"Keepers of the Dragon"

Service Officer - January 2002

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Service Officer’s Report

January 2002

 Dear fellow members,

 Below are some items of information that are either updated from the last report given at the reunion or are new developments.  Please note that my new e-mail address is:  charlesj.weber@fmcti.com

 Please feel free to write with any questions that you may have.

 Yours in service,

 Chuck Weber

NNWA Service Officer  


Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Information 

-         The latest edition of the VA Handbook of Veterans Benefits can be ordered for $5 at (202) 512-1800 or Superintendent of Documents, PO Box 371954 , Pittsburgh , PA   15250-7954

-         VA will pay for non-VA Emergency Services beginning in fiscal year 2002 if the veteran is enrolled in the VA healthcare system, has received VA care within the past 24 months and has no other health insurance.  Other regulations are being written.

-         VA’s VGLI Insurance rates have been lowered for those under age 59.

-         VA Prescription Plan Co-Pay Increases effective 01 Jan 2002 from $2 per 30 day prescription to $7 with a maximum annual cap of $840 for veterans in priority categories 1 through 6.  Those in category 7 are considered able to afford the $7.

-         VA Claims Processing is now prioritized to handle older veterans first.  Those over 70 years of age will be handled first (they are dying at the rate of 1,369 per day).  There are currently 668,000 claims in backlog of which 81,000 are over one year old.  Of that number, 6000 are for veterans over age 70.  The average claim processing time in 2001 was 273 days.

-         VA Outpatient Care goes to a 3-tier system for co-pay, highlights are (1) tier one includes preventive care, flu shots, lab tests, some x-rays, hepatitis-C screening etc and will cost veterans nothing, (2) tier two requires a $15 co-pay for primary-care outpatients visits and (3) tier three has a $50 co-pay for specialty outpatient care such as surgery, audiology and optometry.

-         VA Disability Compensation Concession -  if you have Adult on-set Type II diabetes and your are a Vietnam veteran, the disease is now automatically considered to be caused by agent orange exposure.  You are automatically considered to be agent orange exposed is you are a Vietnam veteran, or were in several other areas or activities.  If you have it, file you claim to the VA TODAY!  Every day you wait you will lose money and health care that you are entitled to!!!

-         VA has decided against tobacco caused disabilities – use of tobacco will not be considered “service connected” in any disability or death claim.  It is considered a self inflicted condition.

 Other Tidbits

 -         Pay your government debts!  If over $25 and 180 days past due they’ll take it out of your Social Security check!

-         Concurrent receipt of Military Retirement and VA Disability Compensation almost made it but failed in conference committee between the House and the Senate.  The Senate put too much restriction on it, the President is against it (yes, this is true!)  Call and/or write your representatives and tell them to pass this next year.  Go to www.troa.org for an easy way to make your views known.

-         Long-term Care Insurance for ALL federal employees has been approved by Congress.  OPM is developing the program which is expected to commence 1 Oct 2002 .  It will include several plans to cover or defray the costs of nursing homes, assisted living, adult day care and home care.  The House of Representatives approved (in HR 2559) expanded eligibility as well as state and federal tax exemption for premiums.

 HOAXES

-         VA Insurance does not and never has and never will pay ANY dividends to you.  NOT EVER!  This dividend hoax starts up every year or two.  Do NOT call the VA!

-         Do not talk to anyone about lump-sum buy outs of your VA disability, pension, retirement or other benefits.  These are all bogus.

-         Do not talk to anyone about paying a fee to enroll you in Tricare for Life.  It’s free.  And the phone call is free.  This “fee” is bogus.

 Tricare for Life (TFL)

 -         is effective as of 01 Oct 2001

-         it works as a second payer after Medicare

-         it is optional and available to all military retirees, their spouses and survivors who are over 65 years of age.  Each must be enrolled in DEERS.

-         it is without cost, but you must be enrolled in Medicare Part B which has a cost of $50/month per person.

-         it pays all co-pays and deductible amounts  not covered by Medicare

-         the “catastrophic cap” has been lowered from $7,500 per year to $3,000.  Once you pay out of pocket expenses of $3,000, TFL will pay all additional allowable charges.

-         all eligible participants will receive mailed info prior to their 65th birthday

-         find official DOD program info at www.tricare.osd.mil

-         find an excellent info pamphlet at www.troa.org or (888) 363-5433

-         find excellent TFL update info at www.military.com

-         there was a TFL start-up hiccup between 1 Oct 2001 and 1 Dec 2001 that affected 195,000 of the 1.1 million Tricare enrollees.  It lost automatic claims processing.  It has been corrected.

-         does NOT provide for long term care (see above under tidbits)

INCORPORATION

Chuck Weber reports that NNWA Incorporation will be completed by January 31!!!

 

 

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January 01, 2014

 

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