COASTAL LIVING
      

February 2002

VA Raises Education Reimbursement Level

In a recent press release, the VA announced that the Department will soon provide veterans with a significant increase in monthly educational payments offered under the current GI Bill.

The fact of the matter is that there is concern about under-utilization of GI Bill Educational Benefits by eligible veterans.  The increase in reimbursement rates is well above the normal cost-of-living adjustments because these annual increases just haven't kept pace with inflation and the rising college education costs.

For a full-time basic student, the rate will climb from $672 to $800 per month which equates to an almost 20% increase.  In October 2002, the rate will increase to $900 and in October 2003 the rate jumps to $985.  The rates are on a sliding scale for veterans enrolled in part-time education programs or for those with limited military service.

In addition, beginning in October 2002 veterans can combine their monthly GI Benefits into a lump sum to pay for up to 60% of the costs of expensive educational courses leading to certifications in highly technical fields.  The VA is currently working on developing the specific regulation to administer this new program.

The purpose of these tuition increases and the initiation of high-tech training reimbursements is to increase the utilization of the VA Education Program.  Veterans, in general terms, have ten years from release from active duty to utilize their education benefits, but only about 60% have used "some" of their benefit.  In addition, the VA reports that about 90% of all eligible veterans have not exhausted their educational account.  The VA hopes that their initiatives will encourage more veterans to use the benefits they have earned.

The new regulations also increase the educational assistance for eligible spouses and children of 100% service-connected, permanently and totally disabled veterans, and the spouses and children of veterans who died as a result of a service-connected disability.

For additional information about veterans' educational programs, call the VA at 1-888-442-4551, or contact Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

Change of Presumptions Based on Agent Orange Exposure in Vietnam

A recent change to the Public Law eliminates the requirement that respiratory cancer (cancers of the lung, bronchus, larynx, trachea) become manifest within 30 years of the veteran's departure from Vietnam to qualify for the presumption of service-connection based on exposure to Agent Orange.

If you are a veteran who was denied a service-connected claim for a respiratory cancer because of falling outside the 30-year presumptive period, or are the widow of a Vietnam veteran who died of a respiratory cancer, you should contact Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440 to assist you in a claim for service-connected benefits.

VA Compensates More Veterans Exposed to Radiation

The VA recently announced the addition of five new cancers to the list of diseases presumed to be connected to a veteran's exposure to radiation while on active duty.  Veterans diagnosed with cancer of the bone, brain, colon, lung or ovary will, based on this new ruling, have a significantly easier time establishing entitlement to service-connected compensation for their illnesses beginning March 26, 2002.

Veterans or their survivors can file claims for compensation by contacting Carteret County Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

Federally Sponsored Long Term Care (LTC) Coverage

Active duty, Reserve, and retired military service members will soon be able to apply for coverage under a new Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP).

The FLTCIP contract was awarded to the Metropolitan Life and to the John Hancock Insurance Companies which will form a partnership to manage and operate this program.  Premium and benefit information should be mailed by the government this month to all eligible beneficiaries.   Enrollment could begin as early as April with coverage beginning October 1, 2002.  Retirees and their spouses must show insurability.

A note, this program is not a government subsidy.  The principal advantage of this government "sponsored" Long Term Care (LTC) plan is that it will, optimistically, have group buying power which is projected to reduce premium rates to about 20% below those of existing commercial individual LTC plans.

For more information, call 1-800-582-3337 (LTC-FEDS).

For Members of Our Greatest Generation

For months a group of our World War II veterans has been periodically meeting for lunch.  They call themselves the R.O.M.E.O. Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out).  The group has no charter, no officers, no dues nor agenda.  Their purpose is goodwill, camaraderie, and fellowship.  If you are interested in being a member of this group, they invite you to join them at their next luncheon.  The details follow:

Time:  Monday, February 4^th
12:00 Noon