Change in SBP
A change in last year’s Defense Authorization Act lets military retirees’ Survivor Benefit Plan coverage for a former spouse transfer to a new spouse if the former spouse dies. The law allows a one-year window after remarriage to cover a new spouse. Those remarried more than a year ago have until Nov. 25 to switch SBP coverage to a current spouse. This open-season period applies only to members who had SBP coverage for a former spouse before Nov. 25, 2015 and whose former spouse died before Nov. 25, 2015 who subsequently remarried a new spouse on or before Nov. 25, 2015. The law change also affects reserve component retirees who purchased Reserve Component SBP.
Shared Medical Data
The Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record Health Information Exchange Initiative connects health and benefit information systems from DoD, VA and other federal and private sector partners. Tricare providers joined the system this month. The initiative is a secure network that shares health information. The military health system has operated its own initiative, sharing information electronically between providers at military and VA facilities. Only authorized health care professionals will access information. Information on active-duty members is already shared. Non-active duty beneficiaries have a choice. If you don’t want information accessed by your doctors, go to Tricare.mil, download and complete the VLER Opt-Out (In) Letter template. Mail it to the address provided on the letter. If you later change your mind, you may rejoin.
Increased Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers care for Hepatitis C, regardless of the stage of the patient’s liver disease. VA has long led the country in screening for and treating Hepatitis C. It has treated some 76,000 veterans infected with Hepatitis C and approximately 60,000 have been cured. Since 2014, more than 42,000 patients have been treated with the new antivirals. In FY 2015, VA allocated $696 million for new Hepatitis C drugs, 17 percent of the total pharmacy budget. This year, VA anticipates spending approximately $1 billion on Hepatitis C drugs. For more information on Hepatitis C treatments, go to www.hepatitis.va.gov.
The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please consider joining the volunteer staff. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 981-2726. Call to ensure a volunteer is on duty.
A change in last year’s Defense Authorization Act lets military retirees’ Survivor Benefit Plan coverage for a former spouse transfer to a new spouse if the former spouse dies. The law allows a one-year window after remarriage to cover a new spouse. Those remarried more than a year ago have until Nov. 25 to switch SBP coverage to a current spouse. This open-season period applies only to members who had SBP coverage for a former spouse before Nov. 25, 2015 and whose former spouse died before Nov. 25, 2015 who subsequently remarried a new spouse on or before Nov. 25, 2015. The law change also affects reserve component retirees who purchased Reserve Component SBP.
Shared Medical Data
The Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record Health Information Exchange Initiative connects health and benefit information systems from DoD, VA and other federal and private sector partners. Tricare providers joined the system this month. The initiative is a secure network that shares health information. The military health system has operated its own initiative, sharing information electronically between providers at military and VA facilities. Only authorized health care professionals will access information. Information on active-duty members is already shared. Non-active duty beneficiaries have a choice. If you don’t want information accessed by your doctors, go to Tricare.mil, download and complete the VLER Opt-Out (In) Letter template. Mail it to the address provided on the letter. If you later change your mind, you may rejoin.
Increased Care
The Department of Veterans Affairs offers care for Hepatitis C, regardless of the stage of the patient’s liver disease. VA has long led the country in screening for and treating Hepatitis C. It has treated some 76,000 veterans infected with Hepatitis C and approximately 60,000 have been cured. Since 2014, more than 42,000 patients have been treated with the new antivirals. In FY 2015, VA allocated $696 million for new Hepatitis C drugs, 17 percent of the total pharmacy budget. This year, VA anticipates spending approximately $1 billion on Hepatitis C drugs. For more information on Hepatitis C treatments, go to www.hepatitis.va.gov.
The Retiree Activities Office is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please consider joining the volunteer staff. Visit the office in Building 1604 at California and Colorado Avenues or call 301 981-2726. Call to ensure a volunteer is on duty.
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