Tricare and Stress

I have been having a few health issues myself. I think Bryan and I need a doctor on call just for our needs. I'm just kidding but I had a lot of panels done in November because I have been extremely fatigued. It came back that my B12 and FSH and LH were low. I requested a new doctor because she really wasn't concerned with my FSH and LH hormones being so low. These hormones essentially are what make women ovulate and several other things. I really like my new doctor as he is an internal medicine doctor so he has a little more training than a M.D.

He decided that my FSH and LH needed to be re-tested. It came back extremely low again so he said there is a reason my FSH and FH aren't being produced by my pituitary glad. Worse case scenario would be a tumor or cyst in my pituitary gland. He scheduled an MRI and I went Tuesday night to have it done. It took almost two hours and was very uncomfortable.

I got the call from the doctor and everything was fine. What a huge relief! I have been stressed about it all week. However since my body still isn't producing the hormones I need to be referred to an endocrinologist. My doctor stated that the scheduler would call me back to make the referral. She called and stated that no one in our city takes Tricare Prime. She expressed to me how bad this sucks and how my husband has done so much for our country and this is what happens. I started to get upset when she told me that I would have to pay $150 dollars for the consult and then get on a pay plan for any treatment and I would have to pay out of pocket. I started to get emotional at work because all of this is piling up. This lady was being so sweet and didn't even know what all we have been through. I decided to leave work because it's unprofessional to cry at work. Everything is just piling up.

Most Military Wives know that you can pick Tricare Prime or Standard. I have always been on Prime because it is the better insurance. However since I am not at a post I can't just go see any doctor, they have to take Prime. With Standard you don't pay a yearly fee but you pay co-pays and portions of the treatment. When Bryan was medically retired I re-enrolled in Prime because I wanted to pay the minimal fee and have to pay less out of pocket. However 180 days after he was medically retired Tricare reverted my insurance to Standard without telling me. When I went to get all the labs done I started receiving bills for hundreds of dollars. I switched back to Prime and the fee I pay for the year is much less than what I paid for labs through Standard.

In the end, with Prime fewer doctors take it and your Primary Care Manager has to refer you to specialist. I did call Tricare and asked if there was an endo in the area that takes Prime. He stated that there was a doc about an hour away that does. I had him double check and then I called the doc myself. They said they do take it but I would have a $12 dollar co-pay since I have Tricare for Retirees. I was much happier with that than $150 dollars.

I really freaked out over nothing. I called the doctor and told them of the endo's name so that she can refer. I want this fixed so that we can have kids. That is my life goal...to become a mother.