MOAA LEGISLATIVE UPDATESMOAA Benefits Information Update - June 02, 2003:
1. Directives Allow "Agent" To Shop For Commissary Patrons
Recent activities have brought to the forefront the issue of having someone shop for eligible commissary patrons. It doesn't just apply to children with a deployed parent, but to other authorized patrons who may have difficulty shopping on their own.
Known as the agent privilege, it's for any authorized commissary shopper who needs assistance shopping or who cannot shop on his or her own behalf because of disability, illness or infirmity. That privilege also extends to grandparents, guardians or caregivers of children of service members who may not be available due to deployment or remote assignment.
Authorized shoppers, who are elderly or disabled, and
unfamiliar with the 'agent' privilege, should contact the
identification card section on the installation to determine what
proof is needed to have an agent shop in the commissary on their
behalf.
3. Updates from the Tricare Management Activity
http://www.express-scripts.com/custom/dod/tmopfaq/
4. SBA Support for Reserve and Guard Members
The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering special assistance to activated members of the Reserve and National Guard, and to small businesses affected by their activation.
SBA has created a special Web page specifically for Reserve
and Guard members at www.sba.gov/reservists/ or you can contact
your nearest SBA District Office, and speak to the Veterans
Business Development Officer. For further assistance, contact the
Office of Veterans Business Development at (202) 205-6773 or
visit their web site at http://www.sba.gov/vets/
MOAA's Legislative Update for Friday, June 6, 2003:
Issue 1: Health Care Lawsuit Refused. The Class Act Group's suit
against the federal government ended in frustration on Monday,
when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the group's appeal
of the Circuit Court's dismissal.
Issue 2: Senate Approves Concurrent Receipt Amendment
On Wednesday, the Senate adopted Sen. Harry Reid's (D-NV) concurrent receipt amendment to the FY2004 Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 1588) by voice vote. Now the bill goes to a conference committee to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. This is expected to take until September or later.
That said, the Senate's approval of the Reid amendment gets
the issue back on the conferees' table, whether leadership wants it
there or not. Clearly, last year's action left out lots of deserving
disabled retirees. The omission of Guard and Reserve retirees --
even those with severe combat wounds -- has to be on Congress'
minds when tens of thousands of Guard and Reserve members were
just sent to war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Even more thousands of
retirees whose disabilities were caused by performance of military
duties other than in combat are also not covered.
Issue 3. DoD - VA Health Task Force Reports to President
The recently released final report of the President's Task Force (PTF) to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans offers a number of recommendations on how the DoD and VA health care systems can work together more effectively. Major PTF recommendations include:
Fully funding health care for all veterans enrolled in Priority Groups 1 - 7 "in accordance with VA's established access standards" (primary care appointments scheduled within 30 days).
Requiring VA facilities that can't meet the access standards to refer the veteran patient to a non-VA provider, unless the veteran prefers to wait for a VA appointment.
Allowing military retired veterans (dual-eligibles) to have their military or VA prescriptions filled in the other department's pharmacies.
Implementing "one-stop shopping" to speed seamless transition from active duty to veteran status, with a single separation physical, an interoperable electronic medical record, and collaboration on data-capture on occupational exposures and hazards from military service.
Using a joint strategic planning and budgeting process and improving leader accountability to achieve agreed upon joint objectives for sharing resources.
Working collaboratively to ensure DoD and VA health facility
construction projects in each department are evaluated as
potential joint ventures.
Issue 4: D-Day Remembered
Fifty-nine years ago today (6 June), a combined force of 130,000 American, British, and Canadian soldiers stormed five beaches on the Normandy coast in northern France. Overcoming fierce resistance, they established a foothold on the European continent and began the march to Berlin that would bring World War II to an end.
Nearly six decades after the fact, the courage and heroism of those who saved the world from fascism still offer the ultimate illustration of what we strive to be.
We salute the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who
distinguished themselves so valiantly that day. Their spirit and
sacrifice will continue to inspire generations to come.
MOAA's Member Services Update for June 2003:
MOAA TRAVEL TIPS:
A current listing of these reduced military rates can be found
on the MOAA Vacations Web site, www.moaavacations. com.
Call MOAA Vacations at (800) 211-5107 to learn more.
INSURANCE NEWS:
Is a TRICARE Standard Supplement right for you? Many members call us to ask whether they still need a TRICARE Standard Supplement since the annual TRICARE catastrophic cap went from $7,500 to $3,000. As always, the decision to insure your family against risk is a personal one that each person should make based on his or her own financial situation. However, here are some facts that you need to consider when you are making your decision about a TRICARE Standard Supplement:
Not all expenses can be used to satisfy the annual catastrophic cap. The cap applies only to the amount of money required to meet your family's annual TRICARE Standard deductibles and cost-shares based on TRICARE Standard allowable charges for covered medical care.
Although MOAA's MEDIPLUS TRICARE Standard Supplements do not reimburse the TRICARE deductible, they do cover the remaining eligible expenses that TRICARE leaves for you to pay. These include those excess charges that cannot be applied to the annual catastrophic cap as well as expenses you must pay to reach the $3,000 cap. (Remember, if you have a MEDIPLUS Plan that includes a deductible, you must also meet that deductible before your plan benefits begin.)
For MEDIPLUS TRICARE Supplements, call our insurance administrator toll-free at (800) 247-2192 or send them an email at moaa@marshpm.com.
For information on how the TRICARE program works go to
www.tricare.osd.mil/.
SHOPPING CENTER - PICKS OF THE MONTH:
Traveling this summer? - Take advantage of MOAA's discounts on rental cars, trucks, hotels, cruises and tours. MOAA has discounts with outstanding brands names such as AVIS, Budget cars and trucks, Alamo, Choice Hotels, Days Inn, Ramada, Travelodge and more. Go to www.moaa.org/Products/ for more information and to make your reservations.
MOAA Exchange - Now you can show support for both
MOAA and your service. The MOAA Exchange has a new
selection of dual MOAA and service logos polo shirts and caps.
Visit the MOAA Exchange online at
www.targetlogosonline.com/moaa/ or call 866-663-6622 to place
an order.
MOAA's Legislative Update for Friday, June 13, 2003:
Issue 1: SBP Champions Speak Out for Survivors
MOAA President VADM Norbert R. Ryan, Jr., (USN-Ret) teaming with House legislators at a Thursday Capitol Hill press conference, reaffirmed a commitment to improve the Military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).
Unfortunately, Congress failed to include these initiatives in
the FY2004 Budget Resolution or the FY2004 Defense
Authorization Act.
Issue 2: Medicare Rx Bill Would Offer Relief for Military, Not Problems
We've received many inquiries asking whether the Senate
Finance Committee's new proposal to create a Medicare pharmacy
benefit would affect military TRICARE Senior Pharmacy benefits.
The answer is no. The military program is a separate,
employer-provided benefit. Adding pharmacy coverage to
Medicare is not expected to affect it in any way.
Issue 3: Military Tax Relief Battle Begins Another Round
Lawmakers are seeking support for a new child tax credit bill by highlighting that it would provide refundable tax credits for thousands of military families. The Senate version would provide advance checks to lower-income families this year; a measure approved in the House yesterday would provide the checks next year.
But the House bill also includes tax relief provisions for military homeowners, military survivors and drilling Guard and Reserve service members.
The Senate included similar provisions in the President's $350 billion tax cut bill, but the House didn't -- and they ultimately were dropped from the final bill. Now the House has put them in the child tax credit bill, and the Senate hasn't. That's now three times the House has passed such provisions in the last four months. The Senate has passed them twice in the same period. The current unfair tax law has forced military people to pay thousands of dollars out of their own pockets just for complying with military orders.
Congress needs to stop playing political games with military members' money - and just get it done. Visit http://capwiz.com/moaa/home/ and click on the "Armed Services Tax Fairness Act" link to urge your legislators to action.
MOAA's Legislative Update for Friday, June 20, 2003:
Issue 1: More Medicare Cuts Coming?
In the past year, one of MOAA's important goals has been the enactment of an increase in provider reimbursement rates for Medicare and TRICARE. Significant reductions in reimbursement over the past few years have limited the number of providers willing to treat these patients. These cuts also hurt TRICARE beneficiaries, as TRICARE rates are tied directly to Medicare. In February, lobbying efforts by MOAA and other organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA) were successful in preventing a proposed 4.4 percent Medicare rate cut, and instead effecting a 1.6 percent increase for both Medicare and TRICARE.
Issue 2: MOAA Supports Repeal of Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision (GPO/WEP).
Recently, MOAA joined forces with the National Association
of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) and 48 other organizations
in a coalition to push for the repeal of the Government Pension
Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) in Social
Security law.
There are two key bills before Congress that would fix these
problems -- S. 349, sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA),
and H.R. 594, sponsored by Rep. Buck McKeon (R-CA).
MOAA's Legislative Update for Friday, June 27, 2003:
Issue 1: Coalition Sends Defense Bill Input to Capitol Hill.
This week, MOAA and the 34 other organizations of The Military Coalition (TMC) wrote to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees outlining TMC views on key compensation, benefits, and quality-of-life initiatives in the House and Senate versions of the FY 2004 Defense Authorization Bill.
TMC summarized its most important recommendations in a cover letter and enclosed a "side-by-side" analysis of key differences between the two bills, along with recommendations for resolving those differences in the upcoming House-Senate conference committee.
Here is a summary of the top Coalition recommendations:
TMC's letter and may be found on the MOAA Web site at:
http://www.moaa.org/Legislative/NDAA_Letter.pdf. Scroll to
the bottom of the letter for a link to the Defense Bill "side-by-side"
recommendations.
Issue 2: Signing Discharge Petition Isn't Partisan
Currently, the discharge petition on H.R. 303 has 201 signatures, 17 short of the 218 needed to move the measure to the House floor. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership in the House has expressed opposition to the maneuver (recognizing continuing White House opposition), and is urging its members not add their names. Thus far, only one Republican (Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado) has broken ranks and signed the discharge petition. The leadership, for its part, has responded by accusing the Democrats of playing partisan politics with the issue.
We couldn't disagree more. This is only a partisan issue if politicians choose to make it so. Rep. Mike Bilirakis's H.R. 303
has wide co-sponsorship from both parties (171 Republicans, 173 Democrats, and one Independent). It's not artisan in any way, shape or form to expect legislators of both parties to back up these words with action.
If we are to overcome that opposition, we have to remind legislators that their first duty is to their constituents, not to their party leaders. The only way we're going to move forward is to generate an avalanche of mail to Capitol Hill, and make those who say they support disabled retirees realize that they can't have it both ways.
Even if you have already done so, please take a moment to
write your representative and ask him or her to sign the discharge
petition. You can use the Action Alert on MOAA's Web site:
http://capwiz.com/moaa/home/. You can also try to arrange a
meeting with your legislator during next week's July 4th recess.
The question you ask can be simple, short, and to the point. "If you
support concurrent receipt, and co-sponsored H.R. 303, why don't
you sign the petition?" Hotline: (1-877-762-8762) to call your
Legislator's office.
Issue 3: Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) Update
The Services have received thousands of applications for the new combat-related special compensation (CRSC) for certain disabled retirees. But, the processing has been hampered by incomplete documentation, vague explanations of disabilities, and delays in obtaining disability rating codes and other documentation from the VA.
Here are some tips that can help speed the application process:
The CRSC Application Form is available on the web at:
http://www.dior.whs.mil/forms/DD2860.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions by Topic, Contact Information and other Web Links are available on MOAA's web site at:
http://www.moaa.org/BenefitsInfo/crsc/crsc.asp