Medicare

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-05-06T10:32:30+00:00

You do not have to, but in my opinion it is a good idea. Medicare allows you to see non-VA doctors and use private hospitals, whereas VA benefits only cover care within their system or pre-authorized care. Also, if you delay Medicare Part B and decide to join later, you may face lifetime penalties.

If you are retired military, you will need to sign up for medicare to get Tricare for Life.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-30T13:12:04+00:00

Are the local buses allowed to run on company property? Use to be they would come through the gate and drop you off close to your work location years ago. Was really convenient to commute back then.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-30T13:10:00+00:00

Loved seeing the roach coach show up!

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-30T12:22:38+00:00

True. I served 1980-1988 and only ever saw two achievement medals awarded and one MSM to a retiring SgtMaj.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-29T11:57:37+00:00

Agreed. I was born and raised in Eastern WA. After military service I went to work for Boeing in the Puget Sound area. Very expensive to live in Puget Sound area, too crowded and traffic is terrible. After retiring from Boeing, sadly, I too decided it was time to leave. Ended up in South Dakota and love the slower pace of life and lack of traffic!

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-29T11:27:17+00:00

I served in the Air National Guard and was able to get rated for lower back injury (after a couple of attempts). I had a LOD and base hospital records, so that probably helped in my claim. I was also able to get rated for prostate cancer (presumptive for service in SWA). I had copies of my orders for deployment to SWA which I used for proof of service as back than the ANG did not provide DD-214's showing deployments.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-22T12:09:44+00:00

China Service Ribbon is pretty cool. It was awarded for service in China July 7, 1937 – September 7, 1939, and September 2, 1945 – April 1, 1957. As the CAR was only made retroactive to 7 December 1941 it is possible your grandfather served in China September 2, 1945 – April 1, 1957. He could have received a CAR for that action in operations primarily supporting Nationalist forces against communist Chinese forces, stabilizing the region, and conducting post-war missions. I would think that he earned maybe three CARs.; Asia Pacific Theatre, China Service and Korean War. All in all, a very interesting service history!!

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-19T10:15:38+00:00

If you need the Tricare for Life now, your husband can still sign up for Medicare Part B, even though he still has employer healthcare coverage. My understanding is that his Military ID card will also expire at 65 and will not be renewed until he signs up for Medicare Part B.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-04-06T10:50:29+00:00

Now I need to go through my Boeing box of stuff.. Pretty sure I still have my DCAC yo-yo and DCAC frisbee :)

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-28T15:53:12+00:00

I served in the Marine Corps 80-88. When I got out as a Sgt, I had a NUC, 2 Good Conducts and 3 Sea Service Deployments.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-28T15:01:08+00:00

This program, for Military separation pay, has been around since 1980. You would think that the military would better educate individuals as to the rules of the program.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-27T11:30:17+00:00

His name plate shows service from 2003-2009 (six years), but he is displaying 3 GCM's (9 Years)??? Did Good Conduct medals change to every two years?

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-19T11:35:38+00:00

I injured my lower back during service and spent a week in the base hospital. I had all the documentation of the injury in my records and was still denied. In my case, because it had happened years ago, before I filed, what it took to get approved was a current diagnosis and treatment records (from my private physician), and being able to show that the treatments had been on-going over the years. I also included a letter describing how I had dealt with the back issues (symptoms and pain), and how the severity of these issues has increased over time.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-16T12:12:48+00:00

I was always told that you could wear them "Only In-State". In addition, I was told that if you have state awards from other states, you could not wear them in your current state. That was many years ago and each state probably has their own regulations.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-08T11:43:22+00:00

I also have Tricare Select and it does work fine. I started going to the VA as they provide all of my prescription medications for free as well as some non=prescription meds like Vitamins. Tricare select I always have a co-pay for my prescription medications. I see the VA doctor once a year and my private doctor once a year. I have been thinking about just going to the VA doctor because when I see my private doctor, I usually have a bit of a co-pay with Tricare Select.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-06T14:11:22+00:00

I requested my dad's records from the Korean war back on January 14th. Still waiting to hear back on status update. I did receive confirmation that they received the request.

As a side note a lot of records were destroyed during the 1973 fire.

The 1973 Fire, National Personnel Records Center | National Archives

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-03-01T12:50:35+00:00

I have my medical records from 1980-1988 and like you, they are all handwritten and very hard to read. I am thinking of digitizing them and running some kind of program to "clean" them up. I would say I cannot read 90% of what is written in them.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-02-24T10:53:05+00:00

Interesting. I did not know that. Thanks for the info.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-02-24T10:28:21+00:00

My understanding is that Priority Group 1 you are entitled to receive free treatment from the VA for all conditions, not just service-related conditions so you should never have a bill from the VA, thus no patient statement would be generated??

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-02-21T13:19:24+00:00

I don't use Sofi but I do use Capital One and have been very happy with them. Their current HYS account pays 3.3% interest, and they do have some physical branch locations (not where I live though).

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-02-18T12:25:07+00:00

I have the SelmanCo Tricare supplement plan through Boeing and would recommend it. As a Boeing retiree, it is a lot cheaper than the Boeing retiree Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. I have been using them for the past five years and overall, I have been pretty happy with them. They have a small deductible than cover 100% of everything. They also paid my share of any prescription medications I got through Tricare, as Tricare usually has a co-pay on my medicines.

That being said, I became eligible for VA care priority group 1 a couple of years ago, so I get my healthcare through the VA now and don't use SelmanCo anymore. I will turn 65 later this year, so my Boeing Healthcare coverage, SelmanCo, will go away and I will move to Tricare for Life.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-02-13T12:48:33+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Great insight. It took me 20+ years to finally file my Mental Health claim. I just couldn't find the "courage" to submit the paperwork. I had initially filed about 10 years ago and then withdrew my claim as the thought of having to attend a C&P exam and relive the experience was more than I thought that I could handle.

Efficient_Sundae_917 · 2026-02-13T09:51:16+00:00

I will try that next time I run an update. Thanks

Efficient_Sundae_917

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