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| 1. |
General Information
Military Medical Treatment Facilities in Monterey are extremely limited and all students coming to NPS should be thoroughly aware of what is and is not available - particularly when considering medical options for family members.
There is no full-service military hospital on the Monterey Peninsula. The nearest military hospital is located at Travis AFB (outside Sacramento, approximately 3 ½ hours driving time). This is especially critical when dealing with pregnancy related treatment (particularly baby delivery).
The only available military facility in Monterey is the Presidio of Monterey Army Health Clinic (POMAHC) with emphasis on the word - clinic! All active duty military are required to seek assistance at the clinic before going to a civilian doctor unless it is an immediate or life threatening emergency. The clinic will provide a referral to a civilian facility if treatment is beyond the capabilities of the clinic.
The clinic does not provide appointments for family members. This means that international officers with families will be forced to use civilian facilities, especially for emergency treatment and also for routine care. This also includes students from countries who have reciprocal medical agreements with the U.S.
Medical Care for Civilian Students - The Army Health Clinic at DLI is NO LONGER seeing civilian students. Civilian students will need to seek medical treatment with a civilian physician. It is recommended that unless it is an emergency involving broken limbs, irregular heartbeat or breathing, etc. that you first seek treatment from Doctor’s on Duty or another Urgent Care Facility. For emergencies as noted above, or for treatment after hours, you would go to the nearest Emergency Room (Community Hospital of Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP). Your ITO should have the mailing address for your bills; if it does not, please stop by the office so we can amend the ITO to include that information. The treating physician/facility may or may not bill the responsible agency directly. If after receiving treatment, you receive the medical bills, please bring them to the office so we can forward them for payment. If you pay for any treatment and/or prescriptions yourself, you will need to bring your receipts to the office and fill out a claim for reimbursement from which we will submit so you can be reimbursed. |
| 2. |
Definitions and Acronyms
The following definitions and acronyms are provided to better understand the complicated terminology associated with health care in the United States.
Clinic: A military medical treatment facility that provides limited outpatient care. It normally does not have the capability to treat emergencies.
Cost Share / Co-Pay: The portion of the bill that you are required to pay. (Can be either a fixed amount or a percentage of the bill)
Deductible: The amount of the bill you must pay before your insurance will pay.
Immunizations: shots. The POMAHC is available to provide shots for dependents.
Inpatient Care: Admittance to a hospital for more than 23 hours and fifty-nine minutes (over night).
MTF: Military Treatment Facility (Hospital)
OB-GYN: Obstetrics-Gynecology (Pregnancy-Baby doctor)
Outpatient Care: A single or multiple visits to a doctor within a twenty-four hour period
POMAHC: Presidio Of Monterey Army Health Clinic. It is the only MTF in Monterey.
Preferred Provider: A doctor that accepts TRICARE price schedule for treatment (see below)
Provider: A medical doctor or clinic that offers treatment.
Reciprocal Agreement: An agreement between the United States and a foreign country that allows military members and their families to receive free medical and dental care in US Military Treatment Facilities (MTF’s). Reciprocal agreements do not apply to treatment received from civilian doctors.
Referral: A situation where a military member is sent to a civilian provider at the direction of military personnel at a MTF when the MTF can not provide the service.
TRICARE: A US sponsored insurance program provided to international family members from NATO and PFP countries. It provides partial coverage for outpatient care, but does not cover inpatient care. |
| 3. |
International Military Student Procedures
International Military Students are eligible and required to use the POMAHC for their health needs and must schedule appointments for all routine and urgent health care needs unless referred to a civilian facility by a military doctor at the POMAHC. All non-emergency after-hour care must be coordinated with the on-call duty doctor by dialing (831) 648-2177 (pager). For emergency care (threat to life, limb, eyesight), members should go to the closest available Emergency Room, which for the Monterey Peninsula is the Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP) or dial 911. Please note that health coverage for international students is based upon agreements between the United States Government and their home country. Billing procedures may vary from country to country, particularly for referrals to civilian doctors. For more information, please contact Elodie Higgins, Health Benefits Advisor at POMAHC, (831) 242-7566. |
| 4. |
International Military Family Member Procedures
International Student Family Members have limited military options and should plan on obtaining most of their medical services through civilian providers for which they are financially responsible.
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Reciprocal Agreements. (Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala, Romania, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela) Family members from countries with reciprocal agreements are only eligible for free care in Military Treatment Facilities (MTF's) when space is available. They are not covered under the agreement when using civilian medical care providers and are responsible for payment of any bills incurred. POMAHC does not provide space available care for family members. However, they do provide access to limited pharmacy and immunization services. As mentioned above, the nearest MTF is located at Travis AFB in Sacramento, California. |
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NATO countries (Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom). Family members from NATO countries are eligible for TRICARE Standard (outpatient care only) which cost shares civilian medical care after deductibles are met. INPATIENT services of any kind (these are the most expensive services) ARE NOT COVERED BY TRICARE. |
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Partnership For Peace (PFP) countries (Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Estonia, FYROM, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Romania, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, Uzbekistan). Family members from PFP countries are also eligible for TRICARE Standard (outpatient care only) which cost shares civilian medical care after deductibles are met. INPATIENT services of any kind (these are the most expensive services) ARE NOT COVERED BY TRICARE. |
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MEDICAL INSURANCE FOR DEPENDENTS NOT COVERED BY THE FMS CASE OR THE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT
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In accordance with Navy IPO Washington DC msg 251609Z FEB 04, international students who's dependent medical costs are not covered by their government or the FMS/IMET Case, need to provide proof of dependent medical insurance to the Security Assistance Office at the US Embassy in their country before their dependents can be authorized on their ITO. Upon arrival at NPS, the student will be required to provide a copy of their insurance policy. The policy needs to be in effect for the duration of their stay at NPS, and must meet the requirements as listed in paragraph 4 below. Failure to maintain proper medical insurance for family members can result in the student being returned to his country. |
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For those students from countries with Reciprocal Agreements, the reciprocal agreement applies only to medical services in a military medical facility; the nearest full facility being Travis AFB. Services received from non-military medical facilities ARE NOT COVERED by the Reciprocal Agreement.
Dependents of international students belonging to NATO or PFP countries are eligible for TRICARE standard coverage (OUTPATIENT only) with deductible and co-payments being the responsibility of the international student. INPATIENT services of any kind (these are the most expensive services) ARE NOT COVERED BY TRICARE.
Students from NATO/PFP countries and those from countries with a Reciprocal Agreements are still required to provide proof of dependent medical insurance that covers those services not covered as listed above. |
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Minimum Requirements for Dependent Medical Insurance
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MEDICAL BENEFITS OF AT LEAST $50,000 PER ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS (SICKNESS). |
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DEDUCTIBLE NOT TO EXCEED $500 PER ACCIDENT OR ILLNESS.
Deductible is the amount you must pay before the insurance begins paying any portion of your medical bills, i.e., in the case of a $500 deductible, you would pay the first $500 of charges that would be covered by the insurance company (saving your bills and proof of payment). Once you reach the $500 limit of authorized charges, the insurance company will begin payments. At that time you will be responsible for the co-payment for each visit/charge.
The co-payment is the difference between the actual amount charged, and the amount that the insurance is paying.
If using a preferred provider, and the amount charged is more than the allowable charge as recognized by the insurance company, the student pays the difference between the allowable charge and the amount the insurance company pays. I.e., if there is a 20% co-pay, and the bill is $100 (and the allowable charge is $100), the insurance will pay $80 and the student will pay $20. If the bill is $120 (and the allowable charge is $100), the insurance company still pays $80 and the student pays $20 (they write off the additional $20).
However, if using a non-preferred provider, and the bill is $120 (and the allowable charge is $100), the insurance company will pay $80, and the student will pay the balance of $40.
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REPATRIATION OF REMAINS IN THE AMOUNT OF $7,500, SHOULD A DEATH OCCUR IN THE U.S. NOTE: THIS WOULD PROVIDE FOR THE PREPARATION AND TRANSPORTATION OF REMAINS TO HOME COUNTRY.
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MEDICAL EVACUATION IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 IN THE EVENT INSUREE MUST BE RETURNED TO HIS/HER HOME COUNTRY DUE TO A SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITION.
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INSURANCE MUST PAY BENEFITS TO A DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE MEDICAL FACILITY IF APPROPRIATE.
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NOTE: Listed below are several insurance companies that will cover international students under the Security Assistance Training Program, such as you. These policies may be purchased on line at the addresses given below.
Most long-term policies for 15 day - 3 years will cover pregnancy after 12 months. There is one policy that covered pregnancy and preexisting conditions after 180 days and one that offered a 10% discount for groups of 5 or more. This policy can be located at http://www.internationalhealthplans.com.
Each policy reviewed below has different coverage. In some policies you can choose the amount of deductible, length of time, while others have flat rates. Each International Military Student’s (IMS) circumstance will vary. Some will be able to cover normal outpatient care and need only catastrophic-type coverage, while others will need full coverage. Type coverage will also depend on availability of DoD facilities. If a NATO/PFP SOFA country is training at a location that has a clinic, then IMS will most likely need only coverage for inpatient care. In some cases the IMS may be able to pay more of a deductible, which would cut the cost of a policy. Monterey does NOT have a military/DoD medical facility.
Information on insurance for non-US citizens can be obtained on the following additional websites.
http://www.worldtravelcenter.com
http://www.insidedirect.com
http://www.nyig.com
http://www.insurancequest.com
http://www.inselect.com
http://www.specialtyrisk.com or www.specialtyriskinternational.com - works very well with the NPS students in meeting the requirements as set by the Navy IPO msg.
In checking these websites it appears that all countries that train under the SATP can purchase a policy
online using a credit card. In some instances an ID card can be printed at the time of purchase. |
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| 5. |
Civilian Medical Services
Listed below are the recommended civilian Hospitals in the Monterey Area:
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula (CHOMP),
Highway 68/Holman Highway, Monterey, 625-4900
Natividad Medical Center, Salinas, 755-4111
Salinas Valley Memorial, Romie Lane, Salinas, 757-0700
Listed below are the Urgent Care facilities available in Monterey.
*Doctors on Duty - Open 7 Days per Week
389 Lighthouse Ave, Monterey, 649-0770 (0800-2100)
2260 North Fremont, Monterey, 372-6700 (0800-2100)
Monterey Medical Center, Urgent & Ambulatory Care,
1010 Cass St, #D, Monterey, 644-9517
(Mon-Fri 1800-2100, Sat/Sun/holidays 1000-1800)
Monterey Bay Urgent Care
245 Washington Street, Monterey 0730-2100
(Mon-Fri), 0730-1700 (Sat/Sun)
*Typical cost of a visit will average $50-$125 depending on service. |
| 6. |
Medical Costs
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If visit is PREGNANCY RELATED - there is NO deductible (that means TRICARE PAYS FOR ALL COVERED SERVICES AT THE TRICARE RATE). If the physician is not a preferred provider**, you will be billed for the difference between the TRICARE AUTHORIZED RATE and the actual charges. |
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If visit is NOT pregnancy related, there is a $150 Deductible Per Person Per Fiscal Year (that means YOU must PAY the FIRST $150 before TRICARE picks up (pays) any charges). After that, if the Physician is a preferred provider, then TRICARE pays 80% and you pay 20%. Only TRICARE allowable charges are applied to your deductible.
** Preferred Provider - means physician accepts TRICARE price schedule for treatment. If a physician IS NOT a preferred provider, then YOU pay the difference between the TRICARE price schedule and the actual charges.
Example: If physician is not a preferred provider and he charges $100 for a visit and TRICARE will only pay $50 for that type of visit, you must make up the difference between 80% of $50 ($40) and $100. ($100 - $40 = $60 you have to pay.
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Examples of medical costs at a military facility are as follows: Civilian charges generally will be higher.
Outpatient At A Military Facility
Routine Visit - $100+ (varies w/service)
Same Day Surgery - $767+
Inpatient At A Military Facility
OB-GYN (delivery) - $1500*** (no complications)
OB-GYN (delivery) - $2700+*** (cesarean no complications)
OB-GYN (delivery) - $5000-$10,000 (w/complications)
Tonsillectomy - $4,000***
Appendectomy - $10,000***
*** These costs do not include lab fees, x-rays, etc.
Civilian Cost Estimates For Ob-Gyn - Delivery
$ 4346 - One Day Stay; no complications, home on second day
$ 6376 - Two Day Stay; no complications, home on third day
Cesarean
$ 14,320 - Three Day Stay for mother & baby; home on fourth day
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| 7. |
Dental
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| a. |
Military dental care is available at the NPS Dental Clinic for Active Duty NATO members, PFP, and Reciprocal countries on a space available basis. |
| b. |
Non-NATO active duty may be seen for emergency dental care only and will be referred to the civilian community for follow-up or continued treatment. |
| c. |
There is no military dental care for dependents. |
| d. |
Some examples of civilian dental costs are:
Cleaning - $80-$90
Filling - $75-$300 per filling
X-Ray (single) - $35-$50
X-Ray (full) - $115-$125
Crown - $800-$1100
Root Canal - $700-$1200 |
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