FRA NEWS-BYTES
13 January 2012
In this week's edition of NewsBytes:
Second Legislative Session Begins
New Form and Legislation for Reporting Retiree Deaths
Walgreens No Longer in TRICARE Network
Be Heard!
NHQ Closed for MLK Day
Second Legislative Session Begins
The House returns next week for the Second Session of the 112th Congress, and the Senate returns the following week. Lawmakers can still consider legislation introduced in the first session (2011), as well as new bills that are introduced this year.
In addition to being a presidential election year, the 2012 elections in November will also determine 33 Senate seats and all House of Representatives posts. New boundaries have been defined by state legislatures for all House districts, except in states that have only one congressional district. Another unique aspect of the coming year is the threat of sequestration that includes $500-$600 billion in automatic cuts to the Defense budget, beginning on January 1, 2013, unless Congress acts to delay, repeal or restructure sequestration this year.
Members are urged to use the Action Center at www.fra.org to ask their U.S. Representative to support legislation associated with FRA's legislative agenda, including the "Down Payment to Protect National Security Act" (H.R. 3662) that would exclude the DoD budget from the first year of sequestration (2013). FRA supports this legislation, noting that DoD is already identifying over $450 billion in budget cuts over the next 10 years. The additional $500-$600 billion in reductions could jeopardize essential military pay and benefit programs, which would have a negative impact on recruiting, retention and overall military readiness.
New Form and Legislation for Reporting Retiree Deaths
The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) launched a new online form to make it easier for grieving family members to report the deaths of military retirees. The form and additional information are available at:
http://www.dfas.mil/retiredmilitary/newsevents/newsletter/newform.html
This new form will help eliminate the problem of overpayment, which can result in financial and emotional hardship for the family when repayment is required without warning. The problem most often occurs when a military retiree dies late in the month. If the death report and other administrative details are not handled before the next retirement payment is processed, an overpayment occurs for the period between the retiree's death and the end of the month. DFAS is required to recoup this overpayment directly from the survivor's bank account and can do so with little or no warning.
FRA supports a legislative remedy. At the Association's request Representative Walter Jones (N.C.) introduced legislation (H.R. 493) authorizing surviving spouses (or other designated survivors) to retain the full month's retired pay for the month in which a military retiree passes away. "The Military Retiree Survivor Comfort Act" seeks to ensure survivors are not unfairly burdened when overpayments occur.
Jones' proposal would allow survivors to retain the full month's retired pay for any month in which the retiree was alive for at least 24 hours. To offset the cost associated with this proposal, a provision of the bill would delay the first Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuity payment until the month after the retiree dies. Congress passed a similar law in 1996 allowing surviving spouses to retain veterans' disability and VA pension payments issued for the month of the veteran's death. FRA believes military retired pay should be no different. Members are urged to use the FRA Action Center at www.fra.org to express their support for H.R. 493.
Walgreens No Longer in TRICARE Network
The retail pharmacy contract between Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) and the Walgreens pharmacy chain has expired, which means Walgreens is no longer a TRICARE pharmacy network provider as of Jan. 1, 2012. In addition to 56,000 other network pharmacies, TRICARE beneficiaries have other options for filling prescriptions, including military pharmacies (at no cost) and convenient TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. Generic medications are available at no cost through Home Delivery.
Beneficiaries who use non-network pharmacies, including Walgreens, pay full prescription costs upfront and submit their own claims for reimbursement. Reimbursement will occur only after the non-network deductible is met. Out-of-network costs include a 50-percent point-of-service cost share for TRICARE Prime, after deductibles are met. All other non-active duty TRICARE beneficiaries pay the greater of a $12 co-pay or 20 percent of the total cost for formulary medications and the greater of $25 or 20 percent of the total cost for non-formulary medications, after deductibles are met.
TRICARE beneficiaries changing from Walgreens pharmacy can simply take their current prescription bottle to their new network pharmacy to have the prescription transferred. To find a nearby network pharmacy, use the "find a pharmacy" feature on www.express-scripts.com/tricare. Beneficiaries who want help finding a pharmacy, changing their medications to Home Delivery or who have other questions can contact Express Scripts at 1-877-885-6313.
Be Heard!
FRA's offers several vehicles to make it easy for shipmates to communicate their views to their elected officials!
Legislative Priorities Survey: As part of its mission to bring the enlisted voice to Capitol Hill, FRA is conducting an online survey at www.fra.org/survey to determine which military and veterans benefits are most important to its members and their families. The brief survey asks participants to rate the benefits and quality-of-life programs they've earned through service to our nation.
Communicate With Your Elected Officials: This useful, free guide includes a directory of the 112th Congress and includes helpful tips on effectively expressing concerns to lawmakers. To request your free copy, send an email to teresa@fra.org with your name, mailing address, rank and branch of service or call 1-800-FRA-1924.
FRA's Action Center: This free online service, available at www.fra.org, allows visitors to send prewritten messages (or visitors can draft their own) to their members of Congress, urging their support or opposition to legislative proposals that impact current and former service personnel.
NHQ Closed for MLK Day
FRA National Headquarters will be closed on Monday, January 16th, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year marks the 26th anniversary of the federal holiday designated to honor the civil rights leader who was slain on April 4, 1968.