I go to a private provider, but if I was living on or super near a base, then I likely would have to go to the military hospital. So I think you're right. :)
@piglet_625: Yeah.. we live in a military area (norfolk, VA) so anyone with prime goes to Portsmouth Naval Hospital. There are some great doctor's there, but it's a teaching hospital (one of my fellow nursing students delivered her child with 18 med students in the room).
I am on TriCare prime and don't know why anyone wouldn't want to be on it! Everything is FREE! I understand what PP said about her sister having to pay for insurance regardless so she might as well use it, but otherwise I'd definitely recommend TriCare. I get my allergy medicine, birth control, etc. for free any time I go to the military doctor. You said it is an hour away so then you'd need to decide whether or not you'd rather pay the small co-pay to go to a civilian doctor or drive an hour, but both options are great. Also, did you know you can go to any base, it doesn't have to be branch specific? That may make it more convenient..
@maureen9004: You can also go to Langley AFB, Ft. Eustis, Little Creek, Portsmouth, the list goes on.... I go to Langley because the AF typically has nicer facilities and I live on this side of the water.
Not sure of all rules, but if you are married you may not be able to be covered under your fathers insurance any longer. Some don't allow Non Dependents, you might want to look into that, I would hate that you end up not covered at all because of an oversight.
I know my parents insurance kicked me off as soon as I got married. Something to look into.
I have Prime. In the States, I was allowed to go to a civilian doctor. Here, I do go on base. Seriously though, Prime is pretty sweet. It's alsoo 100% free.
@LoveMySailor1018: Sorry, just saw this :) I agree about Langley. I shot a wedding there last year and they have sooo much stuff on their base! I like being on standard because I can choose my doctor (and the office I'm at is 2 mile from my house. Super easy.)
I am a Marine and about to marry a Marine. They have TRICARE (this is the name of the insurance) specialist in the hospitals. You can make an appointment to talk to someone about the benifits. There is also a customer service line and other ways you can decided what insurance suits your life style. I think the insurance is great, but then again I dont know the benifits of the one you have now.
Are you sure you can stay on your fathers insurance after your married? That is sometimes frowned upon? Usually insurance companies wiill disown you if you are of a certain age or married. Something you might want to look into.
Hope this help! Get ready for the ride of your life as a Marine wife...and not all female Marines want your husband....we seem to get that alot! Alot of Marine wives dont like that I get to be deployed with there husband for a year...they dont realize they are our brothers...not lovers! Be nice to the female Marines! hahaha
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Hi Ladies!
Have any of you gotten married to a Marine and opted not to use their insurance? My fiance and I just got married in a civil ceremony so that I could be put on most of his benefits, but I am hesitant about using his insurance. Right now I am still under my father's insurance(he's a police officer so it's pretty good) and I can stay with them for a few more years. I just don't think the military insurance would be any better at this point and I don't think they have any places for me to go anywhere around where I live. The nearest base is about an hour away at Great Lakes. Any Advice? is it worth getting TriCare and making the drive to base? Did any of you opt out of the benefits? Anything else I should know???