TRICARE-eligible college students College students often attend school out of state and in a different TRICARE region. Benefits and claim procedures may be different. TRICARE-eligible veterans must ensure that the DEERS records remain updated for their college-age students. Dependents may
TRICARE-eligible
college students
College students often attend school out of state and in a different TRICARE region. Benefits and claim procedures may be different. TRICARE-eligible veterans must ensure that the DEERS records remain updated for their college-age students.
Dependents may be eligible for one of the TRICARE programs up to the age of 21 or until age 23 if enrolled full-time in an accredited institution of higher learning and are dependent upon their sponsor for at least 50 percent of their financial support.
TRICARE for
Life eligibility
Veterans making the switch to TRICARE for Life (TFL) must be enrolled in Medicare Part B in order to prevent a lapse in coverage. There are no extra forms or fees to remain TFL-eligible.
To avoid a Medicare surcharge, enrollment in Part B must be completed during the Medicare initial enrollment period that begins three months before your 65th birthday and ends three months after your 65th birthday.
Questions on
VA billing statements
A centralized call center to answer questions concerning your VA billing statement has been established. The center is staffed by specially trained employees at the VA Health Revenue Center in Kansas. The center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time. Call the toll free number at 866-347-2353.
Reopening federal examinations
Certain federal examinations for employment may be reopened for veterans. For example, a veteran desires to take a U.S. Postal Service examination. A veteran with 10 point veterans’ preference and veterans who apply within 120 days of discharge are eligible to reopen certain examinations. Veterans will require proof of service, which is a copy of the DD Form 214. If disabled, the veteran must present appropriate documentation from the Veterans Administration verifying service-connected disability.
The veteran must contact the local postmaster and request an examination for the available positions. The veteran must note who and when the person was contacted. An excellent Web site for veteran employment information is www.dol.gov/vets.
Eligibility for
veterans benefits
A common misconception is that someone must either have been in combat and/or retired from active duty to be called a veteran. All individuals who were discharged from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions are veterans and eligible for VA benefits.
Active service means full time, other than active duty for training, as a member of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard. Dishonorable and bad conduct discharges may bar VA benefits. For information, contact the Honolulu VA at 1-800-827-1000 or for health care information, the medical clinic at 246-0497.
Veterans Day
parade/services
The Kaua‘i Veterans Council is accepting applications from organizations desiring to participate in the Veterans Day parade to be held starting at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 10 in Kapa‘a. Organizations or individuals desiring an application form may call Rob at 639-7472 or Johnny at 245-1625.
The memorial services will be held the following day, Sunday, Nov. 11 starting at 11 a.m. at the Hanapepe Veterans Cemetery.
Miss Kaua’i Veteran
Applications are being accepted for Miss Kaua‘i Veteran 2007-2008. The applicant must be a senior in high school. The winner will be crowned during ceremonies after the Veterans Day parade and awarded a $1000.00 stipend. Application forms are available at the high schools or individuals may call Dr. Belles at 822-3677.
Veterans fund-raiser
The Kaua‘i Veterans Council has started their annual fund-raising event. For a donation of $10, the individual will be eligible to win one of 20 prizes including a grand prize of a 2007 Mazda pickup truck. Veterans will be available every weekend until Veterans Day soliciting donations at the Kmart parking area.
Iwo Jima or Iwo To
The Marine Corps’ bloodiest battles of World War II happened on Iwo Jima and provided the setting for the famous flag raising which is represented by the Marine Corps War Memorial near Arlington Cemetery. When the Japanese forces arrived to defend the island, the officers mistakenly identified it as Iwo Jima.
On June 18, the Japanese government changed the name back to “Iwo To” ( “To” pronounced like the word “toe”), the original name for the island. Both Iwo Jima and Iwo To mean “Sulphur Island” in English. The committee on foreign names under the U.S. Board on Geographic Names will continue to call that Pacific Island Iwo Jima.
• Johnny Rabasa, a Hanama‘ulu resident and Kaua‘i High School graduate, served for 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a command sergeant major. He served in Vietnam. He also retired from the U.S. Postal Service, was postmaster at the Kaumakani post office, and worked at the Lihu‘e post office. He writes this monthly column exclusively for The Garden Island.
