Question

1. Discuss the different types of health care coverage /health insurance that are provided to military personnel and their dependents.
2. List the pros and cons of moving veterans' health care into the private sector. a. Describe personal experiences you have had in this area that may be pertinent, whether positive or negative. 150 word response!

Answer 1

There are different types of health care coverage insurance to military personnel and their dependents. Active duty service members and their dependents (spouses and children registered in DEERS) are eligible for Tricare. There are several Tricare programs to choose from depending on your status and location.There are different types of plans according to their duty stations. Some of the major plans are listed below.

• Tricare Prime - Tricare Prime is a managed care option available worldwide. Tricare Prime offers fewer out-of-pocket costs.
• Tricare Prime Remote - Tricare Prime Remote provides healthcare coverage through civilian providers for active duty members, activated guard & reserve members, retirees, and families on remote assignment. You must live and work more than 50 miles or approximately one hour's drive time from the nearest Military Treatment Facility.
• Tricare Prime Overseas - Tricare Prime Overseas is similar to the Tricare Prime program offered stateside, including cost-shares and deductibles. The program serves active duty members, activated reserve & guard members, and their command sponsored dependents.
• Tricare Prime Remote Overseas - Tricare Prime Remote Overseas is offered in designated remote overseas locations for active duty service members and their families.

Active duty dependents members can enroll in one of the Prime plans listed above, or they may qualify to use one of the following plans for their dependents

• Tricare Select - Tricare Select provides the most flexibility to eligible beneficiaries. It is a fee-for-service option that lets you see any authorized provider
• Tricare Young Adult - Tricare Young Adult is an option for unmarried, adult children who have "aged out" of regular Tricare coverage.
• U.S. Family Health Plan - The U.S. Family Health Plan is available to eligible persons who live near selected civilian medical facilities on the East, West and Gulf coasts.

There is a contentious debate between politicians, Veterans’ advocacy groups, and Veterans themselves over what changes need to be made to take better care of our Veterans’ health, and if the Veterans’ healthcare system should be privatized. Currently, Veterans may receive care at a government-run healthcare facility, either for free or a minimal cost. Veterans also have the option to receive care at a private facility through the Veterans Choice Program if long wait times are present or if the nearest VA facility is too far away. Not all Veterans are eligible for the Choice Program. There are pros and cons of moving veterans' health care into the private sector they are

Pros:

Potential cost savings for individual visits: It is still uncertain whether there would be any cost savings in the private sector; there are studies that go both ways.it is still uncertain whether there would be any cost savings in the private sector; there are studies that go both ways.

Shorter wait times: Surveys shows that government sector insurance section requires more waiting time when compared to private sector

Availability of VA Medical Centers: Availability of VA-approved medical centers continues to be an issue for Veterans, especially those who are located in rural areas. In some cases, Veterans could be forced to drive hours to see their doctor. If Veterans’ care was privatized, this would greatly increase the number of approved doctors and hospitals that Veterans would be able to choose from.

Cons:

Potential Cost Increases: Just as there are arguments that support savings in cost, there are just as many arguments that support an increase in cost resulting from privatization

Loss of Specialized Care: VA doctors are trained to cater to the unique health needs that Veterans share. In fact, this is one of the main reasons the VA was created. One-third of Veterans are diagnosed with at least one mental health disorder, and the VA excels in caring for these Veterans. The VA was rated higher than the private sector by more than 30 percent in treating mental health disorders in Veterans. VA doctors also specialize in burns, spinal trauma, and prosthetics, which are rare in civilian life. If Veterans were moved to purely private care, they would lose the benefit of seeing physicians who are experts in caring for Veterans.

On conclusion both sectors have negative and positive aspects. In my opinion veterans' health care can be moved to private sector a under strict guidelines and monitoring.