TRICARE SUCKS!!!
Nothing bike related here, I just want to add one more page to the google results whenever someone enters "TRICARE SUCKS" as a search. Thousands of hits out there.
I have been having severe back pain for the past four nights. I feel the ache during the day but at night it's like someone is stabbing me with a red-hot poker. I can't sleep for more than a few hours at a time without waking up because of the pain. Getting back to sleep is very difficult. I toss and turn so much that my wife isn't getting the sleep she needs either.
I have no idea how or why this pain started. I wasn't in any accidents, didn't lift anything heavy, didn't change mattresses...nothing out of the ordinary to cause this. It hurts so bad that I get short of breath. In fact, it hurts even more when I fully exhale so I end up taking a lot of short, shallow breaths - almost to the point of hyperventilation. Although I'm sure my frustration is also to blame for that.
So this morning I called to make an appointment to see a Doc in the Pentagon Tricare clinic. The next available appointment is 11 Feb! They want me to wait two friggin weeks just to see someone to talk about the problem. The way military healthcare works, that first visit will be 45 minutes behind schedule and last all of 10 minutes. The doc will give me some motrin and tell me to avoid heavy lifting.
The only other option I have is to call them at 0600 in the morning and hope they have a same-day appointment available. I wonder where those same-day slots come from.....probably cancellations by people that either sought outside care or died while waiting on their appointment.
I know Tricare is cheaper than other health insurance. But this is certainly a case of "you get what you pay for."
Sorry to hear about your back. Two options - go to sick call and get a consult or head to the E.R. in the off hours so they can do a consult/imaging. These Tricare workarounds should get you the medical assistance you need.
Too bad you're moving to Izmir, I may be headed to DC this summer with the Uncle.
Posted by: GreenLightGo | February 15, 2008 at 20:56