• Substance abuse treatment • Eye glasses for military retirees • Compassionate Allowance • Free blue star flag • Health care benefits at risk • VA delays prescription co-pay increase • Free theme park admission • What is TriCare Health Care?
• Substance abuse treatment • Eye glasses for military retirees • Compassionate Allowance • Free blue star flag • Health care benefits at risk • VA delays prescription co-pay increase • Free theme park admission • What is TriCare Health Care?
Substance abuse treatment
The Kaua‘i VA Medical Clinic (CBOC) offers substance abuse counseling and treatment to veterans enrolled in the VA Medical Care Program. POC: Paul Ochoa, Addictions Therapist, 246-0497.
Eye glasses for military retirees
Military Retirees may receive one pair of standard issue glasses per year from the Naval Ophthalmic Support and Training Activity. Family members and surviving spouses are not eligible. Visit: www.med.navy.mil/sites/nostra/order/Pages/Retiree.aspx and select the “How to Order: Retirees” link for more information. Learn more about TRICARE vision benefits at: http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/.
Compassionate Allowance
The Social Security Administration announces that the agency is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances. This is the first expansion since the original list was announced in October 2008. Compassionate Allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits. It allows the agency to electronically target and make speedy decisions for the most obviously disabled individuals. The new conditions range from adult brain disorders to rare diseases that primarily affect children. View the complete list at: www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
Free blue star flag
The Blue Star Service Flag first appeared in 1917, when an Army captain who had two sons serving on the front line designed it as a tribute to their dedication and service. Since that time, displaying the Blue Star Flag has become an American tradition.
Today, families display the flag in the inside front window of their homes to show the pride in their loved ones who are serving in the U. S. Armed Forces and to remind others that preserving America’s freedom demands much sacrifice. The blue star represents one family member serving, and a banner can have up to five stars. If the individual is killed or dies, a smaller golden star is placed over it. Gold stars are placed above the blue stars or to the top right of the Flag, in the event a flag represents multiple servicemembers.
In honor of all of the brave men and women in uniform, Grantham University offers service member a free Blue Star Flag for their family to display to pay tribute to their service to our country. To request your free Blue Star Flag, visit: www.mybluestarflag.com.
Health care benefits at risk
While veterans applauded the assurance in the House version of the Health Care Reform Bill that TriCare and VA Health Care would not be negatively impacted by its passage, it is important to note that there was no such assurance in the Senate’s version of the bill. As closed door negotiations continue, veterans are encouraged to contact their elected officials and remind them of campaign promises.
VA delays prescription co-pay increase
A scheduled $1 increase in copayments for outpatient medications for veterans, who do not qualify for free service-connected prescriptions, is being postponed until July 1 while VA reconsiders how increases are calculated. The current charge of $8 was scheduled to rise to $9 on January 1st under regulations which mandate that VA prescription drug charges keep pace with drug charges in the private sector.
Free theme park admission
Anheuser-Busch salutes the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families with a program named “Here’s to the Heroes”. Throughout 2010, members of the military and as many as three dependents may enter SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place parks with a single-day complimentary admission. Servicemembers need to register online at: www.heroesalute.com or at the entrance plaza of a participating park and show a DoD photo identification. Each pass is valid for a one-day admission per person per year.
What is TriCare Health Care?
TriCare, formerly known as the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS), is a health care program of the United States Department of Defense Military Health System. TriCare provides civilian health benefits for active duty military personnel, military retirees, and their dependents, including some members of the Reserve Component. The TriCare program is managed by TriCare Management Activity (TMA) under the authority of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs). TriCare has no affiliation with the VA’s Medical Care Program. For more information, contact the Tripler office at 1-888-874-9378 (staffed from 0900 to 2100 M-F) or go in on a Walk-In bases Monday – Friday from 0900-1600.
• SgtMaj Tony Elliott USMC (Ret) is a member of the Hawai‘i Office of Veterans Services on Kaua‘i.
