Go with Tri care standard, that is what the local deers office told me. Prime is an HMO and to have any treatment out of area requires preapproval. Standard only requires you to show your ID card and if it is accepted there are NO copays. Prime covers 80% of APPROVED costs standard covers 75% so you are on the hook no matter what. Look up and get a good supplement, join the various organization, amer legion, vfw, DAV (if appropriate). Thes guys will help if you need help with the VA and other issues. They also offer supplemental insurance coverage. I have ASI out of rocklidge MD. runs for me only around $200/quarter. They do have family plans. Also prior to ETS make sure you have a complete PHYSICAL and have it annotated on your 314 with any medical issues and then run, do not walk to the nearest VA where you plan to live and get in to the system. Here in Tucson is one of the best VA's going and we have DMAFB just down the way. Not all VA's are equal, the one in pheonix sucks I've been told when the 2 are compared, same with some down in alabama.
I dont know your rank but if an officer join MOAA, they are fighting to limit cuts to retirees and VA. the present admin want retirees to pay more (above the 150/450 currently). They want to charge based on retirement pay grade E7 on up take it in the shorts basically. So make sure you join something that advocates for you.
