MINUTES OF MILITARY RETIREE COUNCIL OF THE SPRINGFIELD AREA, January 12, 2010

Meeting called to order at 1830 hours.  Eleven members present to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  David Rauch (Sen. McCaskell’s rep) and Jon Bledsoe (Rep. Blunt’s rep.) were present to answer questions.

New Members: none

best judgment about attending during the winter months.  We do not want anyone to have an accident or slip and fall on slick roads or sidewalks.

VA Report

JAMES HUNTSINGER (RETIRED) BRIEFED ON:

v                   S1963 “The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2009”.  It contains landmark provisions that will help ensure that female veterans, who play an increasingly essential role in our military, receive quality, timely and gender-appropriate health care services from the Dept of VA, equal in every respect to that afforded male veterans.

v                   The 3 specific illnesses based (on the latest evidence of an association with the herbicides referred to Agent Orange) are Hairy Cell Leukemia, Parkinson’s Decease and Ischemic Heart Decease.

DUANE FIELDS (RETIRED) BRIEFED ON:

Ø                   No social security COLA or increase in Part B premiums (except the below listed enrollees) for 2010:

1.                   Low income beneficiaries whose Part B premiums are fully paid by Medicaid

2.                   High income beneficiaries who are subject to income related Part B premiums

3.                   New enrollees

Ø                   The VA now covers eyeglasses and hearing aids even for some non-service connected Priority 5, 6 or 7 patients (generally, veterans with honorable or general discharge after at least two years service with incomes under $35,000).  The little known VA Health Adm Directive 2002-039 of July 5, 2002 par 4.a(1) authorizes eyeglasses and hearing aids.  Call the VA for qualifications.

Ø                   The Dept of Defense’s Transaction Assistance Program: the 5 major components are:

1.                   Pre-separation counseling

2.                   Labor employment workshops

3.                   VA benefits briefing

4.                   Disabled transaction assistance program

5.                   One-on-one counseling

This is administrated at the local military installations and bases.

Ø                   Social security verse military disability:  the definition of being disabled under social security is as follows: you must be unable to do substantial work because of your medical condition(s) and your medical condition(s) must have lasted or be expected to last at least one year or be expected to result in death.  Also, social security does not provide benefits for people with partial or short-term disability.

Ø                    Healthcare reform in the House and Senate which are being discussed, behind doors, to become one health care bill does not affect Tricare, TriCare for Life or VA health care benefits at this time.  Both congress and the President have stated it will not affect the military health care programs.  However, we must not assume budgetary threats against TriCare are over.  I have received assurances from our Representatives in the House and Senate that they will oppose any health care reform proposals that would negatively affect the current TriCare for Life and VA health care.  The DOD will probably make another attempt to increase TriCare fees and co pays in the fiscal 2011 defense budget.  Congress in the past has rebuffed those politically inappropriate initiatives.

Ø                   Jim Osburn, CLU will be guest speaker at our February 9, 2010 meeting.  Jim to brief on:

1.                   Tax treatment of your most highly taxed asset (IRA)

2.                   Life insurance as income for spouse

3.                   Beneficiary deed in Missouri

4.                   Estate planning and avoiding probate when possible

5.                   Gifting to relatives without taxes

6.                   Beneficiary errors costing many dollars on pensions and IRAs.

I would like to see everyone who receives minutes to be in attendance. If you know of other retired veterans please ask them to attend – we NEED to increase our membership.

Meeting adjourned at 1915 hours.  Our next meeting will be Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 1830 hours at the American Legion Post 69, 149 Memorial Plaza, Springfield.

Duane Fields, Chairman