Tricare dropped my family (and me)
10-13-2014, 09:18 AM
#1
Bracing for Fallacies
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: In favor of good things, not in favor of bad things
Posts: 3,543
Tricare dropped my family (and me)
OK, so yet another Tricare gripe thread from me. Sorry. This might help someone though (I hope).
I returned home from a five day trip to see I received in the mail that Tricare was giving me a certificate of creditable coverage so I could apply for new healthcare because they ended my coverage as of June 30th. Yep, a letter in mid October telling me I was dropped as of June 30. The first I was aware of any problem I may add.
So I immediately called Tricare customer service and was told I was dropped for non payment.
1. The problem turned out to be *their* fault
2. My first communication from them about the situation was the previously mentioned notice of being disenrolled.
3. Tricare does not give a flying f___ whose fault it is, and they will not even warn you. The billing doesn't happen right? You are SOL. PERIOD. They were VERY unapologetic about this.
4. One representative made mention of some problem in July with several accounts on automatic billing. Maybe you were one?
Moral of the story? Check your billing statements. YOU need to make sure THEY do THEIR billing correctly. I'm not making this up, this is what Tricare told me.
Sorry, no updates on the previous trouble I had with Tricare. I've sent in my grievance form, and so far nothing.
I returned home from a five day trip to see I received in the mail that Tricare was giving me a certificate of creditable coverage so I could apply for new healthcare because they ended my coverage as of June 30th. Yep, a letter in mid October telling me I was dropped as of June 30. The first I was aware of any problem I may add.
So I immediately called Tricare customer service and was told I was dropped for non payment.
1. The problem turned out to be *their* fault
2. My first communication from them about the situation was the previously mentioned notice of being disenrolled.
3. Tricare does not give a flying f___ whose fault it is, and they will not even warn you. The billing doesn't happen right? You are SOL. PERIOD. They were VERY unapologetic about this.
4. One representative made mention of some problem in July with several accounts on automatic billing. Maybe you were one?
Moral of the story? Check your billing statements. YOU need to make sure THEY do THEIR billing correctly. I'm not making this up, this is what Tricare told me.
Sorry, no updates on the previous trouble I had with Tricare. I've sent in my grievance form, and so far nothing.
10-13-2014, 10:28 AM
#3
Line Holder
Joined APC: Nov 2012
Position: 757 FO
Posts: 53
Can you pay Tricare Reserve Select annually? I was on long term MLA and was using Standard. I was covered under Standard until this month and am switching to TRS. I fully expect problems, though. They dropped me and my family from Tricare back in February while I was deployed. First notice we got was when my wife took my 8 month old daughter in for a CT Scan and was told by the the hospital we weren't covered. Awesome.
10-13-2014, 10:54 AM
#4
Bracing for Fallacies
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: In favor of good things, not in favor of bad things
Posts: 3,543
Thanks the input, did not know there was an annual payment option. Might be something to look into. Sorry to hear that, Steve A. Yeah, my biggest concern is something happens to my family while I'm deployed.
I am pretty sure I'm going to up channel this complaint. No person, no veteran, and especially no deployed veteran should be treated this way. Unbelievable!! I hope other Tricare beneficiaries will up channel their problems, too.
I am pretty sure I'm going to up channel this complaint. No person, no veteran, and especially no deployed veteran should be treated this way. Unbelievable!! I hope other Tricare beneficiaries will up channel their problems, too.
10-13-2014, 11:18 AM
#5
Moderate Moderator
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
Posts: 5,681
Thank you!
Block30, you just saved my chili!
When I retired, the useless MPF had screwed-up my paperwork, and it took three months (of constant badgering by me) until I got paid, and paid the right amount.
So, when I signed-up for Tricare, I used my credit card. Easy.
My card was compromised in the Home Depot fiasco. No charges, but the bank gave me a new card as a precaution. I called Tricare and changed it.
I called Tricare after seeing your post. They said they had tried to charge the new card and it didn't go through!! It took 40 minutes today of holding on the phone, and they eventually got it to run, but they still said "we're going to charge a penalty because it didn't run the first time." Huh? It's the same card!!
I have a headache now, but thanks for saving my health insurance. And now, I'm going to switch it to automatic payroll deduction!
When I retired, the useless MPF had screwed-up my paperwork, and it took three months (of constant badgering by me) until I got paid, and paid the right amount.
So, when I signed-up for Tricare, I used my credit card. Easy.
My card was compromised in the Home Depot fiasco. No charges, but the bank gave me a new card as a precaution. I called Tricare and changed it.
I called Tricare after seeing your post. They said they had tried to charge the new card and it didn't go through!! It took 40 minutes today of holding on the phone, and they eventually got it to run, but they still said "we're going to charge a penalty because it didn't run the first time." Huh? It's the same card!!
I have a headache now, but thanks for saving my health insurance. And now, I'm going to switch it to automatic payroll deduction!
10-13-2014, 12:53 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
I recently had a bill from a lab for some annual work I have done for my FAA medical. This time I got a bill from DLO for $80. I called the DLO billing office and the lady told me that TRICARE had only paid ONE of the multiple deductibles.
I called Tricare last week and they said that the bill had been paid IAW TRICARE Standard. I said that I was TRICARE Prime and had always been Tricare Prime. They looked into, and like Block30, said that I had been reassigned TRICARE Standard for lack of payment. I checked my bank statement and sure enough - no monthly EFT had been taken since June. They said they would dig back in and try to figure out why and ask me to call back on Friday.
I called back on Friday and they had worked with billing to allow and over the phone credit card payment for the missing payments and immediate re-enrollment in Prime and they would resubmit the bill/payment to DLO.
I asked to speak to a supervisor because I was concerned that if they couldn't find out WHY the EFTs had discontinued that it might happen again. They couldn't tell me the exact reason, but she said that they had obviously found some error on their behalf or else they wouldn't be allowing me to pay over the phone and immediate reinstatement of Prime.
Yes - - the first CSR lady mentioned that maybe I should have seen that the monthly EFT was not being deducted from my account - but I told her that was why I had EFT - so I didn't have to track such things. Btw - all other EFT were unaffected - - they thought it may have been a bank problem or such. I also mentioned to them, and they agreed, that I should have gotten some sort of warning for non-payment or change in level of service. DOD takes care of the billing on behalf of TRICARE - so I'm less mad at them specifically than I am at the system as a whole, but I am happy with the customer service I have had in dealing with this and their efforts to correct the situation. I even have the supervisor's direct line and she will be following up again this week.
I called Tricare last week and they said that the bill had been paid IAW TRICARE Standard. I said that I was TRICARE Prime and had always been Tricare Prime. They looked into, and like Block30, said that I had been reassigned TRICARE Standard for lack of payment. I checked my bank statement and sure enough - no monthly EFT had been taken since June. They said they would dig back in and try to figure out why and ask me to call back on Friday.
I called back on Friday and they had worked with billing to allow and over the phone credit card payment for the missing payments and immediate re-enrollment in Prime and they would resubmit the bill/payment to DLO.
I asked to speak to a supervisor because I was concerned that if they couldn't find out WHY the EFTs had discontinued that it might happen again. They couldn't tell me the exact reason, but she said that they had obviously found some error on their behalf or else they wouldn't be allowing me to pay over the phone and immediate reinstatement of Prime.
Yes - - the first CSR lady mentioned that maybe I should have seen that the monthly EFT was not being deducted from my account - but I told her that was why I had EFT - so I didn't have to track such things. Btw - all other EFT were unaffected - - they thought it may have been a bank problem or such. I also mentioned to them, and they agreed, that I should have gotten some sort of warning for non-payment or change in level of service. DOD takes care of the billing on behalf of TRICARE - so I'm less mad at them specifically than I am at the system as a whole, but I am happy with the customer service I have had in dealing with this and their efforts to correct the situation. I even have the supervisor's direct line and she will be following up again this week.
10-13-2014, 04:23 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
I will make one clarification to the thread.
The title reads 'Tricare dropped......'
I personally was not dropped. My insurance changed levels/coverage.
My services were still covered, just not at the same level.
Though it did cost me time on the phone and just adds to the stress of ever having to deal with any health insurance issues over the phone - I was happy with the response and assistance I received.
The title reads 'Tricare dropped......'
I personally was not dropped. My insurance changed levels/coverage.
My services were still covered, just not at the same level.
Though it did cost me time on the phone and just adds to the stress of ever having to deal with any health insurance issues over the phone - I was happy with the response and assistance I received.
10-13-2014, 04:45 PM
#9
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,275
Hmm, that reminds me I'd better call TRICARE too since USAA just changed my credit card number again.
Add me to the list of folks who are not happy with TRICARE billing, took them about six months to get it right the last time I has to make a change.
DoD should forbid the contractor from dropping coverage until they send a certified letter.
Add me to the list of folks who are not happy with TRICARE billing, took them about six months to get it right the last time I has to make a change.
DoD should forbid the contractor from dropping coverage until they send a certified letter.
10-13-2014, 07:12 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by rickair7777
Hmm, that reminds me I'd better call TRICARE too since USAA just changed my credit card number again.
Add me to the list of folks who are not happy with TRICARE billing, took them about six months to get it right the last time I has to make a change.
DoD should forbid the contractor from dropping coverage until they send a certified letter.
Add me to the list of folks who are not happy with TRICARE billing, took them about six months to get it right the last time I has to make a change.
DoD should forbid the contractor from dropping coverage until they send a certified letter.
