Thank you everyone for the responses.
Originally Posted by
a1flyer
If you're happy with Tricare Prime, keep it and don't sign up for SWA medical. SWA will pay you $50/month to not use their medical. That just about pays for Prime (me and spouse). My PCM is at an AFB and it's easy to get appts and free drugs. That will give you time to ask others and, if at some point you want to change, you can change the following January.
If you're not happy with Prime or are moving away, or live away, from military medical care you might be better off with SWA medical (Tricare standard as secondary payer).
I've been Tricare Prime, with no SWA medical, since I retired 17 yrs ago.
PS - Say yes to SWA dental and vision (if you need that). Much cheaper than other options I've seen.
.....and thanks for this one too.
My main problem is they are changing many things with Tricare, many of the changes haven’t been fully fleshed out yet (admission from tricare experts at my local hospital), and I am retiring right when those changes go into effect. So I might get stuck with multiple enrollment fees for tricare and tricare dental (or not depending on which tricare person I talk to) and no matter what I will be the guinea pig as one of the first to retire under the changes.
Which prompted lots of questions from the wife... and which prompted my post.
Again, many thanks to those that responded and those who contacted me.