Military Spouses with CF

[anonymous]

I'm thinking that there are special considerations for someone with CF who is the spouse of someone in the military.
We have at least 2 on this board.
Maybe a thread where folks can post things would be helpful
Especially things about CF (though I haven't found any yet) or how to build a support team (over and over again with every reassignment).
Sounds like everyone here on this board would be glad to be part of that support team, but how exactly can we help and what else can someone do?


Some General stuff for military spouses (just to get started):

Spouse Network (on official US Air Force site) <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.afcrossroads.com/home.cfm
">http://www.afcrossroads.com/home.cfm
</a>
Spouse's Guide to the Air Force (onlne) about LAAA area <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.losangeles.af.mil/abg/mss/fsc/index.htm
">http://www.losangeles.af.mil/abg/mss/fsc/index.htm
</a>
EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP - Does anyone know anything about this? Is this helpful for a spouse with CF? Or does it just have to do with assignments?

Book "Married to the Military" <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743255542/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-3136167-4044132?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155
">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743255542/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-3136167-4044132?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155
</a>
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cinchouse.com/">http://www.cinchouse.com/</a> an online community of military wives

-lisav
randev AT verizon.net

 

[anonymous]

I'm thinking that there are special considerations for someone with CF who is the spouse of someone in the military.
We have at least 2 on this board.
Maybe a thread where folks can post things would be helpful
Especially things about CF (though I haven't found any yet) or how to build a support team (over and over again with every reassignment).
Sounds like everyone here on this board would be glad to be part of that support team, but how exactly can we help and what else can someone do?


Some General stuff for military spouses (just to get started):

Spouse Network (on official US Air Force site) <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.afcrossroads.com/home.cfm
">http://www.afcrossroads.com/home.cfm
</a>
Spouse's Guide to the Air Force (onlne) about LAAA area <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.losangeles.af.mil/abg/mss/fsc/index.htm
">http://www.losangeles.af.mil/abg/mss/fsc/index.htm
</a>
EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM (EFMP - Does anyone know anything about this? Is this helpful for a spouse with CF? Or does it just have to do with assignments?

Book "Married to the Military" <a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743255542/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-3136167-4044132?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155
">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743255542/ref=pd_sim_b_2/102-3136167-4044132?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=283155
</a>
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cinchouse.com/">http://www.cinchouse.com/</a> an online community of military wives

-lisav
randev AT verizon.net

 

[julie]

Lisa, I am active duty navy and My husband Mark has CF. He is in the EFMP program. Really it only helps with assignments of where I can and can't go. There are 5 different categories of severity, 1 the least and 5 the worst. Mark is a 4. This means I can't be stationed overseas, unless we choose to drop his EFMP status-which is difficult to do.

It actually assisted a bit in getting me off a ship that I got stationed on in December, combined with some other factors like us trying to get pregnant. It really doesn't do much else though.

There is also the Program for Persons with Disabilities through Tricare. You pay $25 a month and tricare pays an extra $1000 towards medical bills. Never used it though because we've always kept Mark Tricare Prime so we have no copay, and although it's like an HMO where we have to get a referral to go ANYWHERE, it's worth it to get the referral because then tricare pays 100% of the visits.

 

[julie]

Lisa, I am active duty navy and My husband Mark has CF. He is in the EFMP program. Really it only helps with assignments of where I can and can't go. There are 5 different categories of severity, 1 the least and 5 the worst. Mark is a 4. This means I can't be stationed overseas, unless we choose to drop his EFMP status-which is difficult to do.

It actually assisted a bit in getting me off a ship that I got stationed on in December, combined with some other factors like us trying to get pregnant. It really doesn't do much else though.

There is also the Program for Persons with Disabilities through Tricare. You pay $25 a month and tricare pays an extra $1000 towards medical bills. Never used it though because we've always kept Mark Tricare Prime so we have no copay, and although it's like an HMO where we have to get a referral to go ANYWHERE, it's worth it to get the referral because then tricare pays 100% of the visits.

 

[anonymous]

I agree with Lisa. I am a member of EFMP (hubby is active air force), and really it mostly has to do with assignments. They did tell me, however, that being in EFMP for the air force DOES NOT excuse any sort of tour for the spouse.... its just that I wouldn't be able to go with him.... For example, when he's up for deployment, he still has to go. If he has to do a tour overseas every so many years, he still must go. According to the air force, it does nothing more than determine where we can be stationed so I have medical care. I know it is different for every branch of the military as well.

As far as tricare.... I also am covered under prime and have to get referrals to everywhere I go for care or else I have to pay out of pocket. I also kept my private health insurance so I could go off-base without a referral if I needed to. I'm lucky to have both insurances.

I don't know of any "support" programs that are designed specifically to assist family dependents with special needs in the air force. They do have a "family support center" that I go through for EFMP, but didn't actually offer any type of "support" there, just EFMP. I don't think the military is really into "health-type" support groups, as I've never heard of them for any condition. Anyone who knows about them is more than welcome to post and I would LOVE to know about it!

Sonia
28 w/CF and CFRD and TRYING for baby #1!!!!

 

[anonymous]

I agree with Lisa. I am a member of EFMP (hubby is active air force), and really it mostly has to do with assignments. They did tell me, however, that being in EFMP for the air force DOES NOT excuse any sort of tour for the spouse.... its just that I wouldn't be able to go with him.... For example, when he's up for deployment, he still has to go. If he has to do a tour overseas every so many years, he still must go. According to the air force, it does nothing more than determine where we can be stationed so I have medical care. I know it is different for every branch of the military as well.

As far as tricare.... I also am covered under prime and have to get referrals to everywhere I go for care or else I have to pay out of pocket. I also kept my private health insurance so I could go off-base without a referral if I needed to. I'm lucky to have both insurances.

I don't know of any "support" programs that are designed specifically to assist family dependents with special needs in the air force. They do have a "family support center" that I go through for EFMP, but didn't actually offer any type of "support" there, just EFMP. I don't think the military is really into "health-type" support groups, as I've never heard of them for any condition. Anyone who knows about them is more than welcome to post and I would LOVE to know about it!

Sonia
28 w/CF and CFRD and TRYING for baby #1!!!!

 

[anonymous]

I meant, I agree with JULIE! ha ha!
I was meaning to post a thank you to Lisa for starting this thread, and got off on a tangent! ha ha!
sonia

 

[anonymous]

I meant, I agree with JULIE! ha ha!
I was meaning to post a thank you to Lisa for starting this thread, and got off on a tangent! ha ha!
sonia

 

[65rosessamurai]

Dang!! The closest I get is "Military Siblings of Siblingw with CF"--and I'M THE ONE OVERSEAS!!!
I'm curious if Japan was considered as one assignment in which the spouse couldn't tour with. I had checked on suggestions Julie gave me way back, when it was a week before she and Mark moved to Washington, I had no luck with. The closest Base, I think would be in Tokyo, Camp Zama. And that would be Army, only because I had two siblings (Older Sister, and Younger Brother) as former, and my brother in law (Older Sister's Hubby) who is an Army Retiree (maybe they'd catch me a break with that, my dad was former Navy, but that was so long ago, no one'd remember!!).
For Sonia, I hope if your husband is deployed, you can go with him. My sister's hubby was sent to Korea for a year, and they extended it, due to unforseen circumstances, but my sister had fought to get him stateside because of their "politics". And, while he's at work, you can probably enjoy what the location has to offer (I hope).
Anyway, perhaps a thread will help, who knows, maybe there are some others visiting this forum who are Military Spouses (or even former) with CF.

 

[65rosessamurai]

Dang!! The closest I get is "Military Siblings of Siblingw with CF"--and I'M THE ONE OVERSEAS!!!
I'm curious if Japan was considered as one assignment in which the spouse couldn't tour with. I had checked on suggestions Julie gave me way back, when it was a week before she and Mark moved to Washington, I had no luck with. The closest Base, I think would be in Tokyo, Camp Zama. And that would be Army, only because I had two siblings (Older Sister, and Younger Brother) as former, and my brother in law (Older Sister's Hubby) who is an Army Retiree (maybe they'd catch me a break with that, my dad was former Navy, but that was so long ago, no one'd remember!!).
For Sonia, I hope if your husband is deployed, you can go with him. My sister's hubby was sent to Korea for a year, and they extended it, due to unforseen circumstances, but my sister had fought to get him stateside because of their "politics". And, while he's at work, you can probably enjoy what the location has to offer (I hope).
Anyway, perhaps a thread will help, who knows, maybe there are some others visiting this forum who are Military Spouses (or even former) with CF.

 

[julie]

Sonia, that doesn't make sense to me. A spouse can refuse a TOUR if it is unaccompanied overseas or if the other spouse can't go because of medcial reasons as they need healthcare stateside.

The one thing the EFMP category DOESN'T do is excuse DEPLOYMENTS. Tours and deployments are very different things though. A tour is where you pick your next orders to, and can be anywhere from 12 months to 4 years. A deployment is usually 6-12 months.

Did the Air force tell you something different? It is the same program in all branches of the military......

Fred, where a spouse can and can't go depends on their EFMP category. Mark is cat. 4 so I can't go ANYWHERE overseas. If he was cat. 2 I could (don't recall about cat. 3). If I were to be deployed overseas, I'd have to go-and Mark would stay behind. If I were given orders to overseas I COULD refuse them because of his EFMP category. Hope that makes sense.

 

[julie]

Sonia, that doesn't make sense to me. A spouse can refuse a TOUR if it is unaccompanied overseas or if the other spouse can't go because of medcial reasons as they need healthcare stateside.

The one thing the EFMP category DOESN'T do is excuse DEPLOYMENTS. Tours and deployments are very different things though. A tour is where you pick your next orders to, and can be anywhere from 12 months to 4 years. A deployment is usually 6-12 months.

Did the Air force tell you something different? It is the same program in all branches of the military......

Fred, where a spouse can and can't go depends on their EFMP category. Mark is cat. 4 so I can't go ANYWHERE overseas. If he was cat. 2 I could (don't recall about cat. 3). If I were to be deployed overseas, I'd have to go-and Mark would stay behind. If I were given orders to overseas I COULD refuse them because of his EFMP category. Hope that makes sense.

 

[anonymous]

Julie,
My bad! Yes, that is what I meant... he can be deployed for up to a year to places like Korea or something that isn't a stateside assignment, but if they need him to "deploy" there, he would have to go whether I go or not.
The EFMP program that I am a part of has nothing to do with ratings of numbers. All I do is, once my hubby gets an assignment, I take my EFMP papers to my docs wherever we're stationed and they fill in "must haves" for my next base (example, accredited center, psychologist, diabetes specialist, etc.).... If the place they station him fits these criteria, we MUST go. If the commander of the base says that city does not have such things (such as a small town in po-dunk USA), they will write back saying, "No, we don't have accomadations." Then, WE turn down the assignment and he gets reassigned and we go through the process again. This is exactly as the air force family support center told me at my interview. I was also told since I do have a disability, it is my husband's responsibility and requirement to keep me in the EFMP program. I am NOT able to disenrol, and if he wasn't to tell them about my disability and something were to arise with my CF that would "complicate things", he could get in serious trouble. It is the military member's responsibility to do this. Once you are in the program, you cannot get out, unless a cure or something is found and you no longer need ANY special treatment. Now, this is EXACTLY what I was told. So, I'm not aware of any case that you can "get out" as you mentioned... though, I'd never want to anyway, as I think its a very helpful program. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
So, this is how the air force program works. I do think I heard once that the army had a different sort of set-up for their EFMP as I we were last stationed at a base near an army base and I went to both, and both had slightly different rules as to how you go about getting into and how you are "evaluated" for places. This was according to an army shrink i was seeing, so she may have been wrong. Who knows?!? ha ha.
Anyway, again, you are right about not having to go overseas for a tour, except in the case of places like England that does, in fact, have a CF center sort of near the air force base. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But, I think one could get around that if one didn't want to go.

So, a bit off topic here, but did Tricare cover all your infertility stuff? When hubby and I were thinking of doing infertility treatments in San Antonio at the air base hospital, we were told it would mostly be covered, but there was a 1-1 1/2 year wait to get started on it since so many people go there! YIKES! Just curious what was actually covered for you. Forgive me if you've been asked this before.

Sonia

 

[anonymous]

Julie,
My bad! Yes, that is what I meant... he can be deployed for up to a year to places like Korea or something that isn't a stateside assignment, but if they need him to "deploy" there, he would have to go whether I go or not.
The EFMP program that I am a part of has nothing to do with ratings of numbers. All I do is, once my hubby gets an assignment, I take my EFMP papers to my docs wherever we're stationed and they fill in "must haves" for my next base (example, accredited center, psychologist, diabetes specialist, etc.).... If the place they station him fits these criteria, we MUST go. If the commander of the base says that city does not have such things (such as a small town in po-dunk USA), they will write back saying, "No, we don't have accomadations." Then, WE turn down the assignment and he gets reassigned and we go through the process again. This is exactly as the air force family support center told me at my interview. I was also told since I do have a disability, it is my husband's responsibility and requirement to keep me in the EFMP program. I am NOT able to disenrol, and if he wasn't to tell them about my disability and something were to arise with my CF that would "complicate things", he could get in serious trouble. It is the military member's responsibility to do this. Once you are in the program, you cannot get out, unless a cure or something is found and you no longer need ANY special treatment. Now, this is EXACTLY what I was told. So, I'm not aware of any case that you can "get out" as you mentioned... though, I'd never want to anyway, as I think its a very helpful program. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
So, this is how the air force program works. I do think I heard once that the army had a different sort of set-up for their EFMP as I we were last stationed at a base near an army base and I went to both, and both had slightly different rules as to how you go about getting into and how you are "evaluated" for places. This was according to an army shrink i was seeing, so she may have been wrong. Who knows?!? ha ha.
Anyway, again, you are right about not having to go overseas for a tour, except in the case of places like England that does, in fact, have a CF center sort of near the air force base. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> But, I think one could get around that if one didn't want to go.

So, a bit off topic here, but did Tricare cover all your infertility stuff? When hubby and I were thinking of doing infertility treatments in San Antonio at the air base hospital, we were told it would mostly be covered, but there was a 1-1 1/2 year wait to get started on it since so many people go there! YIKES! Just curious what was actually covered for you. Forgive me if you've been asked this before.

Sonia

 

[anonymous]

Me again... I did want to make clear that if Ben has to do a TOUR overseas unaccompanied, he WILL have to do it, just like everyone else would. That was specifically told to me by the EFMP director at Lackland AFB. Since I wouldn't be able to go CF or not, I could not keep him here, as long as I was stationed somewhere that met my EFMP criteria. For example, since San Antonio had a CF center and all the docs I required (according to my EFMP paperwork), if Ben had to do a tour for a year in Korea, he would have to go. I don't know why that would be different for Navy or Air Force, but I specifically asked the director about this, and this is what she said. It does not excuse things unaccompanied tours OR deployments.

Sonia

 

[anonymous]

Me again... I did want to make clear that if Ben has to do a TOUR overseas unaccompanied, he WILL have to do it, just like everyone else would. That was specifically told to me by the EFMP director at Lackland AFB. Since I wouldn't be able to go CF or not, I could not keep him here, as long as I was stationed somewhere that met my EFMP criteria. For example, since San Antonio had a CF center and all the docs I required (according to my EFMP paperwork), if Ben had to do a tour for a year in Korea, he would have to go. I don't know why that would be different for Navy or Air Force, but I specifically asked the director about this, and this is what she said. It does not excuse things unaccompanied tours OR deployments.

Sonia

 

[anonymous]

I remember as a child at childrens, (I guess the army hospital couldn't hancle Cf then)

But people in the military got better and faster treatment that nonmilitary people with Cf.

I even notices it as a child, I remember going to christmas partys and the military kids got more of everything

 

[anonymous]

I remember as a child at childrens, (I guess the army hospital couldn't hancle Cf then)

But people in the military got better and faster treatment that nonmilitary people with Cf.

I even notices it as a child, I remember going to christmas partys and the military kids got more of everything

 

[julie]

I hate to break it to you but the military care (at least where Mark and I have been) is sub-standard to the civilian care. We had to fight to get him a referral to a CF center here in Wa. Tricare was telling us that a pulmonologist was good enough. I advised them otherwise and gave them a piece of my mind, we got the referral.

Sonia, we were seeing an IVF military doctor in San Diego. We were on the waiting list for 6 months for IVF but it never worked out. What happenes at that clinic is the military doctor contracts out with a civilian clinic to perform all the procedures. IVF would have cost us only about $4500 plus the cost of some meds (about $1000). It never worked out for us in San Diego though, financial and medical on Mark's part. I've heard some other military IVF clinics (in the DC area for sure) have IVF for about 2500-3000 and they get their meds covered there?????????? Not sure about that, sure wish I was there though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

When I recently transferred to WA, we tried to get into the infertility clinic at Maddigan Airforce Base but the wait was 6-9 months to even be seen, then another 6-9 months on an IVF waiting list. Nevermind the fact that we had been on the list in San diego for almost 2 years (6 months was the standard waiting list, the other time was because we had financial and health problems). AND, the IVF fee at maddigan was $7500 not including medications. Mark and I didn't want to wait that long so we decided to go with a civilian clinic. Plus, Maddigan is about a 2.5 hour drive EACH WAY from our house and we felt that additional driving like that woudl add unnecessary stress. There is a 2-3 week period where you go in for lab work and ultrasounds every other day, and for about 5 days straight I went in every day. I just couldn't have done all that driving, I think it would have been too stressful.

There are ways to reduce some of the costs if you go with a civilian clinic... have your blood draws done at the MTF (get a lab requisition sheet from the IVF clinic then take it to your family practice doctor or OB, they can put the tests into CHCS and can make them reoccur every day/every other day so you don't have to keep bothering the doc). Try to find a doctor who does IVF where the doctor or clinic is contracted with tricare. If you can get a referral, they will pay for labs, initial visits, ultrasounds. Just MAKE SURE that the IVF office DOES NOT bill the insurance company for the egg retrieval and egg transfer. That will tip tricare off and they will deny everything as they cover NOTHING related to IVF. We weren't able to get a referral, Maddigan was our only option. We ended up paying almost $12,000 for our IVF and $1800 for having my stomach drained twice from the Ovarian Hyper Stimulation.... a little more than we expected so we are kind of scrambling right now.

Also, since you are the dependent, you have a POINT OF SERVICE OPTION (POS). If you choose to go to a doctor who is NOT covered/contracted with tricare once you pay $300 out of pocket, tricare will bay 50% of allowable charges. Once again, you would want to make sure that the IVF clinic DOES NOT BILL tricare for the Egg retrieval or Egg transfer because then they will deny everything. That is another way to reduce your costs.

Our situation just sucked all aroudn financially because I am the active duty member so I don't have a POS option. Mark does, but his portion was $500 for anesthesia (sp???-billable to tricare), $700 for sperm retrieval (not billable to tricare), $100 initial office visit (billable to tricare). My fees were much more in depth, and it sucks because I am an E3 with 2.5 years in. I am sure you know the pay scale.

That's all, a little off topic but i needed to vent about the fees somewhere.

 

[julie]

I hate to break it to you but the military care (at least where Mark and I have been) is sub-standard to the civilian care. We had to fight to get him a referral to a CF center here in Wa. Tricare was telling us that a pulmonologist was good enough. I advised them otherwise and gave them a piece of my mind, we got the referral.

Sonia, we were seeing an IVF military doctor in San Diego. We were on the waiting list for 6 months for IVF but it never worked out. What happenes at that clinic is the military doctor contracts out with a civilian clinic to perform all the procedures. IVF would have cost us only about $4500 plus the cost of some meds (about $1000). It never worked out for us in San Diego though, financial and medical on Mark's part. I've heard some other military IVF clinics (in the DC area for sure) have IVF for about 2500-3000 and they get their meds covered there?????????? Not sure about that, sure wish I was there though <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

When I recently transferred to WA, we tried to get into the infertility clinic at Maddigan Airforce Base but the wait was 6-9 months to even be seen, then another 6-9 months on an IVF waiting list. Nevermind the fact that we had been on the list in San diego for almost 2 years (6 months was the standard waiting list, the other time was because we had financial and health problems). AND, the IVF fee at maddigan was $7500 not including medications. Mark and I didn't want to wait that long so we decided to go with a civilian clinic. Plus, Maddigan is about a 2.5 hour drive EACH WAY from our house and we felt that additional driving like that woudl add unnecessary stress. There is a 2-3 week period where you go in for lab work and ultrasounds every other day, and for about 5 days straight I went in every day. I just couldn't have done all that driving, I think it would have been too stressful.

There are ways to reduce some of the costs if you go with a civilian clinic... have your blood draws done at the MTF (get a lab requisition sheet from the IVF clinic then take it to your family practice doctor or OB, they can put the tests into CHCS and can make them reoccur every day/every other day so you don't have to keep bothering the doc). Try to find a doctor who does IVF where the doctor or clinic is contracted with tricare. If you can get a referral, they will pay for labs, initial visits, ultrasounds. Just MAKE SURE that the IVF office DOES NOT bill the insurance company for the egg retrieval and egg transfer. That will tip tricare off and they will deny everything as they cover NOTHING related to IVF. We weren't able to get a referral, Maddigan was our only option. We ended up paying almost $12,000 for our IVF and $1800 for having my stomach drained twice from the Ovarian Hyper Stimulation.... a little more than we expected so we are kind of scrambling right now.

Also, since you are the dependent, you have a POINT OF SERVICE OPTION (POS). If you choose to go to a doctor who is NOT covered/contracted with tricare once you pay $300 out of pocket, tricare will bay 50% of allowable charges. Once again, you would want to make sure that the IVF clinic DOES NOT BILL tricare for the Egg retrieval or Egg transfer because then they will deny everything. That is another way to reduce your costs.

Our situation just sucked all aroudn financially because I am the active duty member so I don't have a POS option. Mark does, but his portion was $500 for anesthesia (sp???-billable to tricare), $700 for sperm retrieval (not billable to tricare), $100 initial office visit (billable to tricare). My fees were much more in depth, and it sucks because I am an E3 with 2.5 years in. I am sure you know the pay scale.

That's all, a little off topic but i needed to vent about the fees somewhere.