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VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS POST 5412 - BURKE, VA
WELCOME: Active Duty and Honorably Discharged Vets!
BURKE VFW POST 5412
JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER
COMMANDER'S LETTER:
2 ITEMS:
(1) We're planning for an Afghanistan-experienced veteran to speak in our "Live Witness" series after the January 20 meeting. If you can suggest a speaker please contact Commander Dave Meyers (david.meyers@mris.com) ASAP.
(2) Reminder: The Burke VFW Post 5412 Veteran's Golf Classic will be held Friday, May 21, 2010 on the Medal of Honor Golf Course, MCB Quantico, VA. If interested contact Commander Dave Meyers (david.meyers@mris.com) before March 15, 2010.
Win the Day!
Dave Meyers
Commander
SERVICE OFFICER REPORT (Bob Harter).
1. VA to Delay Increase in Prescription Copayments: VA officials this week announced they are delaying an increase in veterans' out-of-pocket payments for pharmaceuticals until June 30. The scheduled $1 increase from $8 to $9 per 30-day supply of medicine for non-service connected conditions will be reevaluated so that VA can consider how the increases are calculated. During this period, VA will also keep $960 as the maximum annual out-of-pocket payment for pharmaceuticals for non-service related conditions. The $960 cap will not apply to veterans in priority groups seven and eight. The yearly maximum out-of-pocket payment was scheduled to increase to $1,080. There are no copayments associated with the treatment of conditions related to military service. The freeze is considered temporary. Some increases may take affect this summer unless a new way of calculating co-payments is found and implemented.
2. TRICARE for Gray Area Reserve Retirees: A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 will soon offer "gray area" reservists the opportunity to purchase TRICARE health care coverage. Qualified members of the Selected Reserve are eligible to purchase premium-based coverage under TRICARE Reserve Select, but retired National Guard and Reserve personnel are ineligible for TRICARE until they reach age 60. The new provision will allow retired reservists who are not yet age 60 ("gray-area" retirees) to purchase TRICARE Standard or Extra coverage. The new program will differ from Reserve Select in its qualifications, premiums, copayment rates and catastrophic cap requirements. The provision requires premium rates to equal the full cost of the coverage, whereas Reserve Select members pay only 28% of the cost of the coverage. The new program is being tentatively called TRICARE Retired Reserve, and the Defense Department said qualified gray-area retirees should be able to purchase coverage by late summer or early fall. More information on the program will be made available on the TRICARE website at http://www.tricare.mil.
[Source: VFW Washington Weekly - January 8, 2010]
UPCOMING DISTRICT 10 MEETINGS:
February 21, 2010 - Woodbridge Post 7916 - 12:00, Joint meeting.
May 2, 2010 - District Convention - Dale City Post 1503 - 12:00, Joint Meeting.
READY REFERENCE PHONE NUMBERS:
Air Force Retired Affairs 800-531-7502
Arlington National Cemetery 703-695-3250 / 703-695-3255
Army Retired Affairs 800-336-4909
Coast Guard Retired Affairs 800-772-8724
Marine Corps Retired Affairs 800-336-4649
National Personnel Records Center 314-538-4141
Naval Reserve Personnel Center (Records) 800-535-2699
Navy Retired Activities Office 800-255-8950
Social Security Administration 800-772-1213
TRICARE Headquarters 303-676-3526
TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Program 877-363-6337
VA National Service Life Insurance (NSL) 800-669-8477
VA Regional Office 800-827-1000
VA Service Department Burial Benefits 800-697-6947
Veteran's Group Life Insurance (VGLI) 800-419-1473
2009-2010 POST OFFICERS:
Commander Dave Meyers 703-978-1548 david.meyers(at)mris.com
Senior Vice Commander Gerhard Liebegott: gerhard.liebegott(at)us.army.mil
Junior Vice Commander Todd Sipe: toddrsipe(at)yahoo.com
Quartermaster Jerry Kaffka: jlkaff2(at)aol.com
Adjutant Brian Engler: englerbd(at)gmail.com
Service Officer Bob Harter: bob12348(at)verizon.net
Surgeon Maxine Engler: mengler54(at)gmail.com
Trustee Scott Logan: sslogan(at)verizon.net
Trustee Dave Courter: davecourter(at)msn.com
Trustee Tom Troy: ttrltroy(at)aol.com
FUTURE POST MEETINGS:
January 20, 2010 7:30 PM Post Meeting, Ponds Community Center, Burke
February 17, 2010 7:30 PM Post Meeting, Ponds Community Center, Burke
March 17, 2010 7:30 PM Post Meeting, Ponds Community Center, Burke
*** Family Potluck to follow ***
April 21, 2010 7:30 PM Post Meeting, Ponds Community Center, Burke
UPDATED 12 JANUARY 2010
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Send E-Mail to: englerbd@gmail.com
Copyright © 2010 Brian Engler, Post Adjutant. All Rights Reserved