Since 06-10-03
Forgotten widows entitled to annuity
Since 06-10-03
By Mike Lazorchak
Special to the NavyTimes
2 June 2003 Issue
A grab-bag of news this week:
•CHAMPVA benefits. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi has
issued a policy change to restore Civilian Health and Medical Program of the VA
benefits to surviving spouses over age 55 who lost eligibility by remarrying
before Feb. 4, 2003 — if they apply for reinstatement by Feb. 4, 2004.
Similarly, a surviving spouse who remarried after age 55 and lost access to
Tricare now may be eligible for CHAMPVA coverage.
Although the policies have been on the books since 1998, many widows or widowers
who remarried before age 55 and lost CHAMPVA benefits, or survivors of widowers
of any age who lost VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation payments due to
remarriage, may not be aware that they can regain their eligibility for these
benefits if a subsequent marriage ends.
To apply for CHAMPVA benefits or to get more information about reinstatement
policies, call the VA Health Administration Center toll-free at (800)
733-8387.
•Forgotten widows annuity. In 1997, Congress passed a change in law to
provide a special monthly annuity to certain surviving military spouses whose
sponsors were unable to enroll in the Survivor Benefit Program. Although the law
has been in effect for nearly six years, more than 1,000 “forgotten widows” may
not know they could be entitled to this benefit.
To qualify, the survivor must have been married to an active-duty member who
retired before Sept. 21, 1972, and died prior to March 21, 1974, or to a reserve
retiree who had qualified for retirement pay but had not reached age 60 and died
prior to Oct. 1, 1978. In addition, these survivors must not have remarried or
received any other military survivor annuity.
Approved applicants will receive a monthly annuity of $188.36, which is adjusted
for inflation each year at the same rate as retirement pay. There’s no statute
of limitations on the submission of a claim, so survivors can submit an
application at any time.
There is, however, a six-year limit on retroactive payments. Approved survivors
who apply before Dec. 1 will receive a lump-sum payment for retroactive payments
dating to Dec. 1, 1997. For reserve retiree survivors, the retroactive payments
go to October 1999. Survivors must apply for this benefit and provide
appropriate documents to prove their eligibility.
Thus far, the Air Force has approved 600 applications, while the Army has
approved more than 900. If you or someone you know may be eligible, contact the
Retiree Service Branch of the member’s service for more information and to
obtain an application (DD Form 2769).
•Military treatment facilities and other health insurance plans. MTFs
were encouraged to submit payment claims for treatment received at those
facilities when Tricare beneficiaries have employer-provided or other health
insurance, except for Tricare supplements.
This didn’t work well because MTFs used a consolidated “single rate” charge that
included provider fees and laboratory, X-ray, pharmacy and other services. These
ambiguous charges were not compatible with private-sector claims-processing
systems, so most MTF claims weren’t paid.
Recently, the Defense Department adopted private-sector health-care provider
billing procedures in response to congressional direction to develop reasonable
charges and collect payments from other health-insurance providers.
Tricare officials emphasize that authorized beneficiaries who have other health
insurance will continue to receive available medical services from MTFs at no
charge. Claims and payment matters will be handled directly between the MTF and
the insurance provider.
While beneficiaries are not required to pay for MTF health care, they will get
an information copy of the explanation of benefits and the itemized claim sent
to their other insurance provider. Proceeds from insurance payments will go to
the local MTF to be used to support medical services and other patient-related
improvements. Currently, the military is charging only for outpatient care, but
inpatient care probably will be added later this year.
Beneficiaries with questions regarding an explanation of benefits and itemized
bill received from an MTF should contact the local MTF billing office. General
military medical billing information may be obtained by calling toll-free (866)
784-4826 or by sending an e-mail to
ubo@tma.osd.mil .
Mike Lazorchak is a retired Air Force colonel. E-mail him at
retiredmilitary@atpco.com .
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Submitted,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(Ret)
NCPOA