Switching from active-duty military status to retired military status changes health care options for the military member and his/her dependents. In our adventurous family, with four active kids, there are definitely odds we may have a few extra trips to the doctor, so some of the important changes for us to be aware of are copays for visits to a doctor, dentist, or other health care providers. Knowing the possible copay up front would help us know how to set our monthly budget for health care. Through my husband’s new civilian job, we also had the option of using their health care benefits. We took time to look over the benefits from both his military retirement and his new employer and were then able to determine which health care options were the best for our family and our needs. For us, we chose to use eye care benefits from my husband’s new job, but to keep using the dental and regular health care benefits offered through the military. With these options we have been able to put five of our six family members in glasses or contact lenses and keep up with routine optical and dental visits, and overall doctor visits at a very minimal cost.