What are problems with Active duty healthcare and issues in respect to ACA (Affordable Care Act)?

2015-08-31T17:57:08-04:00

I am attending college to earn a Masters in HealthCare Administration. For the term paper, my group has selected to use military healthcare as the topic. We are trying to get input from active military. Would like to get responses from the most junior to most senior enlisted and officers. How has the ACA caused change in healthcare? I would like to thank you in advance for any data we may be able to obtain

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Aug 31 at 2015 6:17 PM

2015-08-31T18:17:02-04:00

The ACA should have no impact whatsoever on Active Duty healthcare. That is primarily provided in military treatment facilities, and all A/D members and families are exempt from ACA participation.

Where it makes a difference is in reimbursement rates. ACA insurance providers are low-balling payments to providers. They are paying even less, in some cases, than Tricare or Medicare. Please note that this is an issue with the insurance companies, whose payouts are not regulated on the ACA marketplace, the way they are for contracts such as unions. Since the mantra of corporations these days is maximize dividends to A level shareholders above all else, it's easy to see why this is happening.

The impact becomes one on Tricare beneficiaries, whether A/D dependents who cannot use MTF, and retirees. There, the problem ultimately becomes one of shortage of providers, as more and more providers are closing or selling their practices because they cannot afford to stay open. If someone new buys their practice, the new clinic is not obligated to honor the contracts that the old provider had, so they may no longer be in the Tricare network. This creates an availability problem for Tricare beneficiaries...

Response by CPO Anthony Picciano made Oct 22 at 2015 1:02 AM

2015-10-22T01:02:32-04:00

From my contract in 1982. I was told if I did 20 years I would have free medical for me and me dependents for the rest of my life. 3000USD is not free. That changed with Clinton now this new change ???? I still have my original contract I sighed back in 1982.