Tag: NEW POST

Tricare Updates

On By MichelleIn Healthcare, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Tricare is changing…. yes again! If you have been with Tricare for over the past ten years hearing there is some new change is nothing… well, new. It seems something happens every couple of years.

So what is new now? We now will have new regions. No more North, South, and West. That is right! If you are part of the West region, nothing has changed. If you were in North or South area, you are now part of the new East region. That is right; now there will only be two coverage regions within the United States, East, and West. This is good for one big reason unless you transfer from east to west coast or vice-versa then your region stays the same, and it is one less thing you have to worry about.

What else is new? New plans. Now Tricare Standard and Tricare Extra will become the new Tricare Select plan. There are some minimal changes to the plans, including prime which you can find out more about here.

Are there more changes? Probably, but these are the BIG changes going on.

Much Love,
Michelle

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I’m Back

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Well, it has been some time since my last post. Reason being that we are in the middle of our PCS. We have officially left Key West for good and are now temporarily in Norfolk. It will be a couple of months before we head out to Japan and I go missing for a little again until then I promise to try to stay up to date and post as much relevant information as my little hands can grab.

Talk soon!
Michelle

5 Tricare Myths

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

We have all heard one thing or another in regards to Tricare. Things that they do or don’t do. I know I have heard my fair share of myths in my eight years of being a Military Spouse. So to help a little with all the stories and ‘gossip’ you may hear, here are the five top myths I hear in regards to Tricare.

1. You get one PCM for your entire Duty Station.
If you are Standard, then probably. However, if you are Prime you more than likely won’t. Keep in mind these doctors are also service members, therefore, they to rotate duty stations. Meaning you may go through a few PCMs during your stay per station. In our three years in this location, I am on Doctor number four.

2.Getting a free breast pump is impossible.
This is very easy. There are a few companies which all they do is deal with Tricare. When I had my son, i used Target. All I had to do was email the picture of the prescription to them. However, I have heard they no longer offer this service. I know The Breastfeeding Shop is another source. All you have to do with them is fill out their order form.

3. Urgent Care Visits require Pre-Aprroval.
For Standard, there is no pre-approval needed. However, you will still be responsible for your co-pay.
For Prime, you are allowed two visits without approval per person per year. For more than two you will need an authorization, which you may get by calling the Tricare Nurse Line should your regular PCM not be available to see you.

4. You can get your prescription filled anywhere.
Simply put No. Some locations do not cover Tricare. CVS for example no longer takes Tricare. Places like Walgreens, Walmart, and Rite-Aid, are still providers. The best place to get prescriptions filled is still on base since there is no co-payment in the base pharmacy as there is with the other vendors.

5. Prime is the best option.
This is not true, and it comes down to each families specific needs. If you don’t mind waiting on referrals and having little to no say on which doctors you get, then this is a good option. There is also little to no expense associated with Prime.
However, if you want the freedom of choosing your doctor, and don’t want to deal with waiting for referrals, then Standard may be for you. Just keep in mind that Standard is a 80-20. Meaning they cover 80% of the costs and you cover 20%. So if a bill is 1000, you would be responsible for 200. I do know there is also a deductible section for Standard, but I am not aware of the logistics behind it.
So be sure to do your research and choose which plan is better for your family. For example, for my family, Prime was the best option.

Are there more myths floating around out there? Sure there is. There always will be due to misinformation and the telephone effect. The key is research. If you can’t, find the answer then ask the appropriate people. Should you have a Tricare question, ask the Tricare specialist on your base. Question on medical, ask a service member there. Do not just rely on what you hear from other spouses. Though us spouses are a source of knowledge, sometimes we hear things incorrectly or our own personal experiences may lead to wrong information.

PCS Binder

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So we all hate moving, well I think most of us at least do. I know my stress levels go through the roof, and now with an overseas PCS looming over me, I knew I had to do something. I created a binder. Yes, it may have been an over the top thing to do, but man did my stress go down.

First, I researched… a lot. I looked at a bunch of different examples of binders and created my own. I took the good, dropped the bad, and added what I found to be missing. I hope this helps you as much as it did me. My humble opinion is this works well for both CONUS and OCONUS PCS.

What you’ll need:
1 – zipper pouch with the three ring binder hold on the side
1 – 2 inch three ring binder. You can probably do smaller, but I put EVERYTHING in there, and 2 Inch was the right size for me.
Eight tabs.
And a packet or two of sheet protectors.

The Tabs:
1. Important/ Legal
2. Medical
3. Travel
4. Housing
5. Check List
6. Pet Info
7. Contact List
8. Shipping Info

The rundown:
1. Important/ Legal – Basically a copy of orders, marriage cert, birth certificates, school records, etc.
2. Medical – Vaccinations, medical records, the list of medications.
3. Travel – Hotel info, flight, car rental
4. Housing – Any documents in regards to housing both old and new. Leases, the release of the property so forth.
5. Check List – Can help keep you on track. Can put it on your first tab before move.
6. Pet info – All documents from vaccinations to microchip info. Airline hotel boarding.
7. Contact list – Numbers and addresses for exiting and entering command. Never know when your phone will die and you’ll need a number
8. Shipping info – All HHG info as well as any POBOX info you have.
Zipper pouch – Here I keep passports a pen and put all receipts for reimbursement.

Hopefully, you will find as much use out of this as I did.

Happy Moving!

PCS Binder

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So we all hate moving, well I think most of us at least do. I know my stress levels go through the roof, and now with an overseas PCS looming over me, I knew I had to do something. I created a binder. Yes, it may have been an over the top thing to do, but man did my stress go down.

First, I researched… a lot. I looked at a bunch of different examples of binders and created my own. I took the good, dropped the bad, and added what I found to be missing. I hope this helps you as much as it did me. My humble opinion is this works well for both CONUS and OCONUS PCS.

What you’ll need:
1 – zipper pouch with the three ring binder hold on the side
1 – 2 inch three ring binder. You can probably do smaller, but I put EVERYTHING in there, and 2 Inch was the right size for me.
Eight tabs.
And a packet or two of sheet protectors.

The Tabs:
1. Important/ Legal
2. Medical
3. Travel
4. Housing
5. Check List
6. Pet Info
7. Contact List
8. Shipping Info

The rundown:
1. Important/ Legal – Basically a copy of orders, marriage cert, birth certificates, school records, etc.
2. Medical – Vaccinations, medical records, the list of medications.
3. Travel – Hotel info, flight, car rental
4. Housing – Any documents in regards to housing both old and new. Leases, the release of the property so forth.
5. Check List – Can help keep you on track. Can put it on your first tab before move.
6. Pet info – All documents from vaccinations to microchip info. Airline hotel boarding.
7. Contact list – Numbers and addresses for exiting and entering command. Never know when your phone will die and you’ll need a number
8. Shipping info – All HHG info as well as any POBOX info you have.
Zipper pouch – Here I keep passports a pen and put all receipts for reimbursement.

Hopefully, you will find as much use out of this as I did.

Happy Moving!

Mommy hospital bag, what to really take.

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

You have finally come around to making that pesky hospital bag. Whether you are 20 weeks pregnant or 35 weeks, it’s never an easy task.

I am sure you have heard it all by now, I know I did. From the must haves in the hospital bag to the just leave behind you’ll never use. And truth be told some were right, not to mention everyone’s experience is different. The reality is, it also has to do with your hospital and what they give. So here is some of my musts and leave behind, with a few extra tips along the way.

1. Non-slip socks. Forget the slippers or the shoes, just plain old socks. If you have your baby in the little bassinet beside you, you’ll still need to take a step to reach over for your bundle safely. If you already have socks on it makes it much easier than having to search for and put on shoes.
2. Hair ties. I don’t know how your labor will go, but my contractions came on my hair wash day. Now, I am a first-time mom and didn’t realize I had quite some time to shower and do my hair, but my panic and rush to the hospital had me in labor without my hair being done. Hair ties were my savior.
3. Boppy. That is if you are planning on breastfeeding. It will get you used to it for when you get home, not to mention much more comfortable than having your arm floating around while you and your little learn to bond.
4. Electronic chargers. Phone, laptop, e-reader, whatever electronics you take remember the chargers.
5. 2 comfortable sets of clothing. I had a natural labor, meaning comfy for me was a dress. If you have a c-section comfortable for you may be leggings. Plan for both occasions, you never know what turn things may take.

Now comes the maybe section. I brought toiletries, but my hospital gave me everything from toothpaste and brush to a hair brush, shampoo, conditioner. I also took makeup that I did not use. So if you are a big makeup user take it, otherwise leave it behind. You will be too enamored of your new bundle to worry too much about what you look like.

They gave me tucks (which are wonderful!) as well as pads, and the pain relief spray. I had heavy bleeding where I needed two blood transfusions, so I ended up sending my husband to buy me Depends because I leaked through the pads. Future pregnancies I will take depends, however, because they were much more comfortable than the mesh panties they give you.

I took magazines and some “entertainment” things to keep my mind off the pain (no epidural) but never used them. I just closed my eyes and tried to rest in between contractions. That is something I will leave behind next time, but it may be helpful for some. Especially if you do an epidural, you’ll want something to do to pass the time.

The don’t include section. Do not take too many clothes. For me, it was better to use the hospital gown because it had breastfeeding flaps. Much easier and if it got milk or blood on it I could just request another.

Nipple cream. I got about for “sample” tubes that lasted me up until four months postpartum.

Breast pads, I got two boxes of them from the hospital.

Never be afraid to ask for things. Alcohol swabs to clean the babies belly button. They may not give you the breast pads and cream unless you ask for it. Anything that may be for your well being and your babies, they will have so ask away. My hospital also gave me a bag of diapers and wipes, though I have heard some hospitals do not give wipes anymore. Like I said, ask for everything, worse case scenario you can send someone to the gift shop for you to get anything you may need.

Happy Packing!

When nothing starts as planned….

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So we just got our hard copy orders….finally. In my head everything would go so smoothly and as planned. We’d get our orders, be able to schedule the movers, hotel and touch base with housing no problem. I also imagined we’d be able to set our flight, get our pets booked on there and all I’d have left to worry about was cleaning up our house and re-painting it to turn it in.

Well, life seldom goes as planned, especially in the military and when you are the mother to a baby.

Like I said we got our order, then I asked about the hotel since it is one of my bigger concerns. Where we are being stationed, they only have a limited amount of rooms that are pet accessible, and we have two cats. I would hate to board them. Well, as you know orders give you a detach and arrive no later than a date with some time in between. And we can’t set apart a hotel until we know when we arrive, which we won’t know until we have a flight because we are stationing overseas. So I ask my loving husband how do we get the flight…. and he doesn’t know, he needs to “look into it.” So here we go, bump number one and two all at once.

Ok, I breathe and let that go. So on to the next on my list. Well third since the flight situation was next, and well, that got nowhere before I was even able to discuss it. Housing. I know were not there but figured hey, let’s at least send in our application, they know we’re coming, and with pets so at least we’re in the back of their mind. So I pull up the housing application, and it asks a bunch of questions I can’t answer regarding detaching and arriving dates. Sigh.

I was going to tackle the movers but let my husband do that one, which we learned we’re going to have to talk to someone in person. We are navy being stationed in a Marine base overseas, and our future base is not in our little drop down menu box. So, that was a no go either.

Did I mention throughout all of this I was carrying a ten-month-old who was screaming bloody murder? I was, and he had a clean diaper and was fed, but was sleepy. I don’t know if I have the only child that thinks that he doesn’t need sleep but, putting him down for the night usually includes rocking him, ignoring him, letting him play, and just laying in the dark until he is cried out and finally passes out of exhaustion.

This was my night yesterday. Futile and tiresome. But at least now we know we need to get some more information, reach out to a few people and hopefully get to that place where I imagined myself all along. Just needing to paint and turn in the house.

If you find yourself here too, know you are not alone. You aren’t the only one banging your head against the wall at military websites, or with bags under your eyes, or the only one with a child that you question where on earth he was spawned from. I am right here with you.

Much luck to you!

Military Discounts

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So we’ve all done it. Gone somewhere and wondered if they have a military discount, figure they don’t and just don’t ask. I know that at least on my end I get so tired of asking and hearing “no.” So here are some places that offer military discount for active, retired and active duty spouses.

–Avis Car Rental – U.S. Military and Federal Government employees get free collision/LDW insurance coverage, no underage driver fees, unlimited mileage and competitive rates on official business or personal.
–Budget Car Rental – With the offer code BCD U088801, military members receive discounted rates when booking a rental car online.
–Hertz Rental Cars – Members of the military receive discounted rates and unlimited mileage through Hertz Rental Cars. Free upgrades are also offered if space is available.
–Aeropostale-Get 10% off on all purchases in any Aeropostale store nationwide.
–Kohl’s-Get a Kohl’s 15% military discount by presenting a valid US military ID in selected Kohl’s branches nationwide. Not all Kohl’s participate.
–Nike-Active, retired, reservist US military personnel and their families get 10% off in Nike-owned stores including Nike Stores, NikeFactoryStores, NIKETOWN and NikeWomen in the US and Puerto Rico. Present a valid US military ID for verification.
–Oakley-The program is for active duty military, reserve, federal and local law enforcement, fire, EMS and those holding military retiree credentials. Must have a valid .gov or .mil email address entered during registration confirm your approval. The discount is available through their USS Standard Issue website.
–Old Navy-Every Monday Old Navy gives you 10% off your total purchase with valid Military ID! Just show your ID at check-out for your savings!
–Sperry Boat Shoes & Clothing-Sperry gives a 15 percent military discount online following Troop ID verification. Offer includes active duty service member, retirees, spouses, and dependents.
–Apple-The Apple Federal Government and Military Employee Purchase programs is available to Military Personnel, National Guard and Reserve, and their families, along with employees of the federal government. You can get a military discount on iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs through Apple’s Military/Government Purchase Program.
–Best Buy-Best Buy Military discounts are available at some locations, typically 10% off. Call ahead and ask. Best Buy offers half off Geek Squad services for military families.
–1-800 Flowers-Save 15% on flowers and gifts by going to 1800Flowers.com or call 1-800-FLOWERS (356-9377).
–Pro Flowers-Visit Pro Flowers to see special military discounts.
–Costco Wholesale-Join Costco as a new member and receive over $50 in savings for all Members of the Armed Forces, Veterans, and their families.
–Home Depot-A year round 10% discount up to a maximum $500 at all U.S. locations to active duty personnel, reservists, retired or disabled veterans and their immediate families. Must present a valid military ID. A 10% discount is also offered to all other military veterans on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day and Veterans Day. Note: Many Home Depots are reported to provide a Veterans 10% discount year round.
–Pottery Barn-Active duty, military retirees, and their families may receive a 15% discount on their entire in-store purchase. Offer valid in-store only, and excludes prior purchases, gift cards, taxes or shipping & processing fees. Please show valid military ID or family ID card.
–Yankee Candle-Military personnel and immediate family receive 10 percent discount. Present a valid form of military ID at checkout in retail and outlet stores. For online orders, military should email or fax a copy of their order confirmation to info@yankeecandle.com to receive the discount.
–Zales Diamond Store-Military members receive a 10% discount on any item that is not already discounted. To get the discount, you must call Zales to have it applied.
–PODS-Military members and veterans are eligible for discounted storage rates through PODS.
–United States Postal Service (USPS)
The Postal Service offers free Mili-Kits that contain all the supplies needed for shipping items to military members overseas.
–American Airlines Cargo-Ship your pets for 50% less than the regular published rates. Active members of the US military forces, as well as their dependents, may avail of this discount, which applies to animal shipping for personal use only.

As I said, these are just a few places. Remember whenever you go someplace just ask!

Found a place offering military discount I don’t have listed? Message me, and I’ll update the list!

Happy Shopping

Michelle

Express shipment for OCONUS PCS

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

So that day has come, it is time to decide what to pack for your express shipment. The main question is, what can’t you live without? While you may want to say everything, you may have to narrow it down a bit. Here is my list of musts for express shipment.

– Plates, silverware, and dishes. Ok, this is more of personal preference. Realistically you could always go to the commissary and get disposable plates, cups, and silverware.
– Some pots and pans. Don’t take all now, you will still be living in your home for a bit so send maybe one pan and one pot to help you get started in your next location.
– Some Mugs, cups, and glasses.
– A few Bath towels. Oh sure, you could buy more, but it is an expense that can be prevented.
– A few sets of sheets & blankets. Very important, especially if you are using loaner furniture. This will help make your place feel more like your own.
– Kitchen towels & pot holders
– Kitchen necessities (Wine bottle opener, bottle opener, can opener, sharp knife or two, etc.)
– A mop/broom/vacuum. You will want to clean sooner rather than later.
– Mattresses w/ accessories (pad, box spring). This is one of those things you can hold off on if you are ok with using the loaner furniture for a bit longer.
– Folding chairs, small tables (until your other stuff arrives)
– Small, simple tool set (hammer, pliers, etc.)
– Sports or exercise gear or baby toys and furniture. Won’t normally have space for both, so it’s time to choose which you will pick.
– Coffee maker. In my household, this is very important.
– TV, you want to take at least one. Especially if you have littles.
– Desktop Computer w/ accessories (cords, printer, etc.)

What to pack in your Suitcase for that Oconus PCS.

On By MichelleIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

It is time to start separating for belongings for the impending move. Here is my list of things to take with me in my suitcase and carry on.

– Your important documents (include IDs, wallet, cash, passports, travel information, contact information, copies of Orders, etc.) I may be a little crazy here, but I create a binder where all of this goes in. Also, keep this on your person at all times.
– Personal toiletries
– Medications & small first aid accessories (bandages and the like)
– Clothing for travel and arrival (plan for hotter or cooler weather than you are used to as well as a variety of events such as more formal occasions, swimming, etc.)
– Shoes for travel and arrival (a pair of casual shoes, formal, and utility should do, the rest I feel comfortable sending with the rest of our belongings)
– Entertainment for the trip and arrival until your next shipment comes (books, magazines, toys, laptops, tablets, mp3 players, etc.) If you have a baby, or child with you, be sure to make some more space for their toys as it tends to comfort the littles to have their things with them.
– Chargers for all electronics you are bringing with you (with adapters if needed)
– Valuables you are not shipping or storing
– Any specialized gear you might need (child seats, health-related equipment, things for your pets, etc.)
– Inflatable mattress/sleeping bag pads w/ sheets/blankets. Keep in mind when deciding if you want to take the air mattress with you that there are lending lockers where they can assign you temporary furniture until yours arrives. You may, however, want to make sure you take at least one set of sheets with you.
– Pillows/travel pillows

All of this said and done, most of these things you may be able to buy when you get to your destination. However, with an overseas move, you may have a lot of unexpected expenses so taking as much with you as possible will help.

Good Luck!

Michelle