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End Women Veteran Suicide - Despite last year's passage of the Clay Hunt SAV Act, studies show that women who have served in the military die by suicide at nearly six times the rate of those in the civilian population
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TRICARE Changes OTC Medication Coverage |
Effective Feb. 1, 2016, TRICARE is making some changes to its over-the-counter (OTC) drug coverage. Beneficiaries must pay the usual generic copays for covered OTC drugs. OTC drug coverage will still require a prescription from their doctor except for Levonorgestrel (the emergency contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy). Feb. 1 also brings a change to which drugs are available under the OTC benefit. Visit the TRICARE Pharmacy page for more information on the TRICARE pharmacy benefit. If you have questions about whether or not one of your drugs is covered, you can always call the TRICARE pharmacy contractor, Express Scripts, at 1-877-363-1303.
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DoD Announces New Outreach Efforts to Veterans Regarding Discharges |
DoD Announces New Outreach Efforts to Veterans Regarding Discharges an
www.defense.gov The Department of Defense today announced a renewed effort to ensure veterans are aware of the opportunity to have their discharges and military records reviewed. Through enhanced public outreach, |
Retiree's Can Now Shop On Line - AAFES/NEX |
Honorably discharged veterans could be able to shop online at military exchange websites as early as Veterans Day, barring any objections from Congress.
The change in Defense Department policy would open up online exchange shopping privileges to about 18 million more people. It won’t apply to shopping at brick-and-mortar exchange stores.
A defense official confirmed a letter announcing the change was signed Wednesday by Peter Levine, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Copies were sent to lawmakers on four House and Senate committees, and if no objections are raised within 30 days, officials with Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Navy Exchange Service Command expect to be able to implement the new benefit by mid-November.
The change requires no taxpayer dollars; the expected increase in exchange profits would bring in more money for programs in the military community. DoD officials determined that a change in law was not required to extend the benefit, but notified Congress of their intent to change policy.
AAFES and NEX now have online shopping sites that are open to all eligible military exchange shoppers regardless of service branch – www.shopmyexchange.com and www.mynavyexchange.com, respectively. Those eligible are limited to active duty, Guard and reserve members and retirees, along with dependent family members, and 100 percent disabled veterans (and certain others). But most of those who leave the military before retirement – about 90 percent of veterans – aren’t eligible to shop at exchanges.
Pentagon officials have been deliberating whether to extend the benefit for nearly three years. In 2014, AAFES CEO Tom Shull said he proposed the idea as a way to give “a modest benefit to honor the service” of those who left the military before retirement age. He noted that among this group are many veterans with four, five or more combat deployments in the post-9/11 era.
Retirees won't be the only beneficiaries, according to an internal DoD document: Expanding the online customer base will strengthen the exchanges’ online business to better serve the customers, and the expansion is expected to “conservatively double the exchanges’ online presence,” thus yielding better prices for customers and more competitive merchandise.
Exchanges sell items at a discount, without a sales tax, and any profits after operating costs are either returned to the services’ morale, welfare and recreation programs, or used for construction and other improvements to stores.
The change in Defense Department policy would open up online exchange shopping privileges to about 18 million more people. It won’t apply to shopping at brick-and-mortar exchange stores.
A defense official confirmed a letter announcing the change was signed Wednesday by Peter Levine, acting undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. Copies were sent to lawmakers on four House and Senate committees, and if no objections are raised within 30 days, officials with Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Navy Exchange Service Command expect to be able to implement the new benefit by mid-November.
The change requires no taxpayer dollars; the expected increase in exchange profits would bring in more money for programs in the military community. DoD officials determined that a change in law was not required to extend the benefit, but notified Congress of their intent to change policy.
AAFES and NEX now have online shopping sites that are open to all eligible military exchange shoppers regardless of service branch – www.shopmyexchange.com and www.mynavyexchange.com, respectively. Those eligible are limited to active duty, Guard and reserve members and retirees, along with dependent family members, and 100 percent disabled veterans (and certain others). But most of those who leave the military before retirement – about 90 percent of veterans – aren’t eligible to shop at exchanges.
Pentagon officials have been deliberating whether to extend the benefit for nearly three years. In 2014, AAFES CEO Tom Shull said he proposed the idea as a way to give “a modest benefit to honor the service” of those who left the military before retirement age. He noted that among this group are many veterans with four, five or more combat deployments in the post-9/11 era.
Retirees won't be the only beneficiaries, according to an internal DoD document: Expanding the online customer base will strengthen the exchanges’ online business to better serve the customers, and the expansion is expected to “conservatively double the exchanges’ online presence,” thus yielding better prices for customers and more competitive merchandise.
Exchanges sell items at a discount, without a sales tax, and any profits after operating costs are either returned to the services’ morale, welfare and recreation programs, or used for construction and other improvements to stores.
VA Discloses Ratings Of Its 146 Medical Centers |
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Supreme Court Lets Stand Texas Veterans Tuition Aid Program |
Combat Related Severance Pay Law Change
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Explore VA Facebook Chat: Vet Center and Counseling Services
Defense Finance
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VFW and VA - Veterans Crisis Lines
1-800-273-82551-800-273-8255
FREE CALL - THEN PRESS "1'
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is unique because all of our members have served overseas in a combat zone. Our nation is in debt to all of those who served, and we understand that returning home and reintegrating into society can cause stress in many aspects of life. Because of this, VFW is participating in a campaign with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to increase awareness of the Veterans Crisis Line (1-800-273-8255 FREE and Press 1).
The campaign revolves around the confidential Veterans Crisis Line (formerly the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline), establishing a unique identity designed to lower the threshold for Veterans and their families to make that critical call for help.
The line, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, has answered more than 390,000 calls and has made more than 13,000 life-saving rescues since its launch.
The campaign is a national outreach effort to increase awareness and use of the confidential Veterans Crisis Line and online chat service, support and promote broader VA suicide prevention efforts, and promote help-seeking behaviors among Veterans.
The rebranding emphasizes the “Press 1” option for Veterans, friends, and family members, ensuring their call is immediately transferred to the VA’s call center in Canandaigua, N.Y., staffed with professional responders trained and dedicated to serving Veterans and their families. New messaging reinforces the confidentiality of the Veterans Crisis Line and chat for both Veterans and their family members, who may be the first to realize a Veteran is in crisis.
VFW members have the opportunity to spread the word about the Veteran Crisis Line campaign through a variety of online resources and promotional materials – including posters, print ads, online ads, social media, wallet cards, magnets and coasters. The promotional materials include ads targeted toward specific demographics, and will be available electronically in the near future.
Check back to www.vfw.org for updates on the campaign.
If you’re looking for more information about the Veterans Crisis Line, visit www.VeteransCrisisLine.net. For more information about VA’s suicide prevention program, visit http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention
The campaign revolves around the confidential Veterans Crisis Line (formerly the Veterans Suicide Prevention Hotline), establishing a unique identity designed to lower the threshold for Veterans and their families to make that critical call for help.
The line, available 24 hours a day and seven days a week, has answered more than 390,000 calls and has made more than 13,000 life-saving rescues since its launch.
The campaign is a national outreach effort to increase awareness and use of the confidential Veterans Crisis Line and online chat service, support and promote broader VA suicide prevention efforts, and promote help-seeking behaviors among Veterans.
The rebranding emphasizes the “Press 1” option for Veterans, friends, and family members, ensuring their call is immediately transferred to the VA’s call center in Canandaigua, N.Y., staffed with professional responders trained and dedicated to serving Veterans and their families. New messaging reinforces the confidentiality of the Veterans Crisis Line and chat for both Veterans and their family members, who may be the first to realize a Veteran is in crisis.
VFW members have the opportunity to spread the word about the Veteran Crisis Line campaign through a variety of online resources and promotional materials – including posters, print ads, online ads, social media, wallet cards, magnets and coasters. The promotional materials include ads targeted toward specific demographics, and will be available electronically in the near future.
Check back to www.vfw.org for updates on the campaign.
If you’re looking for more information about the Veterans Crisis Line, visit www.VeteransCrisisLine.net. For more information about VA’s suicide prevention program, visit http://www.mentalhealth.va.gov/suicide_prevention
VA's New Rules On Agent Orange -
Click On The Button Below
!!!!!!!!!!!!! OPM LETTER TO RETIREE'S DUE TO
COMPROMISE OF YOUR DATA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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OPM Cybersecurity Incident Potentially Affecting VA Veterans
From: VA Chief Information Officer
Subject: OPM Cybersecurity Incident Potentially Affecting VA Veterans
Dear Colleagues,
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently became aware of a cybersecurity incident affecting its systems and data that may have exposed the personal information of current and former Federal employees/veterans. I have been informed by OPM that Department of Veterans Affairs’ employee/veteran data/ vetrans has potentially been compromised in this incident and I wanted to share more information with you right away.
Since the incident was identified, OPM has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the impact to Federal personnel. As a result of this investigation, OPM is notifying approximately 4 million individuals whose Personally Identifiable Information may have been compromised. The OPM notifications will be sent beginning June 8 and continuing through June 19 by email and U.S. mail.
In order to mitigate the risk of fraud and identity theft, OPM will offer affected individuals credit monitoring services and identity theft insurance through CSID, a company that specializes in identity theft protection and fraud resolution. This comprehensive, 18-month membership includes credit report access, credit monitoring, identity theft insurance and recovery services and is available immediately at no cost to affected individuals identified by OPM. Employees whose information was affected will receive a notification directly from CSID. If you have any questions about the impact of this incident to your data or if you receive a notice and have questions about the services being offered, contact CSID directly beginning at 8 a.m. CST on June 8, 2015. The company’s website is www.csid.com/opm, and its toll free is 844-222-2743(International callers: Call collect 512-327-0700).
Following this incident, OPM took immediate action to implement additional security measures in order to protect the sensitive personnel data it manages. I would like to take the opportunity to remind you of the seriousness of cyber threats and of the importance of vigilance in protecting our systems and data.
Stephen W. Warren
Chief Information Officer
Department of Veterans Affairs
Subject: OPM Cybersecurity Incident Potentially Affecting VA Veterans
Dear Colleagues,
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently became aware of a cybersecurity incident affecting its systems and data that may have exposed the personal information of current and former Federal employees/veterans. I have been informed by OPM that Department of Veterans Affairs’ employee/veteran data/ vetrans has potentially been compromised in this incident and I wanted to share more information with you right away.
Since the incident was identified, OPM has partnered with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine the impact to Federal personnel. As a result of this investigation, OPM is notifying approximately 4 million individuals whose Personally Identifiable Information may have been compromised. The OPM notifications will be sent beginning June 8 and continuing through June 19 by email and U.S. mail.
In order to mitigate the risk of fraud and identity theft, OPM will offer affected individuals credit monitoring services and identity theft insurance through CSID, a company that specializes in identity theft protection and fraud resolution. This comprehensive, 18-month membership includes credit report access, credit monitoring, identity theft insurance and recovery services and is available immediately at no cost to affected individuals identified by OPM. Employees whose information was affected will receive a notification directly from CSID. If you have any questions about the impact of this incident to your data or if you receive a notice and have questions about the services being offered, contact CSID directly beginning at 8 a.m. CST on June 8, 2015. The company’s website is www.csid.com/opm, and its toll free is 844-222-2743(International callers: Call collect 512-327-0700).
Following this incident, OPM took immediate action to implement additional security measures in order to protect the sensitive personnel data it manages. I would like to take the opportunity to remind you of the seriousness of cyber threats and of the importance of vigilance in protecting our systems and data.
Stephen W. Warren
Chief Information Officer
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Affordable Care Act, Your Taxes and You
Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Americans including all military
members (active duty, retired, Selected Reserve, or Retired Reserve) and
their eligible family members must have health care coverage that meets a
minimum standard called minimum essential coverage or pay a fee. Your
TRICARE coverage meets the minimum essential coverage requirement under the
ACA.
"The term "active duty" means full-time duty in the active service of a
uniformed service for more than 30 consecutive days".
Beginning in January 2016, DFAS will provide IRS Form 1095-C to all U.S.
military members, and IRS Form 1095-B to all Retirees, Annuitants, former
spouses and all other individuals having TRICARE coverage during all or any
portion of tax year 2015. An IRS Form 1095 documents you (and your family
members, if applicable) have the minimum essential coverage. More
information will be forthcoming about the delivery method of these forms.
These forms will document the information that DFAS will provide to the IRS
on yourself and your authorized family members. The forms will be required
to be reported with your 2015 federal tax return. DFAS will provide you with
IRS Form 1095 series forms no later than Jan. 31, 2016.
You can find more information about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on
your federal income tax at: http://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act.
members (active duty, retired, Selected Reserve, or Retired Reserve) and
their eligible family members must have health care coverage that meets a
minimum standard called minimum essential coverage or pay a fee. Your
TRICARE coverage meets the minimum essential coverage requirement under the
ACA.
"The term "active duty" means full-time duty in the active service of a
uniformed service for more than 30 consecutive days".
Beginning in January 2016, DFAS will provide IRS Form 1095-C to all U.S.
military members, and IRS Form 1095-B to all Retirees, Annuitants, former
spouses and all other individuals having TRICARE coverage during all or any
portion of tax year 2015. An IRS Form 1095 documents you (and your family
members, if applicable) have the minimum essential coverage. More
information will be forthcoming about the delivery method of these forms.
These forms will document the information that DFAS will provide to the IRS
on yourself and your authorized family members. The forms will be required
to be reported with your 2015 federal tax return. DFAS will provide you with
IRS Form 1095 series forms no later than Jan. 31, 2016.
You can find more information about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on
your federal income tax at: http://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act.
