This will probably turn into a debate, so I may end up moving it. For now, I just wanted your general opinions on the type of care military families receive. Do you believe it's Good? Great? Poor? Terrible?


I really try to be thankful that we have care at all, but so many things make me question the care we get through the military. I know everyone says it's possible to get good docs and bad docs through both sides (civi and military) and I do agree. However, overall and in general, I really believe the care military families receive totally blows compared to civilian care. I've been on both sides and the care I've received through MTF's has been just terrible compared to the care I received when I had civilian insurance and could go to civilian docs/hospitals. It's just a whole different level of care... from the doctors and their knowledge to the facilities (the look, the feel, the equip they use, etc) to just normal procedures that are done.

An example is my post partum care that I had with Jaxon. Military Hospital.... was forced to room in with two other moms/families/newborns for my whole recovery. We had to share one big room, one bathroom, two TV's and NO ONE got any sleep the entire time we were there, including our babies. It was pure hell with NO privacy at all.

When I had Shelby at the hospital here, I had my own room and own bathroom, which I understand is pretty normal for civilian places. It was just a whole different level of care. They made sure I was comfortable and doing well and I felt so much better and at ease.

Another example is procedures for giving IV's. At military docs/hospitals, I've noticed they just jam the IV needle in and that's that. At every civilian facility, they've given me a small local to numb the area so the insertion of the IV is pretty painless. I guess military hospitals just don't have the extra budget for it, but it makes a world of difference when getting an IV. I'm fairly used to getting them so I can tolerate the pain, but it's so nice having that small extra comfort.

I dunno... it's just a different level of care, all the way around. Like I said, even just the look and feel of the places are different. Most of the time, MTF's are really cold feeling with no paint, no real decor, no warm and cozy feeling. I've never been to a civlian place as cold and yucky as most MTF's I've been in.

I'm really considering switching over to standard so I don't have to be seen by military doctors or at MTF's anymore. I'd rather pay the copays and deductibles to have the different level of care. :dunno

I think Navy doctors are shitty and I can't wait to get back to a civilian doctor.

I also have the benefit of knowing a lot of them personally because of my husband's job.

I know which ones I can trust and which ones I wouldn't let touch me if they were the last doctor on Iwakuni. (That goes for corpsmen too! There are some real doozies! :scared)

eta... As for the local before IVs at a civilian hospital, I've been to ALOT of hospitals (I'm a sickly one) and I've only gotten a local a handful of times, so I don't think that's a fair example against the military hospital. Of course, I've also had a military hospital miss my vein and fill my arm up with salene. :mumble :no

It really does vary...

But lemme tell ya..Lake Forest...they jammed the IV in with no local when I was in labor ;) So it just depends....

I can tell you in Everett I had AWFUL care at my MTF. I was sick for a year. She would just say "oh yeah your nose is red inside but its all in your head" blamed it on my husband being deployed etc. Turned out I needed surgery on my nose..Idiot! In Bremerton I had WONDERFUL care at my MTF. He figured out my infertility, got me on the right meds etc

In Everett I had good and I had bad care at the local hospital there. It was civilian. In DC I had AWFUL AWFUL care at the military hospital there.

Here I have had good care at my Dr on base, crappy care at the military hospital, and good care at the civlian hospital I go to. Rod had great care at the hospital when his appendix burst.

It HONESTLY really varys I think. It really does. I have had god awful care in a military setting and in a civilian setting

Ohhhhh And I wouldnt compare Too too much to Lake Forest. Their birhting suites are actually VERY VERY new. Some of the civlian hospitals in this area still do require sharing rooms or bathrooms. We got VERY lucky with Lake forest. but look at the area. It is one of the richest here

I would say its Fair to Bad.

I say this because I have been misdiagnosed several times for major things. For example, in 2002 they told me I was have anxiety attacks, when in reality I was having gallbladder attacks which required surgery to remove my gallbladder. I told the doctors that I was in an insane amount of pain, and yet they just prescribed me some anti-depressants!!! :mad :confused

During my current course of treatment I have had to go to a civilian doctor for care. He has been wonderful!! I get all the tests done that are needed, he spends atleast 30-45 minutes with me in the room...it just feels like he wants to help me! :)

I don't get that kind of treatment from the military doctors.

I'm actually looking forward to going back under civilian insurance when my husband gets out of the military. I feel like I will get a more well rounded course of doctors and treatments that are available.

Ohhhhh And I wouldnt compare Too too much to Lake Forest. Their birhting suites are actually VERY VERY new. Some of the civlian hospitals in this area still do require sharing rooms or bathrooms. We got VERY lucky with Lake forest. but look at the area. It is one of the richest here

I wasn't comparing it totally to lake forest.. just partly. My aunt in Jacksonville has been doing nursing for about 18 years now and said she's never seen care as bad the the care I got. My nana in TN is also a nurse for over 25 years and has worked in both civi and military hospitals. She said the standards have been lower BY FAR in military settings. So, I was just judging by what they have said also.

All in all you probably do tend to get worse care in a military setting. it is just the way it works. Usually the places are older, they have more old fashioned ways of doing things etc etc. I have never had a baby at a military hospital so I cant really compare that. But I have made complaints on military hospitals. And civilian hospitals. I do know the Dr's at the VA hospital were civilian. And I will need to be on my death bed before I go there again. That dang place scared me

Hummmm good question Brandi....

Personally it took me a LONG time to find a doc that I was really comfortable with (my last OB) and I had her for 2 1/2 years...I was so sad when she PCSed which is a downfall with Military Docs...Once you find a good one w/in 4 years you or they are gone! It gets frustrating....But she was a good doc and did recomend someone she knew I would like and would handle all my medical issues that I have....As for an ordinary PCM I don't even know who I'm assigned to....I haven't been to them in so long....

For Jamison it took us a while too....It was so nice when Derrick was deployed last year and we went to my hometown where I could take him anywhere and still be under Prime bc there were no MTF's around...I took him to the Pediatrician I had growing up and he got phenominal care....Once we got back here he was bounced from one doc to another and it took forever for him to be diagnosed as asthmatic....that was frustrating...BUT it was nice when a PICU doc stepped up and took him on and has been WONDERFUL with him and with us....he listens and really addresses our concerns...and he'll be here until we're done in SD...

So I think there are good docs it just takes us longer to find them....and it's frustrating....So I think you can get good care either place you just have more of a choice in the civi world!

I have had a few great dr's at MTF's and a lot of louzy ones. I have onlu used civi dr's for my two youngest childrens births and for eye care. I have received excellent care for those. Overall it could use more TLC for the MTF's on how they look and treat people.

Also at MTF's people will look at your SO's rank sometimes and treat you better or worse because of that.

I also hate that my doctors do not know me personally.

I had the same doctor from the time I was born until I was 18. Then I had the same one from 20 to 24. Then it got shitty when I started going to Balboa in 2004.

The treatment I've had at MTF has been crap so far. I had Ella at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Va and they had this horrible attitude (everyone did) like I was bothering them or had ruined their day.You shuoldn't have people with attitudes wroking in labor and delivery. I came in with my water broken and sat in the waiting room for an hour on chucks pad while room opened up. Mind you my water never fully broke so I was leaking the whole time. I had some randome Dr come in in many hours later (not the one that delievered her) check me and say "Oh my has anyone ever told you this is a huge baby? You might not be able to have it vaginaly"(yeah sorry can't spell). We're all like WTF is he talking about. by the way she was 7 lbs 12 oz very far from a huge baby. My nurse was horrible and by the time Ella was born she had come around alittle and was ok. as for recovery they roomed me with another woman who thank god left so I had the room to myself. But that whole concept is stupid to say the least. I got no sleep and neither did Ella they came in and took her every hour or so and then bring her back pissed and crying. So neither one of us got sleep. B/c of Portsmouth I will never have another child in a MTF ever. But I think care will very. Some civilians are not going to be any better either.

Yeah I do like the fact my OB at Lake forest knows me. He even remembered E's birth and I hadnt seen him in like a year and a half.

I may be one of the very few who have had nothing but THE BEST care.

I was having troubles getting preggo and had a great OB/GYN. I ended up getting pregnant and since my triple screen test came back with abnormal levels I was seen every month for an ultrasound.

When I was 27 weeks pg with Ryan I had a bad episode of gallbladder pain, my pancreatic duct was obstructed and I was really hurting, the Hawaii army hospital TRIPLER admitted me the same night and kept me for about a week before they decided to operate, they even had a big meeting about my case with Pediatricians, Surgeons, etc. I had a recently renovated room/bathroom for myself, great nurses, the BEST surgeon and everything went great.

When I had my baby in Jax I was seriously concerned about all the lawsuits the hospital had but everything went great for me, my PCM was a Captain with all the xperience and I felt really comfortable with him. They did utlrasounds every week for about a month before I had the baby just to make sure he was ok (I had signs of preeclampsia).

I've nothing to say but great things about the military medical service.

When I had my baby in Jax I was seriously concerned about all the lawsuits the hospital had but everything went great for me, my PCM was a Captain with all the xperience and I felt really comfortable with him. They did utlrasounds every week for about a month before I had the baby just to make sure he was ok (I had signs of preeclampsia).

I've nothing to say but great things about the military medical service.


Jaxon was delivered at NAS JAX before the lawsuits started popping up so I wonder if things changed a lot since the lawsuits started happening. There were some really really bad things done to me in that hospital and a lot of very unknowledgeable people there. I am hoping the care changed since all of the recent new stories and what not.

When I had that miscarriage at around 12 or 13 weeks, the lady doctor that I saw said that I should just do it naturally because the baby would totally come apart before I passed it so it wouldn't be traumatic for me, I wouldn't see a real baby, etc. Well, after about 2 weeks of bleeding, my body went into labor, dilated and I delivered a real baby that was the size of an 11-12 week fetus... the whole baby, the sac, everything. I took the baby up to the local civilian ER where they ran some tests on it and such and the guy said he couldn't believe I did all of that at home by myself. :( I could have KILLED that lady :mad

Oh God, Brandi. How traumatic! :no

My aunt delivered her 16 week fetus in a toilet on accident. She thought she had to go to the bathroom, but instead... :sadeyes

I'm kinda partial on this one because my son's doc in Lemoore was Military and I thought he was a great doc!! But then all the docs that I had there were terrible...example: I had hurt my wrist badly so I went to the Naval hospital on base and they took xrays said it was broken put a half cast on it and told me to come bck in 3 weeks..so I did and then they told me that they didn't think it was broken so I had to take more xrays, those xrays said that it wasn't a break but a little fracture so I justr had to wear a splint but I had to come back in 2 weeks, so I did and that time they told me that it was just tendionitis (sp?) and it wasn't a break or fracture or anything??!?! WHAT?!? I still have major issues with it to this day...
Another example: When I gave birth to Eian I had an Epi, well they go to discharge me 2 days later and as I went to get out of bed the nurse told me to hold on cause she saw something behind me...she looks and yep sure enough the epi needle thingy was still in me they never removed it (like they are supposed to right after delivery)...they weren't happy and neither was I...I've got back issues and pain now from it being left it...I could go on and on about my expericence with them but I'll stop...
IMO military docs suck because either way if they do a good job or not they still in the end are getting paid...where as a civilian doc gets paid by what they do (tests, etc)..so IMO they tend to be more thruogh some times.

Now I'm not saying that civilian docs don't screw up because they DO...and mine has but I think all in all you get better care through a civilian doc.

Well, I said this the other day to DH - I don't like the regular care PCM doctors, but all the specialists we've seen have been great. I had Rhianen at Bethesda and that hospital is awesome. The peds there were great and the care I got was great - i had my own room with the baby, it had a pull-out couch for DH to stay the night. But i don't like her pediatrician and I haven't liked any regular doc I've seen. But almost all the specialists DH has seen have been great, so...I would put those on par with civilian. The majority are fine to great, even though there are some idiots.

Being a Navy Brat and knowing what my mom went through, then my experience with being in the Army, this is why I have TriCare Standard! I love it and it's worth it, IMO to pay the little tiny xtra I pay to go where I want, when I want. EX: Surgery Hosp Bill from Aug was about $57,000 and all I pay is $28.00. My doctors, my own room, my own choice!

TriCare Standard...I like it!! I like it ALOT!! :teehee

Being a Navy Brat and knowing what my mom went through, then my experience with being in the Army, this is why I have TriCare Standard! I love it and it's worth it, IMO to pay the little tiny xtra I pay to go where I want, when I want. EX: Surgery Hosp Bill from Aug was about $57,000 and all I pay is $28.00. My doctors, my own room, my own choice!

TriCare Standard...I like it!! I like it ALOT!! :teehee

I heard good things about standard but I heard it can get pricey if you have children because of the deductibles and such

I was on standard while DJ was in Cuba. I only paid $24.00 for each doctor's visit, TriCare paid the rest! I miss that. :sadeyes

I heard good things about standard but I heard it can get pricey if you have children because of the deductibles and such

So far with all my medical bills, I have only paid a percentage toward my Cata Cap, no deductible. Unless I go to someone who doesn't except TriCare which pretty much I have found doctor's take Standard, even in non-military areas. But being that you are usually near a base it is more likely they except it. Same thing with my kids!

It's actually worth comparing to see what is best for your family and what kind of care you are receiving now. There are different types of Standard Plans but I have the plain old Standard. I didn't even know there was different ones until we had a Guest Speaker at one of our meetings go over ALL the plans, can get confusing there are so many!

But it's a personal choice as to what is best for your family but I think it is worth at least comparing! :D

I think it depends on the base and/or doctor. I wont go to Keesler AFB even if I'm dying. CBC gulfport was ok. The civilians in hattiesburg are ok even if they dont know how to bill tricare. Pax River the docs were awesome. Didnt really click with my OB but she was ok.

I have always had really good care through the military. I have been treated way worse by civilians than the military.
Oh and if something isn't done to stanards I don't sit back and wait I take it up with customer relations right then.
I refuse to leave the military facility until I get the service I came for and expected.
We have dealt with SD, Charleston, Norfolk and now Corpus.

This is our first duty station as a married couple. When we first arrived on the island, I was scared thinking oh great, the doctors are probably quack doctors :screwy I was wrong!

I have nothing but positive things to say about the MTF here. The RN I saw really did give a damn about me. I never felt rushed during my appointments and they followed through when they said they would :yahoo

I'm crossing my fingers that the next station we get has a MTF like this but I'll take what I get. I guess I look at it as this, having so-so health care is better than having none at all.

I've paid $30 co-pays when I was under a HMO only to be prescribed antibiotics that I didn't need :duh Being seen by a MTF for free and not having to pay for meds is still a :shock for me.

I will never complain about our healthcare again. yea, i have had problems, but who hasnt, military or civilian. but after talking with other parents who have had to deal with thier children having cancer. we didnt have mortage a house, file bankruptcy, to to keep treatment going, cause our insurance ran out. i was looking at estimates for everything Gabe had done..... total was over 100 grand!!!! we didnt pay one red cent. how many people can say that.

I will never complain about our healthcare again. yea, i have had problems, but who hasnt, military or civilian. but after talking with other parents who have had to deal with thier children having cancer. we didnt have mortage a house, file bankruptcy, to to keep treatment going, cause our insurance ran out. i was looking at estimates for everything Gabe had done..... total was over 100 grand!!!! we didnt pay one red cent. how many people can say that.

Great attitude and point :)

I would say good/fair.

We have had a good experience here at NAS Lemoore so far...it's definately not the same as civilian, but it has been pretty good. My DH had cancer and went to Balboa for everything, he is very happy with them.

The way I look at it is this... We're getting free healthcare and they say you get what you pay for. Yes there are some good doctors and you can get decent care through the military but you pay when you go to a civilian. I think that'd be a little bit more incentive to do a better job personally.

I have had decent military care overall, I think it also helps that I know some about anatomy and physiology/certain conditions. I've found I'm less likely to get BS'd when they know that I know what I'm talking about. I was only at Naval Hospital Pensacola for a short time but the doctor I had there was stupid. Glad I didn't stay there! The care I've had here overall has been decent... Of course in the peds area they have civilian doctors at the clinic on base anyhow.

Delivery wise... My labor and delivery with Hayden went well. I was dissapointed that they were against letting me squat to give birth but they were at least supportive of me giving birth naturally. But in the mother and baby unit I wasn't so impressed. I did get a private room but I felt ignored by the nurses and that they took forever to get to me if I called for them. With Madison everything was awesome even though the experience itself was horrible. The nurses came promptly when I needed them, etc. etc.

But yeah the biggest thing in military for me is that I do not know my doctor and he/she doesn't know me. We've been on Hawaii since April 2004 and I have had 3 or 4 different PCPs and I've only seen two of those once. I was always having to remind my doctor the details of my pregnancy. With Madison my doctor was the same, she knew who I was, knew the details of my pregnancy without me having to remind her and she was always on call for me to page her.

For the last 5 years, I have had both military and civilian insurance and the level of care/facilities is noticeable. I am, of course, only speaking from my limited experience. Depending on where you are and based in comparison to my personal civilian insurance, military facilities and/or choices of “network providers” can be substandard or severely limited.

I have never had a child in a military hospital so I have nothing to compare to…but both births in the civilian hospital were amazing. I had my own room (same room for delivery and recovery), view, music, television, mini fridge, warm and friendly staff, nurses to educate and help you, 3 day stay. My OB was civilian and her office was beautiful (coffee, tea, water and looked very nice), clean, excellent staff, prompt appointments, she calls to follow up on you at home), sends nurses to your home, etc. It was an amazing experience.

Military hospitals that I received care in for primary appointments were ok but took forever to get. The staff was very matter of fact with almost no personality (not all but most). They only blocked 20 min. for your visits (how much can you get done in 20 min). GYN services provided by primary care docs was a terrible experience…making you feel like an object. They were rough and unkind…it was quite painful…which a routine appointment should not be. I received specialty care from a military GYN department and it was better … they seemed knowledgeable and caring but still…there was that hint of coldness/matter of fact attitude…nothing at all like what I am used to.

As for the children…they scare the girls…they are not very friendly, very rough, very intimidating and have frequent mistakes (such as the wrong immunizations!).

The choice of civilian doctors in prime can be good and bad…when they switched to Triwest…we lost over 75% of the providers in our area. The only ones left were basically the bottom of the barrel…it was awful.

Overall, the military affiliated care my family has received isn’t as thorough, clean (meaning a clean updated/modern office) or kind/warm as civilians we have seen. Some of the care is good…it’s the luck of the draw. I know that there are bad docs on both ends of the spectrum, however, in my experience, civilian providers have met/exceeded my expectations 100% of the time and military has barely met my expectations…I would guess 40-50% of the time. I have heard of excellent care at certain hospitals and hope to experience that.

I have to say I was very worried about switching to Navy doctors but I have great care. The PCM I have is great and wants to see me even if I am healthy. He just wants to do checkups throughout the year to make sure all my care is in line and all. My lung doctor(military) has been great he explains everything to me even when I ask the same question a couple of times. I have some things to say about the civilians that work in the hospital here but I will keep them to myself. I have written up(ICE) the bad ones and the very good ones.

I have seen many doctors in the civilian world and I have had some horrible doctors. They miss diagnosed my spots as skin cancer(different spots then what I am going through now). I went for a year thinking I had skin cancer back in 1998. My first PCM I had nere in NC was civilian and he only wanted to treat some things. It took one year for them to get back to me that my pap was abnormal.

I have never had any shots to numb me before getting IVs civilian or military and I have had too many to count.

As far as I know the maternity ward here have switched to private suites for the patients.

I have been very pleased with my care in the military and I am a complicated patient but have always been treated very well. I am just giving my experiences. I know I am going to run in with a couple of doctors that I am not happy with but such is life.

I have Tricare Prime and I go to a Civilan Dr. I mean they give you a list that you can choose from but I have a good Dr. from one of the good hospitals. I really havent had any MTF's I went to Ft.Eustis once and decided that I want to pick my own Dr. I dont like that you had to call this one telephone line and wait for ever to get an appointment. I like the Dr. I have now. :D

I can say That, Army isn't either! I wonder sometimes where they went to school! But I do have to also say......... my best ob doc Was dr.hill and she was wonderful! If it wasn't for her and her faith in God ........... I wouldd't have my Son Gracin! She was there for me 24/7 when I lost the twins and Holding my Hand when I had to go through Infertilty! She is in Washington now! And she really derves to be the Wonderful , wonderful DOC........... But then A friend of mine who is stationed in SC had a t doctor tell her that her daughter WHOO_HAA was Closed Up! To make a Long story short It was her sKin that makes her a Virgin! I don't think that doc has ever had sex Girls! LOL

I have experienced both sides and I can say it doesn't seem to be much different either way, in my case. I have had some military doctors that I did not like and others that were very good. My family has had pretty good care at our Naval Hospital overall. I have noticed that not all the providers are active duty and do not use a military rank. I believe that some are reserve military and possibly some are simply civilians. I am not sure though. I just know that I make sure I express my needs and if I feel that things are not being dealt with properly or I was treated rudely by someone, I let it be known. I will not see certain providers if I had a bad experience with them. I had one that I really don't think he spoke English very well. There was no communication between us & it showed when he prescribed a bunch of medications for something I didn't have. I don't know, but it was kind of scary. After that, I demanded our PCM be changed.

I think the main issue is a lot of times (a) you don't have as many options as with civilians and (b) you don't have the time to establish a relationship with the doctor unless you go to them a lot

I used civilian docs until we moved here (no MTF near where we lived in CA) and I had just as much problem with idiots as I do here. I think my main problem with docs like my daughter's ped is they are always in a rush. Ties in with the earlier mentioned problems of taking forever to get an appt. I don't like being rushed. I'm not too worried about it now because the important doc for her is her urologist (who is awesome by the way) and we are going to be civi in less than 6 months, so i'm letting it be.