Looking for a Country Which Knows How to Honor Its Veterans?

Transcription

1 Edition A Newsletter for Indiana s Veterans Service Officers August 20, 2001 Looking for a Country Which Knows How to Honor Its Veterans? By Tom Applegate There is a country I ve heard of which really takes care of its veterans. In that country, veterans who serve for two or more years, less if they served before 1980, are taken care of for the rest of their lives. From the moment of their discharge they are immediately eligible for medical care for life. If they don t earn enough money, their care is free at veteran hospitals which have been established all over the country. If they have no insurance the cost of emergency care in a civilian hospital is absorbed by the government. At the veteran s hospital they can undergo a major operation, get doctor and nursing care, medicines and meals for less than $800 plus $10 a day while they re there. They can get prescription medicine at any of these veteran s hospitals for less than $8 for a 30-day supply, and when they need them, many veterans get eyeglasses and hearing aids for free. Veterans in that country who served during a wartime period, are totally disabled and have limited income actually receive a pension from the government, and, those who were wounded or injured while they were serving get special compensation, which is paid to them based on the severity of their disability. If their disability exceeds a certain rating, and if they have dependents, the government pays them even more money every month. Veterans who have difficulty coping with things they may have done or saw while they were in combat or other stressful situations, can get free counseling at centers which have been established all over the country, and also at the veteran s hospitals. If their service connected disability causes them difficulty being hired or holding a job, the government will retrain them for a whole new occupation. If they were injured to such a degree that they need to be in a wheelchair or use some other kind of device, the government will pay to have their house or their car adapted so they can use them more easily. Those same veterans get a clothing allowance every year to replace clothing which was damaged by prosthetic devices - devices which were furnished by the government. The government of that country even makes it possible for its veterans to buy or remodel a house without having to make a down payment, and even guarantees the loan to the lender. In some states, veterans service connected disabled to a degree of at least 10% pay less property taxes. Veterans in that country who serve in the armed forces for over three years and who agree to have $100 a month withheld from their pay for the first 12 months they serve, can go to college while they are still in the military or after their discharge and have most of it paid for by the government. In addition, there are state educational programs which pay entirely or in part for the education of the veteran s dependents. There are laws in that country which prohibit discrimination at work against veterans because they are disabled. Veterans get special consideration when applying for jobs and have preference for government positions. Even the surviving spouses of these veterans are cared for. Widowed spouses who have low income can receive a pension even if the veteran served only one day during a wartime period, even if that service was not in the combat area, as long as the period of service was for at least 90 days. Widowed spouses of veterans who died of service connected disabilities or died while they were in service or were rated 100% service connected disabled at the time of their death, can receive compensation of almost $1,000 a month, with annual cost of living increases, for the rest of their life. The veteran who retires from a career in the military service, or the surviving spouse, either of which is over age 65, is covered by supplemental insurance which pays the deductible and the remainder of covered medical expenses not paid for by their own or by government medical care insurance. This same kind of supplemental insurance is provided to the surviving spouse of veterans who were totally service connected disabled or who died of their service connected disability. When veterans pass away, the government of that country gives a national flag to the survivor of the veteran and furnishes a grave marker commemorating their service. There have also been hundreds of veteran cemeteries established all over the country where a veteran can be buried for free. Some survivors of veterans who suffered disabilities get paid up to $450 funeral and plot allowance to help defray the cost of the funeral. Even others are eligible for as much as $1500. And to top it off, that country has set aside two days a year to honor its veterans: one to honor those who have passed away or who died while serving their country, and the other for those veterans who served honorably and are still living. That country sure knows how to take care of its veterans. Veterans who want to move to that country don t have far to go. It s the good old United States of America. As Lee Greenwood says, God Bless the U.S.A.

2 2 VA Announces New Benefit, CHAMPVA For Life August 2, 2001 WASHINGTON -- Improvements to the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) will bring financial relief to older survivors and dependents of some disabled or deceased veterans who face medical expenses not paid by Medicare or other third-party payers. Called CHAMPVA for Life, (CFL) the new benefit is designed for spouses or dependents who are 65 or older. They must be family members of veterans who have a permanent and total service-connected disability, who died of a service-connected condition or who were totally disabled from a service-connected condition at the time of death. They also must have Medicare coverage. This benefit is also provided for surviving spouses who remarried after the death of the veteran, providing the subsequent marriage was terminated by divorce from or death of the subsequent spouse. This improved benefit is part of VA s continuing effort to make sure the families of disabled veterans have health care when the veterans can no longer provide it, said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. I m delighted we can provide prescription outpatient medication coverage, a benefit not offered by Medicare. Beginning October 1, CHAMPVA will pay benefits for covered medical services to eligible beneficiaries who are 65 or older and enrolled in Medicare Parts A&B. The CHAMPVA for Life benefit is payable after payment by Medicare or other third-party payers. For services not covered by Medicare or other insurance, such as outpatient prescription medications, CHAMPVA will be the primary payer. CHAMPVA beneficiaries who reached age 65 as of June 5, 2001, but were not enrolled in Medicare Part B on that date, will be eligible for this expanded benefit even though not enrolled in Medicare Part B. There is no change in CHAMPVA coverage for those beneficiaries 65 and older who do not qualify for Medicare. CFL Beneficiaries Cannot Use a VA Medical Center CHAMPVA beneficiaries with MEDI CARE cannot use a VA medical center because MEDICARE does not pay for services provided by a VA Medical Center. Those who are currently being seen at a VA medical center, will need to find a different provider before MEDICARE and CFL will cover them. Costs Under CFL 1. If the service is covered by MEDICARE and CHAMPVA, there will almost always be no out-of-pocket expense. 2. If the service is covered by MEDICARE and not by CHAMPVA, the MEDICARE co-pay must be paid. 3. If the service is not covered by MEDICARE, but is covered by CHAMPVA, pay the CHAMPVA co-pay (typically 25%). MEDICARE Annual Deductibles and CFL CHAMPVA does not have an annual deductible for inpatient care, so it will cover the MEDICARE deductible normally paid by the dependent. Currently, there is a $792 MEDICARE deductible for inpatient stays of 1-60 days. CHAMPVA would pay the dependent the $792. The MEDICARE deductible for outpatient services is $100. CHAMPVA will reimburse $37.50 of the $100. CFL Does Not Pay MEDICARE Part B Premiums The dependent is responsible for those monthly premiums. Information about the new benefit was recently mailed to all previous CHAMPVA beneficiaries and providers who have filed claims with CHAMPVA. People over age 65 who have never been eligible for CHAMPVA can request an application by writing to the VA Health Administration Center (HAC), P.O. Box , Denver, CO Veterans and family members can also call toll-free, , to obtain the latest recorded information, leave a change of address, or request information to be mailed to them. This phone line is available 24 hours a day. Inquiries may also be ed to hac.inq@med.va.gov Updates about CHAMPVA for Life and other benefits information will be posted to VA s Health Administration Center Web site at SOURCE: VA News Release 1. To contact TRICARE Help Desks, call the following toll-free numbers: ogeneral TRICARE information/ assistance: otricare Pharmacy: otricare For Life: To obtain assistance via , contact mailto:questions@tma.osd.mil or mailto:tricare_help@amedd.army.mil ********************* Type II, Adult Onset Diabetes Claims Effective July 9, 2001 VA has named July 9, 2001, the date of the regulation, as the effective date for claims for Type II diabetes. Claims filed previous to that date will have an effective date of July 9, On page 8 of this Eagle is a form which the veteran claimant can take to have filled out by his private doctor. The form covers the basic information needed by VA to evaluate the claim and may save (continued on page 3)

3 Type II Diabetes (continued from page 2) the veteran from needing to take a subsequent C&P exam. Thanks to Randy Fairchild, INVSOA Vice-President and Tippecanoe County CVSO for providing the information for the form. Active Military Service Partially Redefined for Veterans Benefits Purposes Includes additional Guard/Reserve periods of training Public Law , The Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act, signed November 1, 2000, included a provision revising the definition of the term active military service for veterans benefits purposes. Public Law expanded this term to now include any period of inactive duty for training during which the individual concerned was disabled or died from an injury incurred or aggravated in line of duty, or from an acute myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, or a cerebrovascular accident occurring during such service. Prior to this legislation, VA could not service connect any type of disease entity aggravated by inactive duty for training. Inactive duty for training normally includes weekend drills and annual training for reservists. Also prior to passage of Public Law , VA routinely denied service connection for cause of death cases even when a member of the service died while performing physical endurance exercises or testing during inactive duty for training. Now, all future heart attacks or stroke related deaths or disabilities incurred during inactive duty for training may be service connected requiring VA payment of either disability compensation or survivor s death benefits (Dependency Indemnity Compensation). Furthermore, all veterans and surviving spouses should reopen their claim for reconsideration under this law if they previously had an inactive duty disability or death claim denied when the death or disability was caused from a heart attack or stroke. Additional information is available by contacting The American Legion Department Service Office. From American Legion Service and Legislative Update, May 31, Merchant Marines Granted Veteran Status In 1998, Merchant Marines who served any time between December 7, 1941 and August 15, 1945 were granted veterans status for VA benefits. Additionally, in November 1998 Public Law granted veterans benefits, mostly burial benefits, to merchant mariners who served from August 16, 1945 through December 31, According to VA Pamphlet , the 2001 Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents, a number of groups who have provided military-related services to the United States have been granted VA benefits. For the service to qualify, the Defense Secretary must certify that the group has provided active military service. Individual members must be issued a 3 discharge by the Defense Secretary to qualify for VA benefits. Service in the following groups has been certified as active military service for benefits purposes. Included in those groups is: U.S. merchant seamen who served on blockships in support of Operation Mulberry in the World War II invasion of Normandy ; and American merchant marines in oceangoing service during World War II. In order to apply for these benefits, the merchant marine must request and receive a DD Form 214. Veterans in the first group will be provided one free-of-charge. Veterans in the second group must purchase theirs. Both groups can apply by completing DD Form 2168 and mailing it, along with copies of any merchant marine documents proving dates of service to U.S. Coast Guard, USCG WW2, P.O. Box , Chicago, IL Members in the latter group should enclose a check or money order for $30, payable to the U.S. Coast Guard. The USCG has one year to process the application. The merchant mariner will receive a DD Form 214 issued by the Department of Defense. He may then apply for the appropriate VA benefits. New Funeral Program Teams Active Military and Veterans Groups by Gerry J. Gilmore American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- The Defense Department is teaming with veteran s service organizations across the country to enhance traditional funeral ceremonies that honor the nation s military veterans. Representatives from the office of the secretary of defense, the military services, the Department of Veterans Affairs, veteran s service organizations, the National Cemetery Administration, the (continued on page 4)

4 4 New Funeral Program (continued from page 3) Funeral Directors Association and other groups met June 28 at American Legion headquarters here for the announcement of the Authorized Provider Partnership Program s July debut. Charles S. Abell, Assistant Secretary of Defense for force management policy, said the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and other groups will be asked to augment DODprovided personnel at military funerals by providing volunteers to serve as color guards, rifle detail members, pallbearers and buglers. We want to provide the appropriate honors to veterans who pass away, Abell said. The veterans organizations want to help us, and we would like to have their help. (The program) will enhance the honors that can be rendered with their performance. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 authorizes the partnership program and also states DOD will provide at least two active, guard or reserve uniformed servicemembers to fold and present a ceremonial U.S. flag to survivors at military funerals. One of the two detail members must be of the same service as the deceased. DOD also provides a military musician, if available, to play Taps, or the music is rendered via high-quality compact disc. The CDs, recorded at Arlington National Cemetery in 1999, are part of a kit sent to licensed funeral directors working in association with DOD, veterans service organizations, and all active and reserve component military units conducting funerals. What we have now, Abell added, is a formal program where veterans service organizations can be trained by the local (military) installation commander... (to) ensure that the quality of the honors rendered are to standard and that the funeral honors rendered in any particular place around the nation will be the same, he said. Installation commanders will train and certify volunteers, Abell said. The volunteers, he added, are eligible for reimbursement of their travel expenses, such as gas and meals associated with their ceremonial duties. Other groups, he added, such as ROTC detachments and reserve component advisory units could also participate in the program. Letters introducing the program, a 20-minute training video, and pins for presentation to participants will be mailed to military unit commanders during July, officials said. Letters explaining the program and training videos will also be mailed to veterans service organizations. Abell, attending the Washington meeting with John M. Molino, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy, remarked that America s World War II and Korean War veterans are passing on at an increased rate. DOD officials note that 91,074 military funeral honors were performed in 2000, a 110-percent increase from the 43,277 funerals performed in All the military services report increased military funeral honors ceremonies so far this year. Retired Army Col. Mike Duggan, the American Legion s Deputy Director of National Security and Foreign Relations, said at the meeting, that World War II vets comprise about 40 percent of the Legion s membership. While the American Legion today has about 4,000 funeral detail teams, we re losing the people who are providing the (funeral) honors as well, he said. Military officials said additional reserve component participation is augmenting the active-duty military funeral teams; however, Abell reiterated the importance of participation by organizations outside DOD. In order to provide a more complete service, with a firing detail, color guard and pallbearers, we rely on the patriotism and volunteerism of the veteran s service organizations, he said. Any enhancements that we can provide would just make that better, but the minimum requirement will be met for any family of an authorized veteran who requests such honors. Providing final honors for the nation s veterans is the right thing to do, Abell said. We asked them to put their lives on the line for the freedoms we all enjoy today. As they reach the end of their lives, the nation has a commitment to them, owes them an honor as they pass. For those who want that honor, we will provide it. New Quick Reference Guide to Veterans Benefits Available The Service Officer s Reference Cards have been replaced by the new Quick Reference Guide (QRG) to Veterans Benefits. Tom Applegate, developer of both, says the Reference Cards, although handy, were just too hard to keep up to date and maintain. CVSOs who have the cards should switch over to the QRG, which is printed on regular-size paper and is kept in a 3-ring binder. It contains all the same information as the cards and gives information on filing for each particular benefit and advises the correct forms to use. The QRG can also be used on the computer. Its index links directly to the pages. Simply click on the page number in the index and the program, written in Microsoft Word format, takes you directly to that page. Additionally, if there is some other topic which relates to another, the Guide links directly to that page. Best yet, the new QRG, if used on a computer which has the Adobe Acrobat Reader installed, and while connected to the Internet, has direct access to the actual VA forms which can be typed on while still in the computer, then printed and mailed. CVSOs with known addresses have already been ed the new Guide. Those with or without computers who would like either a paper copy of the Guide or a disk with the Guide for use on the computer, should contact Tom Applegate at or to: tom.applegate@huntington.in.us.

5 Hi folks - I recently received an from Paul Angrisano (VVA CSR-NY) concerning awards of presumptive SC for diabetes mellitus Type II. Paul just secured an award of SC for a client, effective as of July 9, As you know, the VA s final regulation establishing presumtive SC for this disorder has an effective date of July 9, Paul inquired as to whether we should be filing appeals (NODs) to the assignment of 7/9/01 as the effective date of SC, where the veteran has filed a claim for SC for Type II diabetes before that date. The short answer is - no, not yet. I testified before Congress on Tuesday, 7/10/01, with respect to this very issue. The argument essentially is that if exposure to herbicidal agents is presumed and the veteran had filed a claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus (Type II) prior to July 9, 2001, there is no reason why the effective date of an award of service connection should not be established retroactively to the date of the VA s receipt of the original claim for service connection. See, generally, 38 U.S.C. 5110(a); 38 C.F.R The problem is that 38 U.S.C. 1116(c)(2) provides that VA regulations promulgated as a result of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs conclusion that a positive association exists between exposure to herbicidal agents and a specified condition or disease shall be effective on the date of issuance of the regulation. In view of 38 U.S.C. 1116(c)(2) and 5110(g), the VA apparently does not have the authority to provide for a regulatory assignment of an effective date earlier than the date on which the rule was issued (here, effectively July 9, 2001). Consequently, an appeal of the 7/9/01 effective date for SC would not suceed, since the VA is legally precluded from granting an effective date earlier than the effective date of the regulation. We should therefore hold off on filing NODs now, in the hopes that Congress will heed our argument and pass H.R. 862 as we have recommended. I explained to the Letters to the Editor House Veterans Affairs Committee that in order to correct the inequity of the delayed recognition of the impact of service-connected diabetes on the lives of veterans and their families, Congress should include in H.R. 862 a provision establishing an effective date for presumptive service connection retroactive to the date of an original claim for service connection for that disorder. We believe that such a directive would be consistent with the case of Nehmer v. U.S. Veterans Administration, C.A. No. C (TEH) (N.D. Cal.) (awards of disability compensation or dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) made pursuant to VA regulations issued on the basis of 38 U.S.C may, under certain circumstances, be made retroactive to the date of an earlier claim that was filed before the issuance of such regulations). Once the law has been amended to allow for retroactive SC, we can file new claims for earlier effective dates. To appeal these original awards now would only waste your and your clients times, since the VA and the BVA have legal justification to establish an effective date of 7/9/01. Please rest assured that we will continue to lobby for a change in the law in this respect. You can review my testimony on our website under legislative affairs/recent VVA testimony. Click on the 7/10/01 hearing. The AO-related testimony appears under H.R Thank you very much for you continued excellent work on behalf of our clients. Best regards, Len Selfon Vietnam Veterans of America ************************ Forwarded from Monte Crenshaw, AMVETS August 8, 2001 Director (00/21) In Reply Refer To: 216 All VA Regional Offices and Centers Fast Letter SUBJ: Burial of Homeless and Indigent Veterans In response to recent Congressional and Office of the Inspector General interest, we are reminding you of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) commitment to assist in the burial of unclaimed remains of homeless and indigent veterans. Purpose The purpose of this letter is to ask that field station Directors: Ensure that coordination is established among regional offices, VA medical centers and National cemeteries to improve the ways in which VA works together to identify and determine the veteran status of unclaimed decedents of those who have served in uniform. Re-establish and maintain liaison with funeral directors, veterans services organizations, and involved local agencies of jurisdiction providing service for unclaimed remains. Establish a point of contact at the regional office that will handle incoming inquiries on unclaimed remains for identification of a known deceased person alleged to be a veteran. Meet or correspond with local Medical Examiner s offices or other involved local agencies to provide them with a description of the benefits available for the burial of these veterans and to outline procedures to be followed. State Benefits Reference System 5 Information about burial benefits available from local and State resources is contained in the State Benefits Reference System. Employees responsible for working with the indigent veteran burial program should be familiar with those benefits. Additional information about the State Benefits Reference System is contained in Fast Letter (continued on page 6)

6 6 Fast Letter (continued from page 5) 2. Best Practices In many locations, VA medical centers, regional offices, and national cemeteries have developed One VA best practices by working together to establish procedures for providing dignified burials for otherwise abandoned veterans. Some of these are featured in the January/February 2001 VAnguard. This publication is available via Internet at Legislative Authorities and Program Procedures The following citations are related to burial benefits and burial of indigent veterans: 38 CFR , 38 CFR , 38 CFR (d), 38 DFR , 38 U.S.C. Section 2301, 38 U.S.C. Section 2302, 38 U.S.C. Section 2303 (a)(1) and (b), M21-1, Part III, Chapter 13, M21-1, Part VII, Chapter 4. Your cooperation and support are appreciated. Questions should be directed to index.htm. This letter rescinds July 21, /s/ Ronald J. Henke, Director Compensation and Pension Service ********************* 40 Percent Chance of Benefits Error A May 31 General Accounting Office report finds the Department of Veterans Affairs has made little progress in improving the accuracy of claims decisions. Last year, 40 percent of claims decisions had mistakes, far from the Veterans Benefits Administration s goal of 96 percent accuracy. The problem continues even though the VA has hired more people to handle claims, because many new employees have yet to be fully trained in the intracacies of the process. VA officials hope to improve their accuracy by 8 percentage points this year, but this would still leave a 32 percent chance that the wrong decision will be made when a veteran asks for help. Lawmakers and the Bush administration are clearly unhappy and will be pressing for a quicker solution. VA Secretary Anthony Principi has made this issue one of his top priorities. Note: We at the Huntington office have found the VA tends to initially under-rate a claim. Whether this is done on purpose by VA in an attempt to reduce spending, or if the VA ratings board actually feels they have made the proper rating, may be something we ll never know. But, it is for this reason we always tell veterans who file a claim through our office to notify us as soon as possible after they receive a rating decision. In most cases, we have already provided VA with all the information they need to award a higher rating - it is just a case of convincing them the rating should be higher. This is another good reason for advising the veteran claimant to appoint a representative from one of the veterans organizations. Without a representative, our office would never receive copies of rating decisions unless the claimant brings them in. Many times, we have had to call or write the claimant to advise them of their opportunity to disagree with a VA decision. We ve found most claimants, although advised in writing by VA of their appellant rights, tend to consider VA decisions as final and, unless advised otherwise, tend to accept the decision. The scary thought is that perhaps VA knows of this tendency and intentionally under-rates claims, thinking the claimant will simply accept the decision. We would hope this is not the case, but we re not naive enough to think it may not be a possibility. * The Truth, by the Numbers Finally, the truth about Vietnam War Veterans By Fred Peck Col. USMC (Ret.) What is the truth about Vietnam War veterans? The facts easily prove Vietnam War veterans are as well-adjusted as veterans of previous wars, and even as successful or more successful than their peers who did not serve. But no one wants to listen. They know that Vietnam War vets are the dregs of society. They know that they were drafted from the lower rungs of society and were disproportionally young, poor and minorities. They know Vietnam War vets were just cannon fodder who returned home addicted to drugs and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. That s what they ve been told over and over again. Why should they believe otherwise? What is the truth about Vietnam War veterans? A 1980 Harris Poll showed that 91 percent of Vietnam War veterans were glad they d served their country, 74 percent enjoyed their time in the service and 89 percent agreed that our troops were asked to fight in a war which our political leaders in Washington would not let them win. Nine million men and women served in the military during the Vietnam War, 3 million of whom went to the Vietnam theater. Contrary to popular myths, two-thirds of these were volunteers; only a third were draftees. Contrast that with the fact that two-thirds of those who served in World War II were drafted. That is not to malign those who served in World War II, including my father and uncle. It s just to point out the fallacy of two myths: Myth Number One: In World War II, the vast majority of those who served were volunteers. Myth Number two: In Vietnam, the vast majority were draftees. That s just not so. Consider these facts as reported by James Webb: In World War II the average (continued on page 7)

7 The Truth by Numbers (continued from page 6) age of those who served was 25, of which 24 percent were high-school graduates and 7 percent were college graduates. In the Vietnam War, the average age was 23, where 79 percent were high-school graduates, and 20 percent were college graduates. Volunteers made up 67 percent of the forces in the Vietnam War but suffered 77 percent of the casualties and 43 percent of the deaths. Webb also debunks the myth repeated frequently today that minorities suffered a disproportionate level of the casualties. In fact, Webb and many others have reported that African- Americans were 13.1 percent of the population during the Vietnam War, and they represented 12.6 percent of the Armed Forces. Contrary to conventional wisdom, they did not suffer disproportionate casualties in Vietnam percent of those killed or wounded were African-American. Still, the myths remain. Telling the story right. Militarily, tactically and strategically, we learned a great deal from the war in Vietnam. On the social front, however, it appears we have lost the war again and almost without a fight. In my hometown of Gunnison, Colo., I pointed out to the students on Veterans Day that their county sheriff was a Vietnam War vet, as was the owner of a local construction business, an architect, two college professors, a lumber store manager and one millionaire venture capitalist. Once it was popular to speak of winning the hearts and minds of the Vietnamese people if we hoped to win the war. Now it behooves all veterans to win the hearts and minds of current generations, if we are finally to know the most important lesson of the Vietnam War here at home: When their country needed them, Vietnam War veterans answered the call. The alternative is to continue to let the likes of Oliver Stone, Francis Ford Coppola and Stanley Kubrick tell their story - and tell it wrong. The vast majority of Vietnam War veterans served willingly and faithfully, and they deserve the recognition and gratitude of their country just as fully as do the veterans of our other wars. It is our duty to tell our children and our grandchildren that Vietnam War veterans served with honor. That s a duty I don t take lightly - nor should you. Excerpted from an article in The American Legion Magazine, May Fred Peck, a retired Marine colonel and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, served as senior spokesman for Operation Restore Hope in Somolia. ******************** Tricare for Life Mailout Begins Administrators have started mailing packages about the Tricare for Life program that begins October 1 for Medicare-eligible military retirees, spouses and survivors. Officials report that some recipients thought the package was junk mail, and tossed it out. Accordingly, redesign and r ing has occurred in some instances. The cover letter asks each potential beneficiary to complete and return the Beneficiary Information Update form included in the package. Note: It is important to complete Item 4b, which asks if you intend to terminate other insurance. TFL will be second payer to Medicare only if TFL officials know that the beneficiary has no other insurance. Conversely, if supplementary insurance is retained without TFL s knowledge, double payments could occur, requiring an eventual payback. Potential beneficiaries who do not receive a package should check their records in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (next item). ************************ How to Correct DEERS Data Tricare for Life may not kick in for beneficiaries if their DEERS information is not current (previous item). Individuals can update their address records in any of the following ways: Visit a Military Treatment Facility or a local military personnel office that has an ID card facility. Call (In California , and in Alaska or Hawaii ); Fax changes to (831) Mail to DSO, Attn: COA, 400 Gigling Road, Seaside, CA addrinfo@osd.pentagon.mil and include the sponsor s name and Social Security number, name(s) of other family members affected by the address change, effective date of address information, and telephone number, if available. To change information other than address data in DEERS, beneficiaries may visit an ID card facility, or mail or fax changes with documentation to the address or fax numbers provided above. To learn what documentation is required, contact the nearest military ID card facility. For more information on TRICARE for Life, call or visit or: * 7

8 8 Doctor s Statement Type-Il Diabetes Claims A private doctor s record is considered sufficient if it contains the following information: Name: SSN: DOB: Age at onset: Diagnostic test used: Comment on treatment modalities such as insulin, diet, regulation of activities: Discuss, if applicable, the prior and current episodes of ketoacidosis or hypoglycemic reactions: Describe any complications that stem from the veteran s diabetes such as amputations and vision, vascular, renal or neurological problems: ( Doctor s Signature & Date)

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