Dan Meyer's Column TRICARE Decrease, Assisting Veterans with Health Care Costs

By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445.

What is a veteran? A veteran is a man or women who was willing to write a blank check, made payable to the United States of America, for an amount up to and including their life. The next time you meet a veteran, please take the time to say, "Thank you for your commitment to my liberty and freedom."

Flash News. TRICARE Reserve Select Monthly Premiums Decrease.

Effective Jan. 1, 2009, TRICARE will reduce rates for the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) health plan. Monthly premiums for TRS individual coverage will drop 44 percent from $81.00 to $47.51, and TRS family coverage will drop 29 percent from $253.00 to $180.17.

Established in 2005, TRS is a premium-based health plan for National Guard and Reserve personnel available for purchase by members of the Selected Reserve, not on active duty, who are not eligible for, or enrolled in, Federal Employee Health Benefit plans.

The TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) is a field activity of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and was established under Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 5136.12 in 2001. For more information about TRS, visit the TRICARE website at www.tricare.mil.

In the "Did You Know?" segment. One of the most enduring symbols of our nation representing the land of the free and the home of the brave is our flag —"Old Glory." The Minnesota Secretary of State's office has produced a brochure on Flag Etiquette to ensure that our flag is handled with respect.

This guide to flag etiquette is available free and can be obtained by emailing the Office of the Secretary of State at: secretary.state.@state.mn.us or by calling 651-201-1324. Quantities are available for distribution to groups and classrooms. The brochure is also available online at: www.sos.state.mn.us/docs/flag_etiquette.pdf.

Until next week, take care and "Fair winds and following seas!"


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February 20, 2009 - Assisting Veterans with Health Care Costs
By: Dan Meyer
The office hours for the Lac qui Parle County Veterans Service Office are 8:30 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. My office phone number is (320) 598-3445.

VA Assisting Veterans with Health Care Costs.

For veterans struggling financially due to a job loss or decreased income, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers an assortment of programs that can relieve the costs of health care or provide care at no cost.

With the downturn in the economy, VA recognizes that many veterans will feel the effects. Therefore, it is important that eligible veterans learn of the many ways VA has to help them afford the health care they have earned.

Veterans whose previous income was ruled too high for VA health care may be able to enter the VA system based upon a hardship if their current year's income is projected to fall below federal income thresholds due to a job loss, separation from service or some other financial setback.

Veterans determined eligible due to hardship can avoid copays applied to higher-income veterans. Qualifying veterans may be eligible for enrollment and receive health care at no cost.

Also eligible for no-cost VA care are most veterans who recently returned from a combat zone. They are entitled to five years of free VA care. The five-year "clock" begins with their discharge from the military, not their departure from the combat zone.

Each VA medical center across the country has an enrollment coordinator available to provide veterans information about these programs.

Veterans may also contact VA's Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222 VETS (8387) or visit the VA health eligibility website at www.va.gov/healtheligibility.

In the "Did You Know?" segment. The nation's nearly 3 million service-connected disabled veterans and survivors received a 5.8 percent increase in monthly benefits that began in January 2009. It's true.

Until next week, take care and "Fair winds and following seas!"