Airmen receive quality benefits Published Aug. 14, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Benefits are a hot commodity in the modern job market. But, many military members may not realize the access they have to an array of free or discounted services. In an economy where benefits can make or break the proverbial piggy bank, military members are encouraged to take full advantage of opportunities available to them. Among them are Basic Allowance for Housing, Basic Allowance for Subsistence and medical care. "These benefits are here, but they might not always be here," said Chief Master Sgt. Eric Harmon, 72nd Air Base Wing command chief. "So capitalize on it now." At Tinker, airmen basic through senior airmen -- with less than three years of service, who are unmarried and without dependents -- are required to live on base. BAH pays for a furnished dormitory room and BAS pays for meals, which they receive in addition to their annual base pay. Airmen who live off-base, can use their BAH toward out-of-pocket expenses such as rent or a mortgage, plus utility fees. Kathi England, 72nd Civil Engineering Directorate Housing Sector's Off-Base Housing Referral specialist, said BAH is determined by an independent study group that collects information throughout the year about local rentals, utilities and insurance information. "They combine all acquired information to come up with the median price to help determine next year's BAH rates," Ms. England said. BAH rates for 2009 rose by an average of 6.9 percent over 2008. BAS rates for 2009 increased by approximately 10 percent over 2008. If Airmen live in an on-base house, BAH pays for rent, utilities, kitchen appliances, maintenance and landscaping services, trash collection and a $20,000 personal-property insurance policy. Additionally, residents have access to the community center facilities. Airmen who choose to live off-base could spend approximately $114,000, or $75 per square-foot for a home in the Oklahoma City metro. And, the average one-bedroom apartment in Oklahoma City will cost nearly $520 per month and a two-bedroom apartment will hover around $670 per month. In addition to housing, Airmen have access to health care benefits. Typically active-duty Airmen and their families are covered by TRICARE Prime. Through TRICARE Prime, there are no deductibles, cost-shares or co-payments, unless a prescription needs to be filled. In that case, fees are nominal when filled at a retail pharmacy or through the National Mail Order Pharmacy program. "The true value of this program is the peace of mind knowing that you and your family are taken care of, whether you are here or deployed," said Lt. Col. Timothy Dykens, 72nd Medical Support Squadron commander. Outside of the Air Force, employees could contribute nearly $3,400 per year for a family of four to have health insurance. While co-pays and deductibles vary from company to company, typically, co-pays range in cost from $15 to $30. Deductibles often range from nothing to thousands of dollars. "If you have a medical condition that relies on routine treatment from pills or you need surgery or need routine medical follow-up, or just taking care of your teeth once a year come at a great cost and a lot of Americans don't have that coverage," Chief Harmon said. "In the military we are fortunate to have those types of benefits."