Making Full Use Of Your Health Care Benefits Before You Leave The Military
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One of the very appealing benefits of military service is the comprehensive health care plan the military offers. The program, TRICARE, comes in a number of forms to meet the needs of different servicemembers. If you are getting ready to leave the military, you might consider taking one last moment to see if there are any health services you can avail yourself of. Some of the services covered by TRICARE include:
Clinical Preventive ServicesTRICARE can help make sure you are discharge from the armed forces with a full bill of health. Covered services include: cancer screenings, hearing and vision exams, tuberculosis screening, blood pressure measurement, body measurement and cholesterol testing.
Vision CareTRICARE covers corneal and scleral contact lenses for treatment of keratoconus, abnormally dry eyes and corneal irregularities as well as intraocular lenses. Depending upon your beneficiary category, you may qualify for free eyeglasses.
Flu VaccinationsTRICARE offers flu vaccinations free of charge. Members can get either a traditional flu shot or a nasal spray flu vaccine. The flu vaccination must be delivered in a doctor’s office, not a civilian drugstore or pharmacy, in order for the member to receive full coverage.
SurgerySurgery is covered under TRICARE only for procedures that are considered proven and are medically necessary. Elective surgeries such as pain relief surgery, arthritis surgery or tattoo removal are not covered under your TRICARE plan. Laser surgery is covered under the same provisions as conventional surgery.
It may be possible to continue your TRICARE plan or assume an altered form of the plan after you leave the military. However, the facilities and procedures for administering TRICARE are most easily handled on your military base while in the military, so you should look into any medical issues you can take care of before you are discharged if possible.
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