Retiree pay increase for 2010???

[jbob]

I get this newsletter from some guy in the Phillipines who keeps up with retiree/VA issues. Apparently there was some Seniors survey that was tracking SSA decreases for this year. That might be a bonus as it seem there may be some emergency legislation to get a retiree pay increase for this year.

SSA COLA 2010 Update 04: Fifty-two percent of seniors responding to The Senior Citizens League’s (TSCL) 2010 Senior Survey say they are receiving lower Social Security checks this year than they did in 2009. With no annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2010, deductions for rising Medicare premiums reduced benefit checks. Not only are large numbers of seniors reporting lower benefit payments, the reductions are comparatively steep, given the average Social Security benefit in 2010 is only $1,064 per month. Of those getting a reduced check, about one-third say their monthly checks are at least $31 less than they got last year. Seventeen percent said their checks had been reduced by more than $50 a month. The benefit reductions follow two back-to-back years in which seniors report cutting down on visits to doctors, dentist, opticians, and filling fewer prescriptions. The survey found that in 2009:

· 46% said they cut back on visits to doctor or hospital outpatient services.

· 54% said they cut back on trips to the dentist, optician or hearing specialists, the costs of which are not covered under traditional Medicare.

· 38% said they postponed filing a prescription or took less than prescribed.

· 68% reported real estate taxes went up, (even as home values continued to plummet).

All told, about 29% of the seniors who took the survey said their monthly expenses in 2009 increased from $80 to $119, and another 37% said their monthly expenses increased more than $119. TSCL recently released the findings to the national media and continues the effort in Congress to enact an emergency COLA for both 2010 and 2011. Says TSCL’s Executive Director, Shannon Benton, “Thanks to all of you who took the time to respond to the 2010 Senior Survey and those of you who are sending letters to Members of Congress, and letters to the editor of your local papers! The overwhelming response makes a compelling case to Congress for the need to help seniors now.†TSCL is lobbying for legislation that would provide an emergency 3% COLA for 2010, H.R. 3557, introduced by U.S. Representative Walter Jones (R-NC-03), and H.R. 4193, introduced by U.S. Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY-17), which would guarantee a minimum COLA of 3% in years in which the CPI would be lower. To learn more on this issue refer the TSCL website at www.seniorsleague.org. [source: Your Social Security and Medicare Advisor, Vol. 15, No. 4 dtd 13 Apr 2010 ++]

[n1dp]

I also get that newsletter; have for many years now. He does a very good job of spreading the word.

[Muff Millen]

Yea, we did not get a cost of living increase but the medicare part B fee went up...

On another note...if you folks or any vereran that you know is NOT enrolled in the VA medical system..sign up NOW...under the new Obama health plan the VA medical system is qualified as an approved type of insurance therefore no fines or punishment will come after you.

Even if you do not use the VA medical system there will be no need to buy mandatory health insurance. Spread the word.

Muff

[Mt.crewchief]

Muff, How hard is to get on the VA medical system? I have thought many times over the years that I should get on it, but the way it looked, I was in the category that would make it very hard to do! I think it was Cat. 8. I am about ready to retire from my current job, and will need the medical.

Let me know if I am making sense!!!!

Thanks,

Ken

[Muff Millen]

Ken, it is very easy....just take your DDForm 214 to the nearest VA hospital and see the eligibility folks and they will enroll you.

Yes there was a time when they would only see some of the groups then it was opened to all vets and then a few years ago it was closed but now all vets are eligible for care. Now if your income is above the poverty level you might have to pay a co-payment.

Meds right now are $8.00 for non service connected and free for service connected problems.

Now if I remember corectly you spent time in Vietnam, there fore you were exposed to agent orange. As we get oder most of us will have prostrate problems or heart problems...both connected to AO. Also type two diabeties is also considered to have been caused by AO.

So I would advise that you get over there and get enroled ....best thing is no preimums.

Muff

[Mt.crewchief]

Thanks Muff,

I am going to take your advice! I also have what I think is a PTSD problem that I think is service related. I will check into that also! I served 33 months in and out of Vietnam out of my 4 years in the USAF.

Thanks again,

Ken

[Dan Wilson]

I also have what I think is a PTSD problem that I think is service related

Just a word of advise

If you go to the VA and do get diagnosed with PTSD, the VA will in turn release that information to the BATFE.

There is no law requirement them to do that but they have been doing it since the klintoon regime when they requested the VA to release those names to the gestapo goon squad, and they never stopped.

So if you find yourself on the end of an NCIC check with a denied to buy a firearm, that is the reason why.

I don't know if you have the availability to go on base for treatment but that's when I did instead of telling the VA anything about it.

In now way am I saying to avoid treatment, believe me it will make a difference in you life if you do have it. but seek alternative treatment facility's for PTSD if you have the ability.

Dan

[Wil Sanchez]

Ken, I recently began receiving care at the VA here in the Dallas area. Some treatment requires that I go to the Main VA center. The remainder of my treatment is done at the VA Clinic in Ft. Worth. I don't know if everyone else is receiving great care but I have been treated much better than any private treatment I received. They have treated me with kindness and respect, As Dan or Muff said prescriptions are only $8.00.

I hope you get the same care I have received. I wish I had known about this a long time ago.

Wil

[Muff Millen]

Just another added note. I started using the VA hosp at Tampa in 1991 and for the past three years now use the Atlanta VA hospital...I have always received the best of care and treatment. Folks are friendly and very helpful all the time....

I also volunteer as an info greeter at the main desk and get no complaints about the care...only complaints is that there is never enough parking spaces.

Muff

[Mt.crewchief]

Just a word of advise

If you go to the VA and do get diagnosed with PTSD, the VA will in turn release that information to the BATFE.

There is no law requirement them to do that but they have been doing it since the klintoon regime when they requested the VA to release those names to the gestapo goon squad, and they never stopped.

So if you find yourself on the end of an NCIC check with a denied to buy a firearm, that is the reason why.

I don't know if you have the availability to go on base for treatment but that's when I did instead of telling the VA anything about it.

In now way am I saying to avoid treatment, believe me it will make a difference in you life if you do have it. but seek alternative treatment facility's for PTSD if you have the ability.

Dan

Dan, Thanks for the "heads up"! I have an FFL, and I would rather not complicate things any more than I have to!!! Maybe I will have to think about it for awhile!!!!

Ken

[Guest]

Do you have to be a retiree, or just a Vet?

[Dan Wilson]

You don't have to be a retiree to use the VA now (I think).

If you are seeing them for a service connected problem the treatment and medications are free, if you are seeing them for something non-service connected you will have to pay for the treatment and medication.

I really don't know how much the fee is but I think its a lot more reasonable than seeing a doc downtown.

Overall I dont think I have ever had a problem with the techs, nurses and doctors at the VA. Usually they are as good or better than a civilian doctor (but like the outside, you get the occasional quack), I would not hesitate to recommend going there for normal treatment, the are ALWAYS very courteous and polite.

On the other hand though, the admin people (like at St. Pete) they hire have got to be the biggest bunch of ignorant, lazy, arrogant a-holes I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. But unless your trying to file a disability claim you will (hopefully) never have to deal with them.

Dan

[Muff Millen]

All veterans honorably discharged are eligible. Also the copayment is if your income is above a set amount something like $30000 and the last I heard it was $52.00 for each visit nomatter how many appointments you had during that visit.

If you have a claim to file seek out a DAV or American Legion service rep and they will take care of all the papoerwork and you do NOT have to be a member of the organization and their service is free.

If anyone has a peoblem with any worker at the VA go to see the Patient Rep he/she works for the Chief of Staff and will always resolve all types of problems/conflicts.

Muff

[cfisher]

I use the VA and Tricare for life and i tell the tricare DR. and the VA DR. I use both .and there is no problem. I am well over 50% service connected disabled . PTSD being the larger. The VA has treated me very good . I just finisher a two week stress class and they are sending me and my wife together to a two week PTSD class. My wife is learning a lot that she didn't understand about PTSD. Ijust couldn't explain it to here.My wife looks foward to the classes. The last few days of the class there will be five are six couples in the class together. I get all of mydicine from the VA. Even if my tricare DR. says i need it. I get free glasses from the VA and take there paper work to Tinker AFB and get glasses from them. I need them bscause i loose them all the time and i need a spare pair. I strongley suggest ever one enrole in the VA. I own alot of guns and that has never been a problem.

[edevers]

Don't forget to stop at the travel pay window after your appointments and there is NO minimum mileage.

If you use a clinic they have the forms to file out and turn in there. That ck takes about 8 weeks.

I live about 60 miles from the Tampa medical center and my pay is $52.87.

:)

[cfisher]

That is good comment about travel pay i missed getting it for a few years. I didn't know they paid you for travel till another VET told me about it. I probley lost a few hundred dollars not knowing about it. I receive the same amount you do.

[Wil Sanchez]

Ed, concerning travel pay. You have to fall into 1 of 2 categories. You must either have at least 30% service connected disability or make less than something like $12,000.00 per year. If you fall into 1 of those caegories then apply for your travel pay.

Wil

[Ramrod]

Here is the link to electronically apply to VA for Medical benefits.

https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/

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