1. No category

Retired Military
2014
Newsletter
Table of Contents
COLA ……………….1
TRICARE Travel ……1
Aid & Assistance ……1
Burial benefits ………2
TRICARE Tests ……..2
Fisher House ………...3
Vaccinations …………3
RADs ………………..3
Survivor’s Asst ……...3
Helpful material …….3
WW&R …………….4
Getaway ……………4
COLA. The Consumer Price Index dipped 0.2 percent in August.
It now stands 1.6 percent above the FY2014 COLA baseline. The
July, August, and September CPIs will be used to calculate the
2015 COLA. It is predicted that the 2015 COLA will somewhere
between 1.6 and 1.8 percent.
TRICARE travel. Medical issues are most likely not on your
mind when you plan a trip whether it is just a few hundred miles
from home or out of the country. Here are some things to keep in
mind:
1. TRICARE plans (Standard, Prime or For-Life) vary
slightly. In each case, if you have an emergency you may
generally use any host nation provider or receive care at military
hospitals and clinics on a space-available basis, except in the
Philippines, where you are required to see a certified provider for care.
2. Out of country, when seeking care from a host nation provider, you should be prepared to
pay up front for services and submit a claim to TRICARE when you return home. There may
be no limit to the amount that nonparticipating non-network providers may bill, and you are
responsible for paying any amount that exceeds the TRICARE-allowable charge in addition
to your deductible and cost-shares. For more information about getting care overseas, visit
www.tricare-overseas.comor www.Tricare4u.com. The 4u.com site is designed for retirees
under TRICARE-FOR-LIFE and has a quick link to its handbook which cover traveling
overseas (pg. 14); pharmacy concerns (pg. 26); and much more.
3. When you are ready to file your claim, call your region TRICARE office for assistance. The
claims forms may differ between regions. http://www.tricare.mil/GettingCare/Traveling.aspx
Aid & Assistance. The A&A Pension can provide up to $1,758
per month to a veteran, $1,130 per month to a surviving spouse,
or $2,085 per month to a couple. A Veteran filing with a Sick
…the Veteran can file
Spouse is eligible for up to $1,380 per month. Many families as a Veteran with a sick
overlook the A&A Pension as it pertains to veterans who are still
spouse
independent, but have an ill spouse. Keep in mind that in this
situation, if the spouse's medical expenses completely deplete
their combined monthly income, the Veteran can file as a Veteran with a sick
spouse.
1
Eligibility must be proven by filing the proper Veterans Application for Pension or
Compensation. Form 21-534EZ for surviving spouse (Instructions Included). Form 21-527EZ
Veteran (Instructions Included). This application will require a copy of DD-214 or separation
papers, Medical Evaluation from a physician, current medical issues, net worth limitations, and
net income, along with out-of-pocket Medical Expenses.
Burial benefits. The VA is changing its monetary burial benefits regulations to simplify the
program and pay eligible survivors more quickly and efficiently. These regulations will authorize
VA to pay, without a written application, most eligible surviving spouses basic monetary burial
benefits at the maximum amount authorized in law through automated systems rather than
reimbursing them for actual costs incurred.

Under the current regulations, VA pays for burial and funeral expenses on a reimbursement
basis, which requires survivors to submit receipts for relatively small one-time payments that VA
generally pays at the maximum amount permitted by law.

The new burial regulations permits the VA to pay, at a flat rate, burial and plot or interment
allowances thereby enabling VA to automate payment of burial benefits to most eligible
surviving spouses and more efficiently process other burial benefit claims.

The burial allowance for a non-service-connected death is $300, and $2,000 for a death
connected to military service.
For additional information see www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/claims-special-burial.asp .
TRICARE Tests. Beginning in September, TRICARE covers certain laboratory developed tests.
This allows TRICARE to cover approved laboratory developed tests retroactively if the coverage
guidelines for the specific test are met. If you paid for a laboratory developed test since Jan. 1,
2013, you may be eligible for reimbursement. You will have to file a claim with the regional
contractor to receive payment.
To find out which laboratory developed tests are covered, and which are eligible for retroactive
reimbursement, visit the TRICARE covered services section http://www.tricare.mil/ldt to see the
full list. Most tests must be preauthorized by the regional contractor before they can be covered.
TRICARE will maintain and publish a list of approved tests, and will continually update it as
new tests are reviewed and approved for coverage.
The Defense Health Agency has also restored TRICARE coverage for up to 40 genetic tests used
in patient care. Many of these laboratory-developed tests -- also called molecular pathology tests
-- are viewed as medically necessary. But TRICARE had stopped reimbursing for more than 100
such tests in January 2013, believing it lacked authority to pay for them when such tests were
ordered by civilian physicians delivering care through TRICARE provider networks. Contact
TRICARE (800) 538-9552 if you have questions. (Source: TRICARE Week of July 14, 2014)
2
Fisher House. The Fisher House organization hopes to get started this fall with a Fisher House
in Long Beach, CA but the VA wanted to build a replacement for the parking lot that the
construction site would displace. They now anticipate starting in January with a dedication and
occupancy by Veterans and their families by Veterans Day 2015. They also hope to begin
construction on an 8-suite Fisher House at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton this fall with
completion in the summer of 2015. The Fisher house website is: http://www.fisherhousesocal.org
Vaccinations. Being vaccinated every year is the best way to prevent the flu; TRICARE covers
both the flu shot and the flu mist. To learn more about flu basics, treatments, and prevention visit
www.cdc.gov/flu.
To prepare for the holiday/winter season, you can protect your family by using TRICARE’s
vaccine benefit. Vaccines lower the chances of catching serious diseases and reduce long-term
healthcare costs. That’s why it’s good news that TRICARE is covering more vaccine claims than
ever. Read more at http://www.tricare.mil/VaccinesSoar092214
Last fall and winter, over 50,000 adults also received the shingles vaccine and within just the
past five months almost 22,000 more beneficiaries were also vaccinated. Shingles is a painful,
but preventable disease. “TRICARE beneficiaries 60 and older can get the shingles vaccine,
Zostavax, at no cost from one of its 45,000 network pharmacies.
RADs. Here is the latest worldwide list of Retiree Appreciation Days
http://www.hostmtb.org/RADLIST-2014.html%20. If you have not attended one of these events,
you should. They are organized for your benefit.
Survivor’s assistance. We have had several surviving spouses needing help with reporting the
death of the retiree lately. We have a survivor’s assistance checklist available which would be of
great assistance to our family members when we die - note we say when we die since we will all
die at some time. The checklist helps us help our survivors by providing information with details
of who needs to be notified when we die, important phone numbers, and where various important
papers are kept. If you would like a copy let us know. Many of you have received this checklist
at the various Retiree Seminars. Remember, it is only of use if you fill out the pertinent
information and file it with your important papers.
Helpful material. This office has material which may be beneficial to you. For example:



A Survivor’s Assistance Checklist. It is designed to lessen the stress of
descendants/spouse of a military retiree when he or she dies. It is a pre-planning tool with
a few phone numbers uniquely for the military.
Agent Orange information: A list of presumptive illnesses and a list of ships that were
exposed to the agent. This information is available online. If you don’t use a computer or
simply would like to have a hard copy, let us know and we will send you a copy.
A DD Form 771 for obtaining a FREE set of eyeglasses. If you already have glasses, it is always
nice to have a backup pair because “stuff happens.” This form is also available online.
3

Standard Form 180 “Request Pertaining to Military Records.” This is the form to use if
you want a copy of your DD 214. The 214 is needed by your descendants for various
reasons when you die.
Let us know if you would like a copy of any of these.
Wings, Wheels and Rotors. The annual Wings, Wheels and Rotors event will take place on Sunday, 26
October 2014 at the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos, CA from 0900 to 1600. Hundreds of
collective automobiles and nearly as many airplanes and helicopters will be exhibited. Some planes will
be available for you to fly in. Vintage civilian and military air planes as well as newer military aircraft
will be available.
One of the planes will be a Boeing Stearman Bi-Wing plane, the initial pilot trainer during WWII. The
plane will be flown in to Los Alamitos on Thursday the 23rd of October; provide FREE 10 -15 minute
flights to eight selected Veterans on both Friday and Saturday, the 24th and 25th; and provide a static
display during the actual W,W & R Show on Sunday the 27th. You can check out their web site at
www.agelessaviationdreams.org .Visit www.wwrexpo.net for more details.
Getaway. Summer is behind us. Now is the time
to give some thought to enjoying winter. You may
find the Army MWR Recreation Center in
Bavaria appealing: Edelweiss Lodge and Resort.
The Edelweiss Lodge and Resort promises to
peacefully surround you in Bavarian culture and
luxury accommodations. It offers an array of guest amenities, entertainment, and recreation activities.
Enjoy a sightseeing tour or a day on the slopes; reap the benefits of a therapeutic massage; workout in the
wellness club; take a dip in the indoor pool; or simply unwind in the outdoor hot tub. Relax in the
Resort’s restaurants featuring foods from around the world, including regional cuisine and all-American
favorites.
You
can
check
it
out
at
http://www.armymwr.com/travel/recreationcenters/edelweiss_resort.aspx
How to contact us
The Retired Activities Office, Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, California is
located at 800 Seal Beach Blvd in Bldg. 22, Rm 2, Seal Beach, CA 907405000. We are here to serve all Armed Forces retirees and are open M-Th 0900 to
1500; Fri 0900 to 1200. You may contact us at (562)-626-7152 or by emailing us at
[email protected]
Ralph Vogel, RAO Director, Captain SC, USN (Ret).
James Angeley, Don Cullen, Bill Eveland, and Rick Fuller—Editors
John Ryan, Publisher
Retired Activities Website
4