Effective October 1, 2008, SBP participants who reach 70 years of age and have made 360 payments (30 years), will no longer have to pay premiums for continued SBP coverage and will be placed in "Paid-up SBP" status.

Paid-up SBP provisions were mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 1999. The law also established a paid-up status, also beginning on October 1, 2008, for participants in the Retired Serviceman's Family Protection Plan once they reach 70 years of age.

No action is required of SBP participants to be placed in Paid-up SBP status. Once the eligibility criteria has been met, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service will automatically stop deducting premiums from qualifying military retired pay accounts.

The law establishing Paid-up SBP does not allow for refunds of premiums paid before October 1, 2008, even though a retiree may have reached age 70 and made 360 or more premium payments.

DFAS is currently developing changes to the military retiree pay systems that will monitor the number of SBP premiums paid and the age of the participant. The system updates are targeted for a May 2008 completion date. At that time, SBP participants who will be eligible for Paid-up SBP status on October 1, 2008, or will meet eligibility within a short time of the implementation date, will be notified by mail of their impending paid-up status.

Those military retirees who become eligible for Paid-up SBP status after the initial group will be notified of their SBP status on their December 2008 an nual Retiree Account Statements that will note the number of premiums paid to date. Each RAS issued after December 2008, whether annually or as a result of a pay change, will include the Paid-up SBP premium "counter," based on DFAS records, to help retirees monitor their eligibility status.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Paid-Up SBP

What is Paid-Up SBP?
Paid-Up SBP refers to a provision of the Survivor Benefit Plan law passed in October 1998, and which is due to take effect 1 Oct. 2008, in which qualified members will no longer be required to pay SBP premiums once they satisfy certain age and premium payment requirements.

Who is eligible to have their SBP premiums stopped?
Any retiree who is 70 or older, and whose retired pay has been reduced for SBP premiums for at least 360 months.

Is a retiree who has paid SBP premiums for 360 months or more but has not reached 70 eligible to have premiums terminated?
No. To qualify for the paid-up SBP, a retiree must satisfy both requirements of the law. The retiree must be 70 or older and made SBP premium payments for at least 360 months.

When does Paid-Up SBP begin?
The paid-up SBP does not take effect until 1 Oct. 2008. The first retired pay payment affected will be the payment dated 1 Nov. 2008. For more information: visit the DFAS Web site at http://www.dfas.mil/retired pay.html or call 1-800-321-1080. DFAS will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.

Click below for more SBP information:

· SBP Costs and Benefit
· SBP Frequently Asked Questions

Military Retiree COLA Set for 2008
Military and federal civilian retirees, veterans receiving disability compensation and Social Security recipients will get a 2.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment in January. The increase also will boost annuities under the military’s survivor benefits plan.

The increase is tied to inflation as measured by the government’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The increase is based on the average change in prices for a market basket of goods and service from the third quarter of 2006 to the third quarter of 2007.

Military Retiree Survivor Checklist
The following checklist should be reviewed by military retirees and their beneficiaries on an annual basis. This checklist is designed to equip you and your loved ones with knowledge and information that may prove helpful. While it may be impossible to truly prepare for the overwhelming emotions and dilemmas that arise with the loss of a loved one, it does help when most of the below issues have been put into place.

__ Create a military file that includes your retirement orders, separation papers, medical records, etc. Make sure your spouse knows the location and telephone number of the nearest military installation.

__ Create a military retired pay file that includes the pertinent information for DFAS (This file should also include the number of any VA claim still pending and the address of the VA office being used; a list of deductions currently being made from benefits; and the name, relationship and address of the person you have made the beneficiary of any unpaid retired pay at the time of death.)

__ Create an annuities file. This file should have information about the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Plan (RCSBP) or the Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection Plan (RSFPP), Civil Service annuity, etc. Additional information regarding SBP annuity claims can be obtained from the DFAS-Cleveland office at 1-800-321-1080.

__ Create a personal document file that has copies of marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoptions and naturalization papers.

__ Create an income tax file. Include copies of your state and federal income tax returns.

__ Create a property tax file. Include copies of tax bills, deeds and any other related information.

__ Create an insurance policy file. Include life, property, accident, liability and hospitalization policies.

__ In a secure location, maintain a list of all bank accounts (joint or individual). Include the location of all deposit boxes, savings bonds, stocks, bonds and any securities owned.

__ In a secure location, maintain a list of all charge accounts and credit cards. Include account numbers and mailing addresses.

__ Maintain a list of all associations and organizations of which you are a member. Some of them could be helpful to your spouse.

__ Maintain a list of all friends and business associates who may be helpful. Include name, address and phone number.

__ Spend time with your spouse discussing your plans with respect to the type and place of your funeral service. You should decide which cemetery, whether ground burial, or cremation, etc. If your spouse knows your desires, it will resolve some of the questions that might arise at a later date.

__ Visit a local funeral home and pre-arrange your services. Many states will allow you to pre-pay for services.

__ Investigate the decisions that you and your family have agreed upon. Many states have specific laws and guidelines regulating cremation and burials at sea. Some states require a letter of authority signed by the deceased in order to authorize a cremation. Know the laws in your specific area and how they may affect your decisions. Information regarding Burials at Sea can be obtained by phoning the Office of Medical and Dental Affairs-Mortuary Affairs Division at (888) 647-6676 (option 4).

__ Once your decisions have been made and you’re comfortable with them, have a will drawn up outlining all your wishes.

__ Insure that your will and all other official documents are maintained in a secure location known by your loved ones. This includes all of your DD214s or Retirement Orders.

__ When all the decision-making and documenting is completed, sit back and continue to enjoy life.

Who should be notified in the event of my death?

1. Defense Finance and Accounting Service – (800) 321-1080 or (216) 522-5955/(800) 269-5170

2. Social Security Administration (for death benefits) - (800) 772-1213

3. Department of Veterans Affairs (if applicable) – (800) 827-1000

4. Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) (for Federal Employees) - (724) 794-8690

5. Any fraternal group that you have membership with: e.g., MOAA, FRA, NCOA, VFW, AL, TREA

6. Any previous employers that provide pension or benefits.

7. Burial at Sea information – (888) 647-6676 (option 4)

When all the decision-making and documenting is completed, sit back and continue to enjoy life.

Contact information for all retiree services:

Defense Finance and Accounting Service U S Military Retirement Pay Post Office Box 7130 London, KY 40742 7130 (800) 321-1080 or (216) 522-5955/(800) 269-5170 (for deceased members)	Department of Navy NPC PERS-675R Retired Activities Section 5720 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38055-6640 (866) 827-5672
U.S. Army Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1 DAPE-HRPD-RSO ( Retirement Services Office ) 200 Stovall St. Alexandria, VA 22332-0470 (703) 325-9158	U.S. Air Force AFPC/DPPRT 550 C Street W, Ste 3 Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4713 (210) 565-4663
U.S. Marine Corps Headquarters, USMC Manpower and Reserve Affairs (MMSR-6) 3280 Russell Road Quantico, VA 22134-5103 (800) 336-4649 Option #0	U.S. Coast Guard Commanding Officer (RAS) U. S. Coast Guard Personnel Service Center 444 SE Quincy St Topeka KS 66683-3591 (800) 772-8724

*** Please know that this is a basic military checklist. You should include in your package all civilian related information not cited above that would assist your beneficiaries in carrying out your last will.

Source: U.S. Navy Retired Activities Section (RAS)

Former Army Surgeon General Nominated to be VA Secretary
President Bush nominated a former Army surgeon general and thoracic surgeon to be the next Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs.

LTG James Peake, USA, Ret., said at the Oct. 30 White House ceremony, the nomination was a “high honor indeed.” Adding, “Fundamentally, I’m a soldier. I’ve been taking care of soldiers essentially all of my adult life.”

LTG Peake graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1966 and served as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam. For his service there, he earned a Silver Star and two Purple Hearts. While recovering from his second wound, he learned he had been accepted by Cornell’s Medical School.

“Long before the global war on terror began, Dr. Peake was changing the way we deliver medical care to our troops. As a result of his reforms, many who once might have died on the battlefield – now they come home to be productive and having fulfilling lives,” President Bush said.

The President said one of Peake’s first tasks as secretary “will be to continue to implement the recommendations of the Dole-Shalala Commission on Wounded Warriors. … He will work tirelessly to eliminate backlogs and ensure that our veterans receive the benefits they need to lead lives of dignity and purpose.”

LTG Peake said, “The disability system is largely a 1945 product – 1945 processes around a 1945 family unit. About everybody that has studied it recently said it is time to do some revisions.”

Since leaving the Army, LTG Peake served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Project Hope and chief medical director and chief operating officer with QTC Management.

After hearing of the President’s nomination of LTG Peake, Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, D-Hawaii said, "Dr. Peake is a highly decorated veteran with a long history of distinguished service and I look forward to learning more about him and his plans for the Department of Veterans Affairs, should he be confirmed.”

LTG Peake would succeed Jim Nicholson who resigned effective Oct. 1.

Agreement Reached on Military Construction/VA Spending Bill
Last week, House and Senate conferees agreed on a bill that would fund Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs for fiscal 2008. However, the future of the bill is uncertain.

Although President Bush has indicated his support for the bill, the Democratic leadership in the House and Senate plan to combine the bill with the fiscal 2008 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill which the President has vowed to veto because it provides $9.8 billion more than he requested.

House and Senate Republicans object to packaging the bills. They contend that the Democrats are trying to force President Bush into signing the inflated Labor-HHS-Education bill by attaching to the popular veterans’ spending bill.

Appropriators said House and Senate votes are expected this week. But even that is unclear because Senate Republicans might move to split the package, an option available to them because of a Senate rule adopted earlier this year as part of the ethics and lobbying overhaul.

Under a revision of Senate Rule 28, senators may “surgically” strike provisions of a conference report that were not in the bill passed by either chamber and send the remaining legislation back to the House.

Republican leaders were reluctant to commit that strategy. “I’m not prepared to announce that today,” Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said at a news conference on Friday. He added that it was “a reasonable surmise” that GOP leaders would offer the point of order because they oppose the package.

However, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, announced that she will raise a point of order against the legislation when it reaches the floor.

The Military Construction/VA spending bill would provide:

--$43.1 billion in discretionary spending for the Veterans Affairs Department, slightly more than the $43 billion in the Senate bill and slightly less than the $43.2 billion in the House bill. The President requested $39.4 billion.

--$37.2 billion in discretionary spending for the Veterans’ Health Administration; President Bush requested $34.6 billion. The total for veterans’ health care in the conference report would exceed the $36.8 billion suggested in the “Independent Budget” prepared by veterans’ groups seeking increased spending for the VA.

-- $21.5 billion for the military construction, $306 million more than President Bush requested. The total falls between the $21.6 billion included in the Senate-passed bill and the $21.4 billion in the House version of the bill.

--$1.1 billion for Guard and reserve military construction — $367 million more than the President requested.

VA Urges Flu Shots
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is urging all veterans, especially those enrolled in VA's health care system, to receive flu vaccinations. Walk-in clinics and drive-in clinics for the vaccinations -- which are free for veterans enrolled in VA's health care system -- are being held at many of VA's 153 hospitals and more than 900 outpatient clinics. Physicians recommend flu vaccinations for pregnant women, people with chronic medical conditions, those at least 50 years of age, patients in long-term care facilities, and individuals who live with those at high risk for complications from flu. A recent study by Dr. Kristin Nichol, chief of medicine at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, found dramatic reductions in deaths and sickness for patients who had received a flu shot. Vaccination reduced hospitalizations for pneumonia or influenza by 27 per cent, and cut back death rates by 48 per cent.

TRICARE Lowers Nexium Co-pay
The TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) announced that due to a negotiated price break from the manufacturer they are lowering the co-pay for Nexium. TRICARE beneficiaries will now only pay a $3.00 co-pay. This is true at both retail pharmacies and the TRICARE mail order pharmacies. At retail, beneficiaries can get a 30-day supply; while through Mail Order it is up to a 90-day supply. Nexium is a heartburn treatment known as a proton pump inhibitor. Approximately 500,000 TRICARE beneficiaries take this type of drug. At a meeting with Express Scripts Inc. TREA Executive Director Deirdre Parke Holleman was told that Nexium is the most popular drug for TRICARE beneficiaries. (In fact the purple pill is extremely popular throughout the country.) While the co-pay for Nexium dropped other proton pump inhibitors, Prevacid, Zegerid, Protonix and Aciphex, co-pays increased to $22.00. For more information please go to: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=330

DoD to Unveil New Disability System
Military Times reports that the Department of Defense will soon launch an improved disability evaluation system. The new system will streamline the disability rating process and ensure better coordination between the DoD and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The plan is part of an ongoing effort to decrease the amount of time it takes for veterans to receive benefits and to make the process less confusing and cumbersome for veterans.
[Source: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/10/military_jointdisability_071018w/]

Disparities in Disability Pay Addressed by Congress
The House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on October 16 to investigate continued regional disparities between disability claims rating and benefits administered by the Veterans Benefits Administration. Following a GAO report issued in 2003, which noted that disability benefits were being awarded inconsistently, the VA has taken steps to improve its service to veterans. However, in testimony, Jon Wooditch, the deputy VA inspector general, told subcommittee members that disparities continue. According to Wooditch, the differences are in some cases the result of demographic factors over which the VA has no control, such as such as the branch of the service, period or length of service, or number of dependents. However, subjective differences in how raters evaluate cases are probably the cause of many of the disparities. The VA has introduced new training to improve raters’ objectivity and accuracy, especially in cases of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. Testimony from the hearings is available at http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?newsid=135.
[Source: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/military_states_disabilitypayments_071016w/]

Fall Flu Shots Are Just What the Doctor Ordered
Fall is the best time to get the flu vaccination in the United States, according to health officials. This gives the body a chance to build up immunity before the winter flu season. TRICARE beneficiaries should check with their local military treatment facility or primary care manager to find out when and where they are offering the flu vaccine. It is strongly recommended that the following people get vaccinated each year: all children aged six months to their fifth birthday; adults aged 50 years and older; persons with underlying chronic medical conditions; pregnant women; health care workers involved in direct patient care; child care and elderly care workers; and persons at high risk for severe complications from influenza. TRICARE will cover the flu shot for beneficiaries, as long as it is administered in a doctor’s office. Flu shots administered in a civilian pharmacy or drugstore are not covered by TRICARE. For TRICARE for Life beneficiaries, Medicare covers flu vaccinations and TRICARE would pay as second payer, if needed. TRICARE covers two types of vaccinations; the inactivated vaccine containing a killed virus and given with a needle, and the nasal-spray flu vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu. For more information about influenza visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=332]

TRICARE Seeks and Listens to Input on Its New Website
When the TRICARE Management Activity launched its new website in July, their objective was to make it easier for beneficiaries to find the information they need about their benefit. With close to 900,000 visitors in its first full month, the website appears to be quite popular; and valuable feedback from many of those visitors is helping TRICARE to make the site even better. TRICARE officials say they can make the website even better with the continued help of their beneficiaries. Officials hope that every website visitor who had difficulty or has a suggestion will go to http://www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/feedback and leave a detailed message, so the web team can work on the problem. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=323]

TRICARE Beneficiaries: Don’t Get Stuck With the Bill – Get Preauthorization
When a TRICARE beneficiary needs hospital care, he or she can usually be confident that the benefit will cover everything involved with inpatient care. In some cases, however, TRICARE beneficiaries need preauthorization to get the health care procedures that are not routine, such as an MRI. Those who are in TRICARE should ask their regional contractors about the specific medical care being considered before scheduling an appointment to be sure TRICARE coverage will apply. If beneficiaries have other health insurance they need to follow the rules of the other plan. Generally, they won’t need preauthorization for TRICARE-covered services that would otherwise require it. Exceptions include adjunctive dental care, the Extended Care Health Option, hospice, stem cell and organ transplants, and some behavioral health care services. To verify if preauthorization is necessary, beneficiaries may contact their regional contractors: North Region: 1-877-TRICARE (1-877-874-2273); South Region: 1-800-444-5445; West Region: 1-888-874-9378. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/News/News.aspx?fid=329]

New Online Resource Can Help TRICARE Beneficiaries Deal With Life's Challenges
A new online educational resource offers TRICARE beneficiaries a secure, safe environment to seek information, educational materials and self-assessment tools on behavioral health, addiction and recovery, life events and daily living skills. “AchieveSolutions” can be accessed through the behavioral health link in the beneficiary resources area of the Humana Military Healthcare Services’ (HMHS) website at http://www.humana-military.com. HMHS is the managed care contractor for the TRICARE south region. Resources provided on the Website, which are offered in both English and Spanish, include: access to self-referral tools, behavioral health program information, interactive self-assessment applications with solutions, health risk assessment tools and benefit information. AchieveSolutions also contains over 6,000 articles covering more than 200 topical areas such as: information on advocacy, emotional well-being, family concerns, dealing with illness, loss and grief, alcoholism and substance abuse. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=328]

TRICARE Adds Coverage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging Screenings for Breast Cancer
The TRICARE Management Activity recently changed its policy adding coverage for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) screening for women at high risk of developing breast cancer. Anyone who meets the criteria for a breast MRI will be covered by TRICARE, retroactive to March 1. If any qualified beneficiaries received this care on or after March 1, 2007 and it was denied, they can resubmit their claim for reimbursement. Breast cancer is the third most common cancer among TRICARE beneficiaries and the second most common cause of cancer death for women in the United States. An individual’s level of risk can be influenced by a number of factors including age, family history and race. Doctors can advise their patients of their individual risk factors, but even women of average or low risk should be vigilant. [Source: http://www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=327]

DeCA Pulls Baker’s Chocolate Baking Squares
Commissaries worldwide pulled from its shelves Baker’s Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares (6-ounce package) because the product may be contaminated with salmonella. Kraft Foods had issued the voluntary product recall on Oct. 3, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The recall only affects Baker’s Premium White Chocolate Baking Squares, UPC 0043000252200, with the following case expiration and package "best when used by" dates: 31 MAR 2008; 01 APR 2008; 02 APR 2008; 03 APR 2008. Consumers with food safety questions can contact Kraft Consumer Response at 1-800-310-3704. Commissary patrons who have this product at home should stop consuming it and return the unused product with the label to the store from which they purchased it for a full refund.
[Source: http://www.commissaries.com/press_room/press_release/2007/DeCA_105_07.cfm]

DeCA Pulls Certain Pediatric Cold Medicines
Commissaries worldwide removed from the shelves several brands of over-the-counter pediatric cold medicine amid concerns that the products could lead to overdoses for children under the age of 2 years. Products manufactured by McNeil Consumer Healthcare and Prestige Brands Holdings, Inc (NYSE-PBH) were voluntarily withdrawn from the market, the companies said in separate announcements Oct. 11. To view the list of medicines withdrawn please visit http://www.commissaries.com/press_room/press_release/2007/DeCA_111_07.cfm. Commissary patrons who have these products at home should stop using them. They can return the product to the store of purchase for a refund. Consumers seeking additional information on the Little Colds® voluntary withdrawal may contact the Consumer Affairs Department of Prestige Brands at 1-800-7-LITTLE (1-800-754-8853).

Holiday Deadlines Rapidly Approaching for Troop Support
While the holidays may still seem far away, Americans hoping to show their support to deployed troops must be aware of some rapidly approaching deadlines. According to the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA), mail going parcel post must be sent by Nov. 14 while first class mail must be sent by Dec. 10 to arrive by Dec. 25. In addition to deadlines, several other factors must be considered when sending mail downrange. For example, each country has customs regulations that apply to all incoming mail, pertaining to everything from food items to reading materials. Furthermore, military units may also have additional restrictions concerning incoming mail imposed by unit commanders relative to size and weight to ensure logistics support can handle the heavy mail load. Finally, all packages and mail must now be addressed to individual Servicemembers as required by U.S. Department of Defense regulations.

In order to help facilitate the mailing process and avoid many of the obstacles that come with the traditional care packages, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) created "Gifts from the Homefront," a campaign that allows anyone to make a direct and tangible contribution to military morale with a gift certificate that can be redeemed for nearly anything a specific Servicemember wants. "Gifts from the Homefront" can be sent to deployed troops by logging on to http://www.aafes.org or by calling 877-770-4438. From there, the gift certificates are sent to individual Servicemembers (designated by the purchaser) or distributed to "any Servicemember" through the Air Force Aid Society, American Red Cross, Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, Fisher House, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Operation Homefront, Operation Interdependence R or USO. "Gifts From the Homefront" gift certificates can be redeemed at exchange facilities worldwide.
[Source: http://www.army.mil/-news/2007/10/17/5637-holiday-deadlines-rapidly-approaching-for-troop-support/]

AAFES to Giveaway Deluxe Disney Vacation
The Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) is partnering with Disney watch maker Seiko Instruments to offer military families an opportunity to experience the magic of a Disney vacation with an exclusive, military-only sweepstakes. The winner of the “Disney Sweepstakes” will receive a vacation for four, including five-day-four-night deluxe hotel accommodations, airfare from any city in the world and a four-day pass to a Disney World amusement park, all with an estimated value of $10,000. Now through Dec. 24, exchange shoppers can enter to win the “Disney Sweepstakes” at BX/PX locations worldwide. No purchase is necessary to enter and entrants do not have to be present to win. The only requirement to enter is a military identification card authorizing contestants to shop at AAFES (see entry forms for complete details). The “Disney Sweepstakes” drawing will take place in February 2008. AAFES will award prizes within 30 days of the drawing. [Source: http://www.tinker.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123072485]