DJW Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Both the DW and I are turning 65 next month and are signed up for Part B of Medicare and Tricare for Life. DW has retained a new Doc here in Bella Vista, AR. I will continue to use the VA. Went down on Tuesday to the VA hospital in Fayettaeville, AR and updated all my information from 15 years ago. I was still in the their system as I am 50 percent. Waiting for my primary care Team/Doc to be assigned in the next couple of weeks. DW will continue to use Express Script for her prescriptions. Here is my question: DW goes to Doc and has some type of infection? She needs to go to Walgreens to get some type of antibiotic for it and start on it right now. She cannot wait to send to Express Script to start. I know we get our prescriptions free but we need to go through Express Script. In this case does Tricare for Life pay the 20 percent that Medicare does not? Dennis USA Master Sergeant Ret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skp51443 Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 I believe the requirement to use Express Scripts is only for continuing prescriptions, we use Walmart for our one time or urgent initial fills with no problems. First rule of computer consulting: Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day. Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana25k Posted April 11, 2015 Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 First of all Walgreen's does not co operate\accept with Triare so pick another pharmacy. For prescriptions you will only use the Tricare part. There for you will have a copay. Not all of your RX thru Express Scripts will be free. If you are on a non formulary drug there will be a copay as well. Ron has a drug that he pays $16 for a 90 day supply. When I still took Estrogen it cost me $40 \90 day Ron only uses VA for an annual checkup and hearing aids. Otherwise we both use private Dr. No money out of our pocket. Do be certain that for annual labs and mammogram you abide by the 365 day rule. Otherwise you will pay out of pocket. Also for thungsd like colestrol screenings there a diagnosis code pertaining to a diagnosis. Otherwise neither will pay for that Ron & LindaClass of 20072000 Monaco Diplomat 2005 Honda Element"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" Theodore Roosevelt"We can't control the wind, but we can adjust our sail""When man gave up his freedom to roam the earth, he gave up his soul for a conditioned ego that is bound by time and the fear of losing its attachments." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJW Posted April 11, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2015 Nan A: It was a Hypothetical Question. We never use Walgreens but thanks for the info. B: All of DW Med's are free no copay's and have been for 15 years C. Good info for the 365 day thing D. Will make sure that those type of screenings are coded for diagnosis Stan Thanks for the info. Dennis USA Master Sergeant Ret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeBeFulltimers Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 I believe the requirement to use Express Scripts is only for continuing prescriptions, we use Walmart for our one time or urgent initial fills with no problems. Same here. Fulltiming since September 1, 2010 2012 Ford F-350 PSD SRW Lariat Crew Cab 2012 Montana 3585SA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RV_ Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 We use the Barksdale AFB base pharmacy here. We have a great Brookshire's pharmacy midway between us and the Base/town for emergent weekend scripts we need filled that takes Tricare just fine. I was not aware that Walgreen's did not fill Tricare prescriptions! Good info Linda. Thanks. RV/Derekhttp://www.rvroadie.com Email on the bottom of my website page.Retired AF 1971-1998 When you see a worthy man, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy man, look inside yourself. - Confucius “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ... Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Second Chance Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 We use Express Scripts for all our regular meds ($16/90 day supply for two meds is the highest copay - everything else is "free"). Just had to pick up an antibiotic for my wife on Thursday - took the Rx to Walmart and the copay was $3.20. We use the WalMart pharmacy three minutes from the house for all PRN/ad hoc meds without any issues. Express Scripts for everything else. 2012 F350 CC LB DRW 6.7 2020 Solitude 310GK-R, MORryde IS, disc brakes, solar, DP windows Full-time since 8/2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skp51443 Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 It is sometimes frustrating to find folks that take TRICARE, I needed a shingles shot and a tetanus booster, doctor couldn't give them to me without a $50 plus co-pay each. Hit a few different places like Wallgreens, CVS and WalMart and they were either not available or not covered. Getting frustrated we stopped at a Safeway for coffee and decided to walk back to the pharmacy there to see if they had a suggestion on where to go. Turns out they took TRICARE and had both available. Problem solved and they are now at the top of our list for any other shots we need. First rule of computer consulting: Sell a customer a Linux computer and you'll eat for a day. Sell a customer a Windows computer and you'll eat for a lifetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nana25k Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Yep those vaccines are an issue. We made a point of going to a base facility for a couple Walgreen's has been in a snit contest with Tricare and Express Scripts for several years and can't work it out Ron & LindaClass of 20072000 Monaco Diplomat 2005 Honda Element"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are" Theodore Roosevelt"We can't control the wind, but we can adjust our sail""When man gave up his freedom to roam the earth, he gave up his soul for a conditioned ego that is bound by time and the fear of losing its attachments." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RV_ Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Vaccinations we get on base or when they are out as they are a lot, Brookshire's and another were fine. RV/Derekhttp://www.rvroadie.com Email on the bottom of my website page.Retired AF 1971-1998 When you see a worthy man, endeavor to emulate him. When you see an unworthy man, look inside yourself. - Confucius “Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities.” ... Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MeanderMan Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 I'm confused as to why someone on TFL would want to use the VA. With TFL, you can choose any doctor that accepts Medicare (almost all), change if you don't like them, and travel freely throughout the US (like we do) without worrying about finding a VA clinic. We've never paid more than the annual $147 Medicare copay since TFL kicked in. Like others, we use Express Scripts for maintenance meds, and Wal-Mart or Safeway for one-time scripts. My BIL is a vet, not retired, low income, no insurance, and uses the VA which provides him great service, and which without, would leave him without any medical care. The problem is the extraordinary wait times. I wonder if more TFL-eligible retirees stopped using the VA if those without any other choice would be better served. Keith & Brenda USAF CMSgt (Ret.)Damn Near Perfect Couplehttp://dnpc.blogspot.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJW Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Brenda I will continue to use the VA over Medicare/Tricare for Life because unlike so many others the VA has treated me like gold since I retired in 1993. We have bought another home in Bella Vista, AR so I went down to the VA in Fayetteville, AR last Tuesday to get all my info up to date as I had not used them since 2001. I was still in the system as I have 50 percent rating. I asked to be assigned to a specific team/doc and they said they would do there best to make that happen. I was in and out of the admin office within 15 minutes. They indicated that I should get a letter within a couple of weeks assigning me a primary care doc. I sent my VA Doc in HI a secure message this morning asking him to refill a couple of prescriptions for me, not an issue. I will keep the Medicare/Tricare for Life in my back pocket for when we travel. The VA has been good to me and I try to never miss a chance to tell them thank you. Dennis USA Master Sergeant Ret. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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