Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 08/29/2005

Dear Sgt. Shaft, I'm seeking information on the Retired vets pay hefty fees for "free" health care" from The Washington Times dated Monday, July 11, 2005.

I am a former military wife, married 30 years, and reaching my 65th birthday in September 2005. I was planning to go forward with the Tri-care for Life military health insurance plan offered me until I read the article of July 11, 2005. I want to know why "Mrs. T.E.C" wrote in her letter to you that readers like me need "to be informed that although government officials repeatedly promised free medical care for life if warriors stayed on for a full career, (my former husband retired as Lt. Col with 20 years service) those retirees under age 65 are instead required to pay hefty co-pay fees and/or buy their own supplemental insurance plan and after age 65 are kicked out of the military medical system altogether." Your response to "Mrs. T.E.C." was "I stand corrected. Retirees do pay a hefty premium and co-pay for their "free" health care."

This article has caused me some stress as I do not know whom to believe. You and Mrs. T.E.C or the Tricare for Life representatives. They are informing me I will be getting the military insurance "free". Yet the article claims hefty co-pay fees and/or I will need to purchase my own supplemental insurance plan. Not only that but I may be "kicked out" once I turn 65.

In order for me to make an informed decision on health insurance would you please let me know where I can go to seek the information you and Mrs. T.E.C. have on Tricare for Life. All the information I have on Tricare for LIfe indicates it will be "free".

As this is a very big decision for me I only have a few short days to purchase supplemental insurance, one month before I turn 65 that being August 1, 2005, and a few short weeks to make my decision I would appreciate hearing from you on this subject ASAP. I can be reached at the above e-mail address.

Thank you in advance for your prompt attention in answering this e-mail.

Clara R
Virginia

Dear Clara,
in order to receive Tricare for Life after age 65, one must pay Part B Medicare premiums, however, read the following letter.

Dear Sgt Shaft:
I have just read the letter in the National Times from an AF MSGt in Stafford who describes problems with Medicare and TFL.

By law, providers who accept Medicare are required to accept TFL. When they do, and Medicare is billed, Medicare automatically sends the info to TFL for further payment of the amount Medicare does not pay.

In most cases, the TFL payment is received by the providers before the Medicare payment is received. I have not talked with a single provider who has had a complaint with billing from TFL.

As a member of the Tricare Beneficiary Panel of DoD, I find the Sergeant's claim hard to swallow. I suggest he contact Tricare web site immediately and voice his complaint with names and dates.

Even better, I suggest he email steve.lillie@tma.osd.mil with names and dates of his problem.

Emil K
US Army Retired

Shaft Notes
The Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans recently thanked his colleagues for agreeing to add $1.5 billion to meet the 2005 budget shortfall for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The addition of $1.5 billion passed overwhelmingly by the House and Senate brings the total for VA's health care budget for 2005 to over $28 billion. Under the adopted legislation, any of the $1.5 billion not used during the 2005 budget year, which ends September 30, will be carried over into 2006.

Congratulations to friend William F. Tuerk, a member of U.S. Senator Larry Craig's committee staff on his nomination by President Bush for an important position with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Bill has been chosen to be the next VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs.

He currently serves as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

"I am extremely pleased for Bill. He is an outstanding individual with a solid reputation," said Sen. Craig, who chairs the Veterans' Committee.

Tuerk previously served as Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs during the Chairmanship of Senator Arlen Specter. Earlier in his career, he served as a senior attorney at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Tuerk received his bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame and his juris doctorate from George Washington University.

A date has not yet been set for a hearing on his nomination.

He is the second Craig staff member this year chosen by President Bush.

In March, President Bush appointed Scott Nystrom to be the Executive Director of the White House Conference on Aging. Nystrom had served as a senior policy advisor for Sen. Craig when the senator was chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging.

If approved by the Senate as Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, Tuerk will oversee the operation of over 120 national cemeteries, including the availability of headstones and grave markers, and will be responsible for the purchase of additional land for future cemeteries, and the issuance of Presidential Memorial Certificates to survivors of honorably discharged veterans

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-257-5446 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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