Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans are guaranteed medical and dental benefits that align with major insurance providers. Tricare, the insurance company for the armed forces, are not so generous with the dependants of the armed forces.
For example, a member of the armed forces is offered free eye care (no cost consultation or prescription glasses), free medical prescriptions, free dental (checkups, cleaning, fillings, braces, the works), along with a free cosmetic surgery (of necessity or their choosing, i.e. laser eye surgery). Dependents get coverage based on emergency medical necessity only. No eye care, specified prescriptions (only) free, must choose copay to be eligible for their choice of provider, dental basics (paid monthly by service members). Some prescriptions are covered while other “doctor recommended” prescriptions are not. Families having to fight to get prescriptions filled because Tricare won’t approve refills in advance of prescriptions running out.
This is a toll on our Armed Forces service members that has to come out of pocket. It is time we pay them back for the sacrifices they make. The families are also making these sacrifices as their loved ones and bread makers deploy around the world and it is time they are treated as such. When will Service members be able to deploy knowing that their loved ones are fully taken care of? The harsh reality is that most service members suffer if they are the only source of income. Healthcare for dependants is one major benefit but it is, in its current state, providing minimal coverage to these families. It is time to align the coverage for dependents to those of service member and to offer coverage on or off base with Zero copay, and the provider of choice. The sacrifice these families make is nothing less than deserving of this change.