Pregnancy and Tricare

Tonya - posted on 09/23/2010

With both of my children while Active Duty and now Medically Retired I also used a civilian doctor off base to monitor my pregnancy. I know if you are very uncomfortable with your doctor you can either go to your main doctor on base at the clinic and request to be changed physicians or when you get your Tri-Care letter to see the doctor you are currently seeing you can contact Tri-Care to have the name on the letter changed. When doing that, you can call over the phone, or even go to the TriCare office at or near the clinic. I have had to change a few doctors and I never really had any problems doing it when I would visit Tri-Care. Hope this helps some.

Kelsey - posted on 09/22/2010

By the way , I have Tricare Prime and I was seen by civilian doctors. My daughter is the only one who goes the MTF ped. If you were set on seeing a different doctor I would call tricare and see what they can do for you. You shouldn't have to be unhappy with your doctor. Tricare has always been helpful with me in wanting to change doctors or having to go somewhere while I was out of state. I gave birth to my daughter at a civilian hospital too. I had two emergencies while not pregnant and was seen both times at the base ER. Just call up tricare and see what kind of information you can get and see what you can do. Or hell even call your doctor and let them know your uncomfortable with whats going on.

Nykee - posted on 09/22/2010

Go to the ER if the doctor can't see you.
Also, each installation runs differently, but I was stationed at Fort Bragg and was able to go to a civilian OB/GYN for both of my pregnancies. Ask your nurses, receptionists, etc how to go about getting a referral to a civilian. If they tell you that you can't, tell them you'd like to speak to their boss. Be respectful, but don't back down. Tricare WILL cover it. Aslo, don't let them tell you that you have to switch to Tricare Standard from Tricare Prime. That's also untrue. I had to write a letter to a LTC who was head of the OB office on post, and he got me permission from Tricare. This is your baby - like I said, be respectful and polite, but assertive. You can get quality care!

I Miss My - posted on 09/22/2010

i see what everyone is saying, but for me I just switched to Standard and went to a civilian care provider on the tricare list and just paid the few dollars it cost to see an outside doctor.. I mean for me it was what? $100 or so dollars total or 150? but that ain't nothing for 9 months and having immediate attention and a hospital less than 3 minutes away instead of 45. But that was just my decision.. and I was seen right away when I had any issues..

Amber - posted on 09/22/2010

ER no doubt! Screw waiting on the OB... Take care of your baby first and the er would be the best place to go!

Sarah - posted on 09/22/2010

You have the option to change OB's regardless of what they are telling you! And I feel that it's extremely unfair and untrue that they are telling you other wise. If you're unhappy with the OB you've been given, then YOU DO have the option to change, regardless of the reason. But like everyone has said you could go to urgent car or the ER. However, waiting until 3pm isn't really a big deal either. I mean you're getting in the same day, because when I was pregnant with my son, sometimes I'd have to weight a few days before I'd get in. And bleeding isn't always bad either, it's when you're cramping and bleeding it's an issue. Again if you're worried go to the ER they will be able to help you out! And Tricare covers almost everything!

Shanna - posted on 09/22/2010

People look at me funny when I tell them that I insisted on having TriCare Standard rather than Prime. But it's just in case of situations just like yours that I wanted to have civilian doctors. I'm 26 weeks into my second pregnancy. I used civilian doctors with my first and am doing so again with the second.

I wish you luck in your pregnancy. I hope the bleeding wasn't anything serious.
~Shanna

Allie - posted on 09/21/2010

Go into the er they will do tests there.....i had the same problem and that is what i had to do or if you call tricare appt line they can send you to an out side doctor...... hope this help you out.

Tracy - posted on 09/21/2010

Go to the ER. fight it later. If you think you or your baby is in danger then go.

Steph - posted on 09/21/2010

Wow. I don't where you are stationed but ever station I have been to I would see a different OB every time unless I would request the same one. I have 3 kids and all three at different bases. I know here in Okinawa if your dr. Can't see you they would send you to labor and delivery. And you van call tricare to change your dr. Don't let them tell you you can't. I am a military brat and a military wife. I hope everything works out!!

Kendra - posted on 09/21/2010

Go to the emergency room! If you're bleeding during pregnancy it's an emergency and tricare will cover emergencies. I bled throughout my entire pregnancy starting at 12 weeks and I knew my way around the emergency room, believe me. I never even had a copay.

Holly - posted on 09/21/2010

go to the ER.You will be covered. Not sure where you are located but the hospitals here in Colorado Springs are really good. Evans just built a new Pediatric ward. (I went to St. Francis as it was down the street from my house and where my OB was primarily based). Call Tricare and tell them that you need to switch OBs immediately. Tell them why. They cannot deny you. If you are persistant enough with them they will do what you ask. I've even gotten referrals passed thru in one day!

Ericka - posted on 09/21/2010

Get to an Urgent Care or ER! You can easily switch OB's! I just did! I am 30 weeks pregnant and decided I did not like my OB, so I found another. The switch was easy. If you still have a hard time, call TriCare directly! They are very helpful!

Amanda - posted on 09/20/2010

from now on with any bleeding or pains if you can't get in to see your dr, you can always ask to speak to the advice nurse..if you still don't get any results or if that takes too long then go to the urgent care/er (depending on the time because urgent care closes around 1AM I believe). As far as your dr, go to tricare and tell them you want to change your dr. I did and it was VERY simple! Besides filling out the paperwork, I had to make a phonecall to make sure the dr was taking new patients (for offpost. on post I believe the just reassign you) and once they said yes I wrong down that dr and that was that...Good Luck!

Crystal - posted on 09/19/2010

go to the er

Michelle - posted on 09/19/2010

Ladies, thank you for your support and advice. I am still bleeding. I should find out tomorrow if I am having a miscarriage or not. My OB is base doctor. I have realized my mistake. When I called, I went through to the appointment line. I thought that since I pushed 3 for "women's health" that I had been transferred to the women's health desk. Not the case. Apparently it is some operator somewhere that doesn't care. All she does is schedule appointments. So when I told her I needed to see my dr right away because I was bleeding, she didn't care. I should have asked to be put through to my dr's nurse.

Jennifer - posted on 09/19/2010

Is your OB on post or off? If on, you should have an OB advice nurse, I'd call her/him... they usually tell you to come in and see them, then get you in with a doctor within the hour. That's how it is at Ft Campbell.

As far as not feeling comfortable with your doctor, call TriCare and request a new one.

Tiffany - posted on 09/18/2010

I hate it when this crap happens. Leave it to the military for ya. I miscarried while my husband was on his 2nd deployment. When I went in to the ER because I was bleeding, they made me wait FOREVER and said if I was having a miscarriage that there was nothing they could do. They didn't care at all. I would try calling Tricare and telling them your want a new doctor. They should be able to change it for you hun.

Cassie - posted on 09/18/2010

Definitely anytime you have a problem go to the ER. If you know which in your area Tricare will cover then go to that. They will send you right up to OB triage. I had to go twice during my pregnancy and had no problems getting it paid for. As for Urgent Care it's a good idea if you can find one Tricare will pay for. I think it depends on where you are. I couldn't go to urgent care in VA or NC w/o a referrel which take 72 hours. Hopefully everything was ok with you and baby.

Jacqueline - posted on 09/16/2010

Go to the emergency room or urgent care. As far as your OB, call the Tricare Appointment Line instead of the OB Office and request to see a different doctor. The OB clinic usually has an oncall doctor that accepts walkins, which they don't like to tell people about. If you would like advice over the phone, I usually call the Labor and Delivery Unit at the base hospital because they always have a nurse there to give you some advice.

Kelsey - posted on 09/16/2010

If your really worried about it then I would go the the emergency room. Even if nothing is wrong then its best safe then sorry. And if your not comfortable with your doctor I would call tricare and get new a one. Its a pain to switch doctors, but I'd rather be comfortable with a doctor who would address my concerns asap and not the next day.