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Retired Activities Office Bulletins

The following bulletins are furnished to ANA as important information to retirees by LT EMO Tichacek, USN (Ret) who is the Retired Activities Director in Baguio, P.I. and are used with his permission.  If you have questions about the articles, please direct them to the cited reference in the bulletin and NOT to ANA or LT Tichacek.

01 May 2005
DoD Rising Medical Cost (Copay increase could be forthcoming.)
Tricare Pharmacy Rates Update 02 (Non-formulary additions.)
TFL Criteria (5 requirements to qualify.)
Locating Insurance Policies (Where to search.)
SBP DIC Offset Update 02 (S.185 cosponsors needed.)
COLA 2006 (1.9% above 05 baseline.)
Afghanistan & Iraq Medals (DoD eligibility criteria.)
VA Handbook Update 01 (How to obtain.)
VA Tinnitus Comp Update 01 (Court decision favors vets.)
Missouri Veterans Home (VA funds improvements.)
Tricare Pharmacy Search Tool (New formulary locator.)
Macular Degeneration (Impact on 60 & older vets.)
Rent-a-Patient & Capping (Health care fraud.)
New Mexico Reserve Death Benefit (State benefits for vets.)
U.S. Citizenship for Enlistees (Expedited citizenship in 1 year.)
Cell Phone Service Plan Basics (Are you overpaying?)

Note: James Tichacek has relocated to the Philippines. Although his email address  raoemo@sbcglobal.net  is still good...and you will see the Bulletin being sent from that address via his Mailing List Provider in Europe...he must go on the web to access email sent to him at this address. With no DSL available to him at this location, it is a lengthy and time consuming process to open email sent to raoemo@sbcglobal.net  Until further  notice request...all email be sent to him be sent via  raoemo@mozcom.com

DoD Rising Medical Cost:  Confronting medical costs that have doubled in four years, military officials and congressional leaders announced on 21 APR that the Pentagon needs to rethink the generous coverage it provides to retirees or risk making sacrifices in other areas of the Defense Department budget. Administration officials told the Senate Armed Services subcommittee on personnel that a rich benefits package, coupled with expanded retiree coverage, has thrust the Pentagon into the same financial predicament that is threatening the profitability of such major companies as General Motors Corp. The Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs reported the cost of covering 9 million active-duty members, retired personnel and their families rose from $18 billion in 2001 to $36 billion this year. By 2010, that figure will likely reach $50 billion, with 70% devoted to retiree coverage. One of the main culprits is Tricare for Life, the program enacted in 2001 that guarantees comprehensive coverage for retirees. It was created in response to a public outcry from veterans as they moved from military coverage into the less-generous Medicare program at age 65. This year, the retiree program will cost $11 billion. Commenting on administration official's input to the committee, Chairman Sen. Lindsey Graham indicated they are going to have to look into redesigning health care coverage in the future or the budget challenge will continually get out of hand.
     The military's health care crunch is both common and unique. Like private employers, the Pentagon is grappling with an aging population, skyrocketing prescription bills and a technological explosion that has produced a buffet of pricey new tests and treatments. But unlike the corporate world, Tricare and Tricare for Life have been adding benefits even as they steadfastly refused to increase beneficiary fees. Over the past decade, military personnel, retirees and their families have experienced virtually no increase in co-payments, while federal civilian workers have seen out-of-pocket costs increase between 57% and 87% depending on the health coverage they have chosen. However, there has been no increase in Tricare fees. At a time when the average American worker pays $2,600 a year in health insurance premiums, most people enrolled in Tricare pay less than $500. And while most medications cost less than $10 under Tricare, private plans charge $10 to $40. A Defense Department comparison of costs found out-of-pocket expenses average $769 for retirees 65 or older under Tricare Prime, compared to an average out-of-pocket expense of $3,200 for a federal worker in a health maintenance organization. The government covers 91% of the cost of the military's retiree health care, but only 68% of the cost for the federal worker. Although the Medicare health program for seniors has raised its fees, its total budget has soared largely because so many elderly people suffer from multiple chronic conditions, such as heart disease, arthritis and diabetes. Medicare patients with five chronic conditions cost 15 times as much as other Medicare recipients. Chairman Graham said imposing higher fees is NOT out of the question. He is carefully reviewing the defense health care and personnel budgets, looking for ways to cut costs, and said that if the Bush administration were to formally ask for higher fees that might be acceptable. Susan Hosek of the Rand Corp., which has been studying military health care, told the committee that the Pentagon faces a serious problem with retirees who are eligible for other health coverage deciding to drop their other plans and enroll in Tricare because of its lower costs. Hosek said the DoD might want to consider paying retirees not to take Tricare, possibly by providing money to cover their private health care premiums and even some of their co-pays.

[Source: Washington Post Staff Writer Ceci Connolly 22 APR 04 & Rick Maze Navy Times staff writer 2 May 05]

Tricare Pharmacy Rates Update 02:  The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), after taking recommendations from the DoD Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee and the Beneficiary Advisory Panel (BAP) into consideration, has announced the selection of three medications to be placed in the non-formulary category of its new Formulary: Nexium® (esomeprazole), a medication for ulcers and other stomach problems, and Teveten® (eprosartan) plus Teveten HCT® (eprosartan with hydrochlorothiazide), both used to treat high blood pressure. Effective 17 JUL 05 military beneficiaries will pay $22 for up to a 30 or 90-day supply of these medications, depending on whether they fill the prescription at a TRICARE Retail Network Pharmacy (TRRx) or through the TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP). Beneficiaries will pay the higher of $22 or 20% in retail non-network pharmacies. Patients currently using Nexium®, Teveten® or Teveten HCT® may wish to consult their doctor. A summary of therapeutic alternatives to the non-formulary medications, and their corresponding cost share are:

     1. NEXIUM®::  Omeprazole $3,  AcipHex® $9,  Protonix® $9,  Prevacid® $9,  Zegrid® $9
     2. TEVETEN® ::  Avapro® $9,  Cozaar® $9,  Diovan® $9,  Micardis® $9,  Atacand® $9,  Benicar® $9
     3. TEVETEN HCT®::  Avalide® $9, Hyzaar® $9, Diovan HCT® $9,  Micardis HCT® $9,  Atacand HCT® $9,  Benicar HCT® $9

     If medical necessity is established for using Nexium®, Teveten® or Teveten HCT®, patients may qualify for the $9 cost share for up to a 30-day TRRx supply or up to a 90-day TMOP supply. Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) will no longer have Nexium®, Teveten® or Teveten HCT on their local formularies. MTFs will be able to fill non-formulary requests for these medications only if both of the following conditions are met:

     (1) An MTF provider writes the prescription, and  (2) Medical necessity is established for these products.

     MTFs may (but are not required to) fill a Nexium®, Teveten® or Teveten HCT® prescription written by a non-MTF provider to whom the patient was referred, as long as medical necessity has been established. Active duty members pay no cost shares, and unless medical necessity is established, they may NOT obtain non-formulary drugs. Beneficiaries who already have a medical necessity determination for Nexium® on file at the TMOP are required to reestablish medical necessity for the drug under the medical necessity criteria approved by the Director of Tricare in order to receive Nexium® at the $9.00 formulary cost share. Existing TMOP medical necessity determinations for Nexium will become invalid on 17 JUL 05. For more information about TMOP eligible beneficiaries can call (866) 363-8667 or visit the Express-Scripts Inc. Web site at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/tmop_contact.cfm  Beneficiaries may also contact the TRRx customer service line at (866) 363-8779, or visit: http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/trrx_contact.cfm  Beneficiaries may use the Formulary Search Tool for additional information about various medications, their availability and cost at:  http://www.tricareformularysearch.org 
[Source: Tricare News Release 05-09 dtd 19 Apr 05]

TFL Criteria:  Tricare for Life (TFL) entitlement is established by the law that created the program in 2001. To be entitled to TFL, each person must be ALL of the following:

     (1) Be legally eligible otherwise for Tricare;
     (2) Be at least 65 years old;
     (3) Be entitled to Medicare;
     (4) Be enrolled in both Part A and Part B of Medicare; and
     (5) Be properly registered in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) database.

     A spouse will not become entitled to Tricare for Life until he/she becomes entitled to Medicare at age 65. If a Tricare beneficiary is properly registered in DEERS and is enrolled in Part B of Medicare, the transition from ordinary Tricare eligibility to TFL entitlement is automatic and seamless one second past midnight on the last day of the month preceding the month of that person's 65th birthday. The beneficiary does not have to do anything to make it happen. This is true regardless of whether the beneficiary becomes entitled to Social Security payments at that time. A beneficiary does not have to be entitled to Social Security payments to get Medicare at age 65. Medicare entitlement begins on the first day of the month of the person's 65th birthday, even if his Social Security payment entitlement will not start until later. Certain people become entitled to Medicare before they are 65 because of disability or kidney disease. They are called dual eligibles if they are enrolled in Part B of Medicare. Their claims are processed and paid in exactly the same way as those of TFL beneficiaries. However, they are not TFL beneficiaries because the condition creating Medicare entitlement may not be permanent. If the condition improves enough, Medicare will terminate their entitlement. Then, they will no longer have dual eligibility. They will revert to their previous Tricare eligibility status. Medicare entitlement upon reaching age 65, and the resulting TFL entitlement, is permanent lifelong. It requires only that the beneficiary's DEERS record and Part B enrollment be properly maintained. Divorce, or remarriage if widowed, will unfavorably affect the nonmilitary member's entitlement in most cases. Anyone having Tricare related questions can write to James E. Hamby Jr. at Tricare Help, Times News Service, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159; or e-mail him at  mcochamp@aol.com  In e-mail, include the word "Tricare" in the subject line and do not attach files to your message. Attachments will not be opened. [Source: James Hamby NavyTimes article 2 May 05]

Locating Insurance Policies:  Survivors are sometimes faced with not knowing which insurance company to notify and/or make claim to for benefits they were told by deceased family members they would receive. There is no central repository which identifies all policies in effect. There are some "Internet" companies such as  http://www.LostPolicy.com  that charge a fee to search for possible policies by sending mass emailings to hundreds of the major insurance companies. Each state has an Insurance commission that can be located on the Internet who will generally help survivors locate a company that might still be holding the proceeds from a life insurance policy, but they have to have the name of a company to assist you. They have no way of knowing whether any person has life insurance and with which company. To provide this information some tips for continuing your search are:

     1. Examine your relatives bank statements and check registers for payments to life insurance companies. Life insurers commonly require payment of premiums by bank drafts. These payments appear on monthly bank statements.

     2. Look for insurance agents in your relatives address book or personal phone directory. The agent who wrote your relatives car, home or health insurance also may have sold him or her a life insurance policy.

     3. Contact the employee benefits offices at your relatives former employers. Sometimes people buy group life insurance at work. The same applies for financial institutions the relative used.

     4. Review your relatives income tax records to see if he or she reported interest income on a cash value life insurance policy.

     Searcher's should be aware that for a life insurance policy to be valid the policyholder had to keep it in force by paying the premiums. Some cash value policies become "paid up" after a person pays premiums for a specific number of years. However, people often cancel policies or let them lapse but keep the discontinued policies in their records. If a life insurance company knows that an insured has died but it cannot find the policy beneficiaries within a specified time (normally 3 years), it must send the death benefit to the state Comptrollers unclaimed property fund. The rightful owners of the life insurance proceeds can reclaim them from the Comptroller. For more information, go to the appropriate state Comptroller's Web site.  [Source: Texas Commissioner of Insurance 26 Apr 05 ++]

SBP DIC Offset Update 02:  Senate SBP champion, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, has sent President Bush a letter urging his support in ending the unfair SBP-DIC offset that affects thousands of military widows. The issue was one of several survivors' issues raised by a group of widows the President met with during a visit to Ft. Hood, Texas. In the letter, Sen. Nelson noted that his bill, S.185, fixes the SBP-DIC offset problem and that he had filed an amendment to the Iraq Supplemental Appropriations Bill that would repeal the offset. Under current law, military survivors' SBP entitlement is offset dollar-for dollar by their DIC entitlement - currently $993 per month. The unfair practice hit home with the widows of the war on terror at Ft. Hood and they let the President know it. But Sen. Nelson's amendment was ruled "not germane" in a cloture vote on his Supplemental amendment. Despite the setback, work continues on building cosponsor support for the legislation. S.185 has 21 cosponsors, nearly double the number for a similar bill in the 108th Congress. In the House, companion bills H.R. 808 (Rep. Henry Brown, R-SC) and H.R. 968 (Rep. Jim Saxton, R-NJ), are also ahead of the last Congress' House cosponsorship of similar bills. [Source: MOAA Leg Up 22 Apr 05]

COLA 2006:  On April 20, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the metric used to calculate the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for military retired pay, VA disability compensation, survivor annuities, and Social Security. After smaller increases in the CPI during the winter, inflation has continued to rise slowly so far this year. The March CPI is 0.7 percent above the January tally, and 1.9 percent above last year's COLA baseline. At this point, it is still too early to project what the 2006 COLA may be.
[Source: MOAA Leg Up 22 Apr 05]

Afghanistan & Iraq Medals:  The Defense Department has announced the Afghanistan Campaign Medal and Iraq Campaign Medal for service members who directly supported Operation Enduring Freedom between 24 OCT 01 and a date to be determined in the future, or Operation Iraqi Freedom between 19 MAR 03 and a future date. Until now, members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq during the designated periods were awarded the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary (GWOT) Medal. Those with the GWOT Expeditionary Medal remain qualified for it, and officials said they may apply for the new medal or medals as well. However, the qualifying period for one award cannot be used for the other. Only one award of each of the new medals is authorized. No member is entitled to wear all three medals for the same act, achievement or period of service. Each military department will administer the new medals. [Source: Armed Forces News 15 APR 05]

VA Handbook Update 01:  The new edition of the Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents handbook by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been released. It updates the rates for certain federal payments and outlines a variety of programs and benefits for American veterans. Most of the nation's 25 million veterans qualify for some VA benefits, which range from health care to burial in a national cemetery. In addition to health-care and burial benefits, veterans may be eligible for programs providing home loan guaranties, educational assistance, training and vocational rehabilitation, income assistance pensions, life insurance and compensation for service-connected illnesses or disabilities. In some cases, survivors of veterans may also be entitled to benefits. The handbook describes programs for veterans with specific service experiences, such as POWs or those concerned about environmental exposures in Vietnam or in the Gulf War, as well as special benefits for veterans with severe disabilities. In addition to describing benefits provided by VA, the 2005 edition of the 120-page booklet provides an overview of programs and services for veterans provided by other federal agencies. It also includes resources to help veterans access their benefits, with a listing of toll-free phone numbers, Internet addresses and a directory of VA facilities throughout the country. The handbook can be downloaded free from VA's Web site at  http://www.va.gov/opa/feature/ or purchased from the U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO). GPO accepts credit card orders for the publication at (866)512-1800 for a cost of $7 each to U.S. addresses, or $67 for bulk orders of 25 copies. It can be ordered by mail from the GPO at Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954 (stock #051-000-00228-8).
[Source:  http://www1.va.gov/opa/feature/  Apr 05]

VA Tinnitus Comp Update 01:  On 5 APR 05, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims handed down its decision in Smith v. Nicholson. The DAV had argued on behalf of Mr. Smith that he was entitled to two separate 10% disability ratings for service-connected tinnitus, i.e., ringing, in his right and left ears. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) argued in Smith's case, as well as a large number of other cases, that the schedule for rating disabilities provided for only one 10% rating, regardless of whether the tinnitus was present in only one ear or both ears. The Court held that: "Based on the plain language of the regulations, the Court holds that the pre-1999 and pre-June 13, 2003 versions of [diagnostic code] 6260 required the assignment of dual ratings for bilateral tinnitus." Veterans who filed a claim for service connection for tinnitus in both ears, or who claimed an increased rating for that condition, prior to 13 JUN 03, may be entitled to receive combined disability compensation based on two 10% ratings for tinnitus. Additionally, the law does not permit any such ratings to be reduced in the future, unless the severity of the tinnitus is shown to have actually improved. Veterans who believe that they may be entitled to benefits based on the Smith precedent should contact their DAV National Service Officer.
[Source:  http://www.dav.org/news/documents/Tinnitus_Website_%20Summary.pdf  APR 05]

Missouri Veterans Home:  Making sure the Missouri Veterans Home at St. Louis remains a comfortable residence for veterans, the VA is targeting nearly $830,000 in grant money for improvements to the facility. The grant will pay up to 65% of the cost of a new roof on at the 200-bed facility. The overall cost of the project is approximately $1.3 million. The Missouri Veterans Commission currently operates and maintains seven long-term, skilled nursing care facilities for veterans of the state which are located in Cameron, Cape Girardeau, Mexico, Mt. Vernon, St. James, St. Louis, and Warrensburg with a total capacity of 1350 beds. Skilled nursing care is available at all facilities. Residents and applicants are categorized into one of three levels of care according to the severity of their illness or disability. Costs for care are revised periodically and charges are based on actual costs and the individual's ability to pay. Charges vary greatly depending upon income and assets. More detailed information may be obtained by consulting the "Residents' Payment Rate Schedule" available at each facility. Veterans in need of nursing care may seek admission to a Missouri Veterans' Home by filing an application with the home of his or her choice. Prospective residents can obtain application forms from any Missouri Veterans Home, from a Missouri VSO or by contacting the Missouri Veterans Commission headquarters at (573) 751-3779. Application forms can also be downloaded at  http://www.mvc.dps.mo.gov/Forms_Home.htm 
     In fiscal year 2004, the VA spent nearly $1.6 billion in Missouri to serve over 553,000 state veterans. VA operates major medical centers in Columbia, Kansas City, Poplar Bluff and St. Louis, with outpatient clinics and Vet Centers in many locations. Information about Missouri state veterans nursing homes is available at  http://www.mvc.dps.mo.gov/MVH_Home.htm [Source: VA News Release 5 Apr 05 ++]

Tricare Pharmacy Search Tool:  TRICARE has announced its new pharmacy Formulary Search Tool, which allows beneficiaries to find medication-specific information using either a drug name or a medical condition. The Formulary Search Tool can be used to:

  * Check availability of specific medications through the TRICARE Mail Order or Retail Pharmacy programs.
  * Discover which medications are on the Basic Core Formulary. Those listed must be made available at all full service military pharmacies.
  * Find co-payment information for prescription medications, including injectable medications.
  * Learn about generic equivalents for brand-name medications, quantity limits or prior authorization requirements.
  * View and print prior authorization criteria and forms.
  * Learn about FDA approved drug uses, side effects and potential interactions with other medications.

     Beneficiaries should consult their provider, pharmacist, or other health care professional for specific questions regarding their medications. For more information on the TRICARE Pharmacy Program and to access the Formulary Search Tool, visit TRICARE Pharmacy home page, http://www.tricare.osd.mil/pharmacy/ The search tool is accessible directly at  http://www.tricareformularysearch.org  
[Source: NAUS Leg Up 15 Apr 05]

Macular Degeneration:  Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that destroys central vision by damaging the macula, a thin layer of nerve cells that lines most of the inside of your eyeball and is part of the retina. Nerve cells in the retina detect light and send signals to the brain of what your eye sees. The macula is near the center of the retina at the back of the eyeball and provides the clear, sharp, central vision that you use for focusing on what is in front of you. Because AMD does not affect side vision, it does not lead to total blindness. However it will cause central vision loss, the most important part of your vision. Central vision lets you identify shapes, colors, and details sharply and clearly and lets you see what is directly in front of you. Therefore, in its advanced stages, AMD can be devastating. It most commonly affects people in their 60s or older and is the leading cause of vision loss and legal blindness in people over age 65 in the United States. There are two types of age-related Macular Degeneration and either type may affect one or both eyes. Dry age-related Macular Degeneration is the most common form (90% of cases) and does not usually cause severe vision loss. Central vision slowly becomes dimmer or blurred as the person gets older. Dry AMD may sometimes develop into wet AMD, a more serious form of the disease. Wet age-related Macular Degeneration is much less common (10% of cases). It can damage the macula quickly and cause rapid and severe loss of central vision.
     Glasses cannot correct the problem. If an area of the macula breaks down and stops functioning, the person's central field of vision will have a blank or dark spot that will never go away. Vision loss from AMD usually cannot be reversed. In addition, there is no cure or treatment for dry age-related Macular Degeneration (dry AMD) at this time. Because vision loss happens very slowly, people afflicted with dry AMD may not have significant problems with their vision for many years. For example, it may affect only one eye, and a person can compensate with the unaffected eye. A person with dry AMD should follow his or her doctor's recommendations for regular exams and monitoring the condition at home (such as viewing an Amsler Grid). Wet AMD can sometimes be treated with laser surgery or photodynamic therapy (PDT). Other types of surgery and treatments using radiation or medications are being investigated, but these are considered experimental and are not part of standard treatments. The Food and Drug Administration has announced the approval of verteporfin for injection (Visudyne), the first therapy to slow vision loss in people with the classic type of Wet AMD. People with reduced vision can use vision aids, develop a support network, and receive counseling and training to help them cope with their reduced vision, effectively use the vision they have, and maintain their quality of life. If you have already experienced a vision loss from AMD, your doctor will conduct a low-vision evaluation that will help you and your doctor find ways to make the best use of your remaining vision. It may include suggestions for counseling and training on dealing with reduced vision to help you maintain your quality of life as much as possible. Contact your eye care professional as soon as possible if you are experiencing vision loss and think you may have AMD. For more information refer to:

  * Macular Degeneration Foundation http://www.eyesight.org 
  * Age-Related Macular Degeneration Partnership http://www.amd.org 
  * Macular Degeneration Network http://www.macular-degeneration.org 
  * American Macular Degeneration Foundation http://www.macular.org
  * AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) Alliance International http://www.amdalliance.org 

[Source: Various 1 APR 05]

Rent-a-Patient & Capping:  A two-year investigation by the Orange County District Attorney's Office and other agencies has led to the filing of criminal charges against Unity Outpatient Surgery Center in Buena Park, CA. In JUN 04 the owners were charged with 46 felony counts of conspiracy, grand theft, insurance fraud, capping, and tax evasion. Unity's owners paid "cappers" to recruit people from 45 states and the District of Columbia. The "cappers" would arrange transportation, schedule the procedures, and instruct the patients on what to say. For their role in the scam, the patients would receive either a cash payment, between $300 and $1,000, or credit toward inexpensive cosmetic surgery. The cappers received a commission for each procedure performed at Unity. The most common procedures were colonoscopies, EGDs (upper gastro-intestinal procedure), sweaty palms surgery, hemorrhoid surgery, and pain management procedures. From AUG 02 to APR 03, Unity owners billed insurance companies close to $97 million and collected more than $14 million in fees. The defendants are also accused of not paying taxes by creating a series of shell corporations with different addresses, tax ID's and phone numbers, which they used to disguise their identities for billing. At least 1600 employers had employees that were involved in the fraud; and more than 5,000 patients are known to have had unnecessary procedures at Unity. Many other clinics and individuals participated in the scheme. On 10 MAR 05, 12 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans filed a $30-million lawsuit against nine southern California-based outpatient surgery clinics, seven medical management companies, and 34 individuals. At a press conference announcing the suit, an FBI official said that more arrests are expected and that total billings from all of the fraudulent activity totaled $1.3 billion and resulted in payments totaling $345 million. [Source: Consumer Health Digest #05-11, 8 MAR 05]

New Mexico Reserve Death Benefit:  The New Mexico Legislature has passed a $250,000.00 Combat Related Death Insurance Bill for National Guard personnel. The bill was subsequently signed into Law by Governor Bill Richardson. This Bill is the first of its kind in the United States. In addition to federal benefits, New Mexico provides the following benefits to eligible veterans:

1. Veterans and their surviving spouses are allowed a $2500 reduction in 2003, $3000 in 2004, $3500 in 2005 and $4000 in 2006, off the assessed value of real property, or a 1/3 reduction on vehicle registrations.

2. Veterans and their surviving spouses are able to get a total property tax exemption of their real property taxes if the veteran was rated 100% service connected disabled by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

3. Qualified veterans can obtain one of six vehicle license plates including Armed Forces Veterans, Ex-Prisoners of War, Pearl Harbor Survivors, Purple Heart, 100% Disabled Veterans, and Medal of Honor.

4. Veterans who are 100% service-connected disabled are afforded a lifetime hunting and fishing license.

5. Veterans who been a New Mexico resident for a minimum of ten years and are in receipt of the Vietnam Service Medal can have tuition and fees paid for at state sponsored colleges or universities. Funds are also available for children of veterans who have given their lives in defense of our country.

6. Veterans of World War II who entered the United States Military from New Mexico before graduating from high school are able to apply for a High School Diploma from the last New Mexico high school attended.

7. Veterans can receive at no charge public records for U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (USDVA) purposes.

8. The state will administer Guardianship/Consevatorship programs for incompetent veterans, widows, and children of deceased veterans.

[Source: NM e-Veterans News 7 FEB 05 & http://www.state.nm.us/veterans/ ]

U.S. Citizenship for Enlistees:  Section 329 of Title 8 U.S. Code allows the President to authorize expedited U.S. citizenship during periods that the United States is engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force. This means that foreign-born service members, who have served honorably for any period of time beginning on or after Sept. 11, 2001, are eligible to apply for expedited citizenship. In addition, under the fiscal 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, the peacetime waiting period is shortened from three years of honorable service to one. Beginning 1 OCT 03 the new law authorizes U.S. citizenship applications to be finalized at U.S. embassies, consulates and selected military installations overseas, to include citizenship interviews, testing and oaths of allegiance. Also effective Oct. 1, the new law waives the $310 citizenship application and fingerprint fee. [Source: Armed Forces News 04 Mar 04]

Cell Phone Service Plan Basics:  Retirees are often not aware of what they are obtaining and obligating themselves for when they sign up with a company's service plan. This can result in choosing the wrong plan to meet their needs and/or overpaying for unused minutes, hidden fees, or excessive long-distance or roaming charges. Following are some basics all users should be aware of:

     1. As of June 2003, the average monthly cell phone bill was $49.46, according to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association.

     2. According to a 2003 J.D. Power and Associates study, 56% of cell phone customers say they use all of the minutes included in their plan every month. The study also found that the average number of minutes included in a typical cell phone service plan is 1,623. However, cell phone customers report using only 365 minutes of air time per month.

     3. The advertised rates of the major cell phone service providers do not include various extra fees that customers must pay. On average, hidden fees (such as number-portability fees, directory assistance fees, setup fees, and service-termination fees) add 20% to the cost of wireless service.

     4. According to a 2003 AARP study, nearly one half of all cell phone users (46%) do not know whom to contact in case their cell phone provider is unable to resolve a billing or service problem to their satisfaction. Only 4% of cell phone users cited the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), even though the FCC collects and publishes limited data on cell phone service complaints and inquiries. Another 18% said they would not contact anyone but their service provider, while 14% indicated they would get in touch with the Better Business Bureau.

     5. Most major cell phone service providers only give consumers 14 or 15 days after activation to return their cell phone without paying an early termination fee. This limited amount of time means that consumers typically do not have an opportunity to review at least one monthly bill before they must decide whether to keep their service. Reviewing a monthly bill is important because a large percentage of complaints about cell phone service involve billing and rate issues. In addition, consumers who purchase multiple cell phones on one account (sometimes known as a "family plan") and terminate service before the contract ends must pay an early termination fee for each phone.

     6. The major cell phone service providers bill customers based on how many minutes of airtime they use each month. The major cell phone companies do not charge for calls to emergency services (911) or to their own customer service department (611).

     7. On November 23, 2003, cell phone service companies began providing number portability, which allows customers to take their telephone numbers with them if they choose to switch providers.

     Cell phones are often incompatible among different wireless service providers, so most consumers need to buy a new phone if they move their number to another service provider. Also, consumers may keep the same phone number only if they change service providers within the same local area. Finally, consumers may lose their phone numbers and be unable to get them back if they cancel their existing service before signing up for a new one. By initiating this process with the new company first, consumers ensure that the old company does not reassign their phone number as soon as they cancel that number. [Source: AARP Web letter 21 May 04]

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