COASTAL LIVING
      

May 2002

The Defense Press Service reports that a period of early enrollment into the new Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) is open.  Now for the first time approximately 20 million members of the federal family, which includes federal and post office employees and annuitants, active duty and retired members of the armed forces and certain family members, can apply for federally-sponsored long term care (LTC) insurance.

This insurance is not free and the federal government will not subsidize plan premiums.  It is anticipated that premium costs will be at least 15% to 20% less than offered in the civilian marketplace for comparable coverage because of group rates and economies of scale.

To oversee this federal program, a corporation has been formed by MetLife and John Hancock insurance companies called Long Term Care Partners, LLC.  They will offer insurance options that can include care in the home, in a nursing home, in an assisted living facility and a variety of other facilities.

The early enrollment period will run through May 15^th.  An initial six-month long open season will begin on July 1, 2002.  The early enrollment period according to officials was developed for potential enrollees who are familiar with the in's and out's of LTC insurance and have a good idea of what coverage they desire to purchase.

For those who plan to purchase this type of protection but still have questions, it is recommended that they wait until the open season period.  We can anticipate that a multi-media information campaign will soon be underway addressing care options and associated costs.

For all LTC policies, applicants will be required to answer health related questions and will possibly be required to provide medical records or be interviewed in person.

A note, experts on this subject remind us that since long term care is not medical care it isn't covered by the greater majority of medical plans, including Medicare and Tricare.

For more details on this important program, visit the Office of Personnel Management Long Term Care Insurance website at www.opm.gov/insure/LTC or call 1-800-582-3337.  The Veterans Services Office can also provide you with an informative handout on the subject.  For a copy, call 728-8440.

VA Health Care Clinic

A VA official who is actively involved in the stand up of our Eastern Carolina VA Health Care Clinic very recently reported that all is on track for the opening of this new facility in early July 2002.  Its operation will be a partnership between the U.S. Navy and the VA with the clinic staffed by Navy doctors with VA medical support staff.  It will provide, by appointment, primary care and mental health services to veterans, military retirees, and dependents of active duty military members.  More to follow as it becomes available on this important benefit.

For the New Health Care Enrollee

If you would like assistance in getting established in the VA Health Care System, a good local resource for information and help is the Carteret County Veterans Services Office at (252) 728-8440.

Memorial Day Service

The Carteret County Veterans Council will conduct a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veterans' Memorial at the County Courthouse in Beaufort at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2002.  All are invited to this observance to remember and to pay tribute to those fallen heroes who gave their lives so we might be free.  Additional details concerning the ceremony will be provided later in the month.

Legislative Change 

The last twelve months saw the Congress enact significant positive legislative changes that affect veteran benefits.  Some highlights follow:

·        Emergency Health Care Services.  VA, under certain circumstances, began reimbursing non-VA hospitals for emergency services.

·        Health Care Co-payments.  VA lowered the co-payments for certain outpatient care and increased prescription co-payments.

·        Service Connected Disabilities Based on Agent Orange Exposure.  Vietnam veterans with Adult Type 2 Diabetes became eligible for disability compensation.

·        Agent Orange Exposure and Birth Defects.  Children of female Vietnam veterans born with certain birth defects became eligible for benefits.

·        CHAMPVA For Life Enacted.  Provided spouses of 100% service connected veterans medigap health insurance coverage.

·        TRICARE For Life Enacted.  Gave military retirees and their spouses medigap health insurance coverage. 

If you would like more information on any of the aforementioned subjects, contact Veterans Services at (252) 728-8440.

Unit Shoulder Patches

The question frequently comes up regarding the subject of how one could obtain a unit or a squadron shoulder patch.  A superb starting point is McGrogan's Military Patches at P.O. Box 502, Orofino, Idaho 83544 (telephone (208) 476-7751).  Chief Petty McGrogan USN (ret) has an extensive locator file to narrow down one's search for one's unit shoulder patch.  Several hundred patches are in stock and he has the capability to manufacture others from his extensive archive.