Taking Care of Veterans – NurseLine

According to a recent VA Press Release, veterans enrolled in the VA health care system now have access to health care information by telephone through a professional service called Optum NurseLine.  Do you have questions about a new medication or about a recently diagnosed condition?  Are you wondering whether you should see a physician or self medicate with an over-the-counter purchased medication?  These are the kinds of questions that can be answered by registered nurses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling NurseLine.

The newly established system is a streamlined one, simply call toll-free at 1-866-274-1609 and you'll speak to a trained, highly experienced, registered nurse who can address your health care concerns and questions at no cost to you or to your family.  If a referral to a VA medical facility is required, NurseLine staff will put the wheels in motion.

Call NurseLine for all your and your family's health care concerns.  The service was initiated to provide quality care for those who served.

 

VA Community Based Outreach Clinic

Planning and coordination continues for the opening of a VA Community Based Outreach Clinic (CBOC) in the Havelock-Morehead City area in calendar year 2002.  Officials are in the process of site selection.  As soon as specific details become available, they will be announced.

The above said, if an individual is a veteran and not enrolled in VA health care, he/she should consider joining the ranks of Carteret County VA health care enrollees which are estimated at more than 2500, over 25% of our veteran population.  It is really a great deal and I believe in one's best interest.

Concerning one's eligibility, whether a veteran spent one year or thirty on active duty, was service connected or non-service connected for a disability, and regardless of personal income/assets, he/she should look into the opportunities for VA health care.

For details on this important entitlement, a good resource is the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at (252) 728-8440.

 

Military in Top Position in Americans' Confidence Ratings

According to a recently published annual survey conducted in June 2001 by the Gallup Poll/News Service, 66% or two-thirds of Americans have a high degree of confidence in the military, placing it in the number one position on a list of the 16 institutions tested in the poll.

In the second and third places were the church or organized religion and the police, respectively with approximately 60% of the Americans polled voicing a high level of confidence in those institutions.

The Gallup analyst, Frank Newport, states "There have been few significant changes in these levels of confidence over the past year, but Americans generally have less confidence in many institutions now than they did in the 1970's when Gallup first began testing them.  The major exception is the military which has gained in confidence over the past 30 years so that it is now the single institution tested in which the American public has the most confidence."

 

TRICARE Senior Pharmacy

If you are a military retiree, or because of your marital status, a TRICARE eligible spouse, you should, if you have not already done so, look into the TRICARE Senior Pharmacy Benefits.  A snapshot of the costs to the beneficiary of medications under this program follows:

Military Treatment Facility:  No co-pay;

National Mail Order Pharmacy:  $3 generic/$9 brand name for a 90-day supply;

TRICARE Network Pharmacy:  $3 generic/$9 brand name for a 30-day supply;

TRICARE Non-network Pharmacy:  $9 or 20% of cost for a 30-day supply; $150/person or $300/family annual deductible applies.

For pharmacy benefit questions, call 1-877-DoD-MEDS.

 

N.C. and the Dept. of Veterans Affairs

According to a current VA Public Affairs press release, in 2000 the VA spent more than $1.3 billion in North Carolina to care for the over 765,000 veterans who live in the state.  Last year over 94,000 veterans received health care in the state's VA medical facilities.  Approximately 112,900 N.C. veterans and survivors collected disability compensation, survivor benefits or pension payments.  Last year more than 10,900 veterans used the GI Bill and over 113,000 owned homes purchased through VA home loan guarantees.

If you are a veteran and haven't considered your veteran entitlements, you should see what is available.  You have surely earned them.  For more information, call Carteret County Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

 

World War II Veterans Luncheon

A group of our World War II veterans periodically meet for lunch.  They call themselves the ROMEO Club (Retired Old Men Eating Out).  While numbering well over 100 members, this group has no charter, no officers, no dues, nor an agenda.  They meet only for camaraderie and to foster goodwill.  If you are interested in joining their ranks, they request that you join them at their next luncheon.  Details of this event follow:

Time:  Monday, Dec. 3^rd, noon

Location:  Capt. Bill's Restaurant

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