my care2
make a difference

community & fun

groups

get together & make a difference

 
 
This thread is displayed with the most recent posts first.
 YES! February 28, 2007 4:55 PM

Now that's what I'm talking about!  Signed and delivered....please pass this one around to EVERYONE.  

Thank you, yet again, Jacki!

 [ send green star]
 
 February 28, 2007 2:05 PM

A few weeks ago we asked our patriotic supporters which issue they thought was most important to our troops and veterans.

Thousands of concerned citizens spoke… and we listened!

Over 63% of those who responded to the 2007 Help Our Heroes Survey said that reducing the extended waits for VA medical care should be Congress’ top priority for our veterans in 2007.

Help Protect our Veterans! Sign the 2007 Help Our Heroes Petition.

Click here to add your name now.

Help us reach 20,000 signatures by March 6th!

The VA backlog is at an all time high - over 800,000 cases - which means extended waits for healthcare and benefits. We can’t stand by and let our newest veterans struggle to survive after they leave the battlefield. Those 800,000 cases represent real people -- veterans who’ve served our country and their families -- who need our help and are not getting it.

We need to reduce the VA backlog and extended waits for healthcare NOW.That’s why we are conducting the 2007 Help Our Heroes Petition. Now is the time to remind our leaders in Washington to keep their promises to care for our troops and veterans on the battlefield and when they return.

Please add your name now. The more signatures we have, the more powerful the message we will be sending our leaders.

Add My Name

We want to deliver the petition to our leaders on March 20th, the 4th Anniversary of the war in Iraq, so we need all signatures by March 6th.

Let’s honor the sacrifice of our troops and veterans by holding our leaders to the promise they made to our defenders. The promise to care for them and their families in return for their brave service.

Please sign the petition today!

Our goal is to gather 20,000 signatures so please forward this email to your family, friends and co-workers. Ask them to join you in demanding veterans' issues are a top priority in 2007.

Forward to a Friend

Thank you for supporting our troops and veterans.




 [ send green star]
 
Signed, sealed and delivered February 26, 2007 5:35 PM

Thanks Jacki....hope all is well with the group!

I just want to share something that might be of interest.  It's of great interest to me, and I think as the soldiers return from Iraq, it will be of even greater interest.

I've gotten to know a little about the VA system.  Yes, there is a system....in the hospital, anyway.  I'm not sure about how/where, etc. benefits are decided.  However, I do know that there are Patient Advocates, Customer Service Reps and the likes available to all Veterans.  If you have a problem of any kind, these people will direct you to the right spot, and if possible, resolve the issue for the Veteran.

However, I have been informed that when it comes to "deciding" on benefits, i.e., the percentage disability, or if a Veteran should receive pay for Agent Orange exposure, etc., it depends on the person at the desk that day who receives the paperwork.  If a guy had a fight with his wife the night before, he might have a slanted viewpoint on things, no?  Yes, I've heard this.  It's not acceptable.

I also know that if Veterans need anything, they need help in plowing through the paperwork.  I've been told that Veterans who believe they are entitled to benefits, and didn't get them, that he/she should NOT give up.  Apply, follow thru and appeal, if necessary. 

The VFW and American Legion, I've heard, are sponsors of Veterans who are facing the paperwork dragon.  Good people!  Very dedicated to their cause.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to the board, and of course, to helping our Soldiers and Veterans.

Nancy

P.S.  My prayers go out to the patients who have had to be exposed to the condition, and lack of care at Walter Reid.  I'm sure some will be running to cover the behinds on this one.

 [ send green star]
 
S 604 - Military Retiree Health Care Protection Act February 19, 2007 7:21 AM

DOD Again Wants to Raise the Rates Please send the following editable message to your Senators –

As a career military retiree and your voting constituent, I urge you to cosponsor and actively support S. 604, the Military Health Care Protection Act, introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg, on February 15.

With the soon to expire provisions of the NDAA 2007 that held in abeyance the DoD proposal to double and triple Tricare fees and premiums for military retirees, the DoD has again announced similar proposals.

In short S. 604 would

• Recognize in law the unique role of military health benefits in offsetting the extraordinary demands inherent in a military career.
• Establish that, in addition to their cash cost-shares, military people pre-pay large up-front premiums for their lifetime health coverage through decades of service and sacrifice.
• Prohibit the TRICARE Prime enrollment fee and TRICARE pharmacy copays from being increased in any year by a percentage that exceeds the percentage increase in military retired pay.
• Prohibit TRICARE Reserve Select premiums from being increased by a percentage that exceeds the most recent basic pay increase.
• Prohibit any enrollment fee for TRICARE Standard or any increase in the TRICARE Standard inpatient copay.

Last year, a similar initiative was crucial in defeating large TRICARE fee hikes but that measure was effective only for one year. S. 604 has no time limits.

I urge your cosponsorship and active support of S. 604. Please advise me of your intentions.

Please go to this link:

http://capwiz.com/usdr/index_frame.dbq?url=http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=9388371&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]

 [ send green star]

 
 September 04, 2006 5:21 PM

VA Issues New Veteran Identification Cards

 

All Old Veteran Identification Cards And Patient Identification Cards To Be Replaced

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced that VA health care facilities are beginning an aggressive campaign to assure that enrolled veterans with old versions of its ID cards are issued the new Veterans Identification Card (VIC). VA decided to initiate the mass replacement to reduce veteran vulnerability to identity theft and to demonstrate VA's commitment to securing the confidential personal information of all enrolled veterans.

 

VA indicates that prior versions of its identification cards display sensitive information such as social security number and date of birth on the front of the card. The new VIC, which was introduced in 2004, removed the sensitive information from the face of the card.

 

Since the new VIC was introduced in March 2004, approximately 2.4 million enrolled veterans have been issued the new VIC. VHA estimates that between 3 and 4 million enrolled veterans have not yet been issued a new VIC. VA hopes to complete the massive replacement program within the next 12 months.

 

For more information about the new VIC card, contact your Medical Center's

Eligibility & Enrollment Office or visit the VA's Eligibility Web site at

http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility 

 [ send green star]
 
Got it... July 15, 2006 11:27 AM

My rep supports it, and I sent note of thanks, however, I'm disappointed she doesn't support more.  This is an excellent tool to see how your rep stands on vet issues.

Thank you Jacki.

 [ send green star]

 
 July 12, 2006 10:31 AM

Capwiz Bill Note for Jul 12, 2006

H.R.994: 'To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. '

    The following 2 sponsors were added to this bill:
    • Rep. Ralph Regula (REP-OH-16) (cosponsor)
    • Rep. Charlie Melancon (DEM-LA-3) (cosponsor)

H.R.994 now has 335 cosponsors.  Is your Representative among them?  -- http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/bills/?bill=7761876

118 days until Election Day. 

Thank you for using USDR Action Alerts.

 [ send green star]
 
Sorry for delay in response...Jacki April 13, 2006 6:15 AM

This took a lot of reading, reflecting...in summarization, I still don't understand what is happening.  Still a political dance to me.

 [ send green star]
 
 April 12, 2006 7:42 AM

AFRNS = Legislation aimed to block Tricare increases gains support 

  Thanks to Air Force Retiree News Service afrns@afpclist.afpc.randolph.af.mil  for this information

____________________________________________________________________________


Release No. 4-05-06
April 11, 2006

Legislation aimed to block Tricare increases gains support

The Military Retirees' Healthcare Protection Action, a bill introduced by Reps. Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Walter Jones (R-NC), has gained support in the last few weeks.

According to an April 7 announcement by The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), HR 4949, aimed at blocking the Pentagon's plan for a large increase of Tricare fees paid by military retirees and family members under the age of 65, now has 133 cosponsors. 

Edwards and Jones sit on the three committees that control the issue.  Edwards is on the House Budget Committee and is the senior Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee that oversees military health care.  Jones serves on the Armed Services Committee.

Earlier, on April 4, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) held a meeting with Pentagon and military association leaders on the subject of Tricare fee increases.

The Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee Chairman convened the meeting, his second, in an effort to get a better handle on the differences of opinion between Pentagon leaders, who want increases in retiree Tricare fees, and leaders of various military associations, who argue that the increases are inappropriate.

According to a Military Officer Association of America (MOAA) report, Senator Graham said he thinks the answer lies somewhere in the middle, indicating that the fees probably should be increased to some degree, but that shouldn't happen until Defense health officials have gotten all possible savings from other options.  The MOAA announcement said the senator told defense leaders he would not support increases of the size they're proposing.

A representative from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), who attended the meeting, accepted Sen. Graham's tasking to conduct a review of DoD's budget numbers and look objectively at ways to contain costs in the healthcare area.

For more information on legislation now being considered in Congress, members of the retiree community can visit the web sites of MOAA at www.moaa.org and TREA at www.trea.org.  Other military related associations have web sites containing similar information.  They can be reached by going to http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/AFRetire/default.asp?prods3=259&prods2=39&prods1=1&cats1=144&p_cats=144 and click on links to military related organizations near the bottom of the page.

 

  [ send green star]
 
LINK TO LAST POST....OOPS April 11, 2006 11:51 AM

http://capwiz.com/usdr/index_frame.dbq?url=http://capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/?alertid=8670891&queueid=[capwiz:queue_id]  [ send green star]
 
 April 11, 2006 11:49 AM

4992 - Veterans Medicare Assistance Act

HR 4992 - Veterans Medicare Assistance ActMedicare Coverage for Veterans at VA Hospitals 

Under current law, Medicare-eligible veterans are not allowed to use Medicare coverage at local VA hospitals. Instead, they are forced to decide between receiving medical care at a VA hospital without being able to use Medicare to help them make their bill payments, or using Medicare at a non-VA hospital and losing the personalized veterans’ care of a VA hospital. 

On March 16, 2006, Rep. Sue Kelly (NY) introduced HR 4992, the Veterans Medicare Assistance Act, that would provide Medicare eligible veterans with Medicare Subvention -- the right to use Medicare benefits to help pay their bills at local VA hospitals.

"Veterans pay into Medicare for most of their lives, yet the law prohibits them from using Medicare benefits at a VA hospital later in life," Kelly said.  "VA hospitals specialize in treating veterans’ needs, and veterans should not be forced to choose between cost and comfort. Veterans should be eligible for the same Medicare benefits at a VA hospital that they would have at any other hospital."

"The federal government needs to keep the promises made to veterans and ease their financial burden by providing Medicare benefits at VA hospitals," Kelly said.  "Veterans have remarkably served our country, and in return they should have every health care option available to them. They should not be forced to make unfair and complicated financial decisions about their quality of health care."


Take Action!

  [ send green star]
 
Isn't this terrific! April 08, 2006 8:40 AM

I got the same e-mail! 

Thanks for posting.

 [ send green star]
 
 April 07, 2006 10:26 AM

USDR (Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees) How to Contact the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission
Many thanks to William Heino Sr whenino92@netscape.com for providing the following information:

Re: your Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission  posting, if I may suggest, that any body can e-mail the commission, for those unable to attend, of which there are many .Perhaps you may wish to include this information as part of your message. I posted this, and I gave the commission my response.

The Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission is traveling around the country to various cities getting input. They may not hit your town, but if you have something you wish that they know, visit their website at http://www.va.gov/vetscommissionThere you will find out exactly the input, and the message format they need, and their e-mail address.

USDR Legislative Affairs
  [ send green star]
 
Veterans and Disabilities .. February 23, 2006 12:32 PM

President Bush is Proposing for military retirees to pay more for health care

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=38171&nfid=rssfeeds

Sorry if this was posted eles where in group..

Thankyou my friend Priscilla for posting in the Disabled group!

 [ send green star]
 
Ah.... February 16, 2006 5:46 PM

ya.....please.  [ send green star]
 
Bingo, Jacki! February 02, 2006 2:57 AM

Great research!   Too much money, so let me figure a way to trick them....classic example!!!  Humans are going to figure a way.  It's called survival....still stuck on level one of that triangle.

As I stated in the intitial opening statement about the reason for the group was to look at some of the problems existing within the VA....this is just the tip of the iceberg, but the nail on the head.  The bureaucracy, and the red tape.  It's like the IRS, and the numerous other executive branches....they have rules for the rules that just don't make any sense.  Someone goes behind to wipe up the mess somene has created, and they don't realize it's someone's lives they are messing with.   I personally know someone in that situation as we speak.  My brother was denied in-home care because he "made too much money".  But, he can't buy a new tire.....figure that one out.  I like that Congresswoman!! 

Great research, Jacki, thank you....adds fuel to my jet pack...lol...Nancy

 [ send green star]
 
Veterans Benefits news February 01, 2006 7:52 PM

Ky Plaskon, Reporter
Benefits Cut For Some Nevada Veterans
Jan 26, 2006, 02:34 PM PST

Thousands of Nevada veterans were denied healthcare at Veterans Affairs hospitals last year because they made too much money.

That has outraged Congresswoman Shelly Berkley who called the policy irresponsible. She said the administration is sacrificing veterans for the budget deficit.

"You shouldn't have to be broke down on the curb to receive benefits," said Army veteran Don Lyle. He thinks all veterans should have access to the VA hospital. "It shouldn't have nothing to do with the money if you served for Uncle Sam, you should have the benefits if you have money or not."

A quarter million veterans were denied medical services last year because they make too much money. One Las Vegan who didn't want to reveal his identity said he was denied because he earns $39,000. The VA says it denies benefits to save money and to focus on disabled veterans. That has some veterans trying to get classified as disabled.

"We deal with stuff like this here all the time," said Arnold Schrader, of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. He gets fraudulent applications every day. "They use every trick in the book to trick the VA and that affects the budgets."

He also sees rich veterans taking advantage. One of his clients makes $80,000 a year and lives in a penthouse. "Every year he drives a new Lincoln and then he moans and groans that it costs $7 for his medications and I think he can well afford $7 for his meds," Schrader said.

He says instead of denying services to some it would be better if the VA charged based on income. Marine veteran Joe Lewis agrees. "Well, I think it is kind of vile for people who really don't need the benefits, that have the financial situation under control to try to get extra money from the VA."

Despite the VA's effort to save money it had to ask Congress for emergency funding last year.

  [ send green star]
 
  New Topic              Back To Topics Read Code of Conduct

 

This group:
Standing Up for Our Veterans
117 Members

View All Topics
New Topic

Track Topic
Mail Preferences


Copyright © 2009 Care2.com, inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved