Health Care

Comprehensive news and information from Military Times about Tricare and health care for troops, veterans and retirees

New military parents: Ignore social media posts promising free baby formula from Tricare

Tricare doesn't cover regular baby formula for otherwise healthy infants.

7 hours ago

Army drafting abortion policy in case Roe v. Wade is overturned

Policies have been drafted, though they have not been signed.

5 days ago

Pay & Benefits

Errors in DoD’s new electronic health care records system raise concerns among providers

Health care providers say mistakes and incomplete information affect patient health care.

‘She died in excruciating pain, instead of being properly treated,’ says sailor’s father

Suffering in this case, as well as another, could have been prevented by proper military medical care, such as a simple antibiotic, witnesses say.

7 weeks ago

Long-term health effects of Hawaii’s fuel-tainted water are unclear, CDC and Navy say

'We do not anticipate long term health concerns. But we don't know definitively," said Hawaii's top Navy doctor.

2 months ago

How are military teens coping? Landmark study will follow them over time to find out

DoD researchers will contact about 50,000 military and veteran parents of adolescents.

2 months ago

Military families file federal claims in Hawaii water crisis

Families allege they were denied "even the most basic standard of care" at military medical facilities.

3 months ago

Military families’ at-home COVID tests should be covered, too, lawmakers say

Military families with youngsters in child care are among those paying out-of-pocket for frequent at-home tests.

3 months ago

Reminder: Open seasons end Dec. 13 for Tricare, FEDVIP

This is the one time of year when you can make changes in your Tricare plan, unless you have a qualifying life event such as moving, marriage, birth of a child, or retirement from active duty.

5 months ago

‘I regret I did not tell our families not to drink the water,’ Hawaii joint base commander says

Navy captain said he is 'beyond grieved' to know that he contributed to Hawaii families' suffering by his words about initial water tests.

5 months ago

‘Why weren’t you there to protect us?’ Hawaii military families grill Navy leaders about toxic water

Officials said they have now identified three Air Force housing communities, five Navy communities and two Army communities affected by the contamination.

5 months ago

Military health care deadlines looming

Dec. 13 is the deadline for Tricare and FEDVIP enrollment and changes.

6 months ago

CVS returns to the military Tricare pharmacy network. Walmart’s out

Walmart officials, who signed an agreement with Express Scripts Sept. 30 to continue in the network, were surprised by the news they're out.

7 months ago

Despite drug shortages, military has mostly been able to find alternative supplies

National supply chain issues are causing more drug shortages, according to reports. But the military appears okay for now.

7 months ago

Ensign Kaitlyn Leibing, right, helps Hospitalman Angela Mello don personal protective equipment (PPE) before entering a COVID-19-positive, non-critical patient’s room at Naval Medical Center San Diego on Aug. 4, 2020.

Moving more military patients out of MTFs could cause them ‘significant harm,’ study finds

Military patients are getting better quality of inpatient care in MTFs, compared to those getting care in local civilian hospitals.

7 months ago

Pharmacy costs increasing Jan. 1 for active-duty families, retirees and others

After holding the line on cost of meds for 2021, Tricare officials are increasing the cost anywhere from $1 to $8 for 2022.

8 months ago

How displacement can affect spouses — the perspective of a psych nurse and senior enlisted’s wife

A sense of isolation has led some spouses to intensive mental health crises, says this psychiatric nurse and Space Force spouse. But there are things that can be done to address these issues before they become overwhelming.

8 months ago

A VA hospital barred a veteran’s service dog. After the vet’s suicide, it changed its policy

An investigation looked into two VA facilities that didn't provide adequate mental health care.

8 months ago

Lack of oversight caused VA to overspend by tens of millions on prosthetics: watchdog

An OIG report has found the VHA is overspending on prosthetics.

8 months ago

New plan scales back massive cuts in military medical billets

Many of the billets will be either replaced by civilian hires or their work will be 'absorbed' by others.

8 months ago

Deadline looms for working-age retirees to reinstate lost Tricare Select coverage

The deadline is June 30 to reinstate your Tricare Select coverage.

11 months ago

Backlog of pathology cases forces Fort Belvoir hospital to take action

No information is available about whether backlogs are widespread in DoD health care.

11 months ago

Marketer sentenced to 11 years in federal prison for role in massive Tricare fraud scheme

Scheme involved charging thousands of dollars for compounded medications that Tricare beneficiaries didn't need.

11 months ago

Some Texas Fisher Houses undergoing repairs following extensive winter storm damage

Damage is estimated at $266,000 at one Fisher House at Lackland AFB.

11 months ago

Billet cuts affecting military medical facilities and patients, lawmaker says

'We’ve seen them lose access to quality care.'

12 months ago

Some military treatment facilities failed to limit ADHD prescription lengths, audit finds

At least 65 military treatment facilities ignored Defense Health Agency guidance to limit ADHD prescriptions to no more than 90-day supplies.

13 months ago

Caregivers rejected for VA financial aid could get new appeal chances

The U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims says families should get a chance to take their cases to the Board of Veterans' Appeals, which handles other benefits disputes.

13 months ago

Having COVID doesn’t guarantee immunity, study of Marine recruits finds

Ten percent of Marine recruits who had COVID antibodies got COVID again during basic training.

13 months ago