yourviews MILITARY DECEMBER 2014 $4.75 THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF MOAA | ONE POWERFUL VOICE®
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As the U.S. reduces boots on the ground in active conflicts, Military Officer recognizes those still deployed around the world 52
OFFICER A World Away
VA Care and Retirees [Retired Navy] Cmdr. [Robert] Hirsch’s letter in [Your Views, December 2014] suggesting military retirees not use VA facilities misses three points. 1. It is always less expensive for the
DONATE SMART Make your year-end
giving more meaningful with research 44
OUTLINING PRIORITIES Military groups urge defense bill action 29
thinking about Commander Hirsch’s comments, I will leave my spot at the
“ After
veterans who do not have the option I have.
VA for other
— Capt. Noah Weinberger, USAF (Ret)
”
government to treat military retirees in its own government facilities than to pay a third party for such care. They already are funding the overhead costs associated with the building and employees so a few additional patients do not signifi cantly increase the government costs but paying nongovernmental facilities would. 2. The VA can provide retirees with services not authorized or available under Medicare or TRICARE, such as eyeglasses or hearing aids or, in some cases, dental care. 3. The VA funds its facilities based on unique Social Security numbers of pa- tients treated, so treating a retiree with minimum medical requirements actually brings the facility revenue to treat more veterans. That is why so many VA facili- ties hold health fairs to attract new and healthier veterans to their facilities. — Maj. Robert Mandelstam, AUS (Ret) Redwood Empire (Calif.) Chapter, Life Member via email
I want to thank [retired Navy] Cmdr. Robert Hirsch for making me think twice about using the VA medical services since I, too, am entitled to both Medicare and TRICARE For Life. I’ve used the VA for my hearing problems as I was able to obtain my hearing aids through the VA while neither Medicare or TRICARE would cover the cost of hearing aids, which are not cheap. Since I’m also a 100-percent service-connected veteran, the VA has me in its system for annual physicals as well as other procedures, and, yes, I have utilized those services.
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Prior to going to the VA, I had been seeing local physicians and, for the most part, still do. However, after thinking about Commander Hirsch’s comments, I will leave my spot at the VA for other veterans who do not have the option that I have. Thank you, commander. — Capt. Noah Weinberger, USAF (Ret) Life Member via email
Thrift Savings Plan Rules Lt. Col. [Shane] Ostrom [USAF (Ret)] presented a fair picture about TSP [Thrift Savings Plan] withdrawal options [in Financial Forum] in the December 2014 issue. One area not discussed (nor was it
well presented in TSP rollout briefi ngs to Fleet Headquarters in 2001) is the requirement that the only withdrawal op- tion a married participant has is a joint life annuity, unless your spouse signs a statement on your withdrawal form that waives his or her right to that annuity. Your spouse’s signature must also be no- tarized. That is an extra step to take in the direct transfer or rollover to another retirement fi nancial plan option. I have had several high-ranking friends who were surprised by this con- gressionally mandated requirement, which is not in place in the majority of civilian 401(k) plans. Several were di- vorced from their spouses, which made the annuity requirement even more oner- ous. [The] bottom line is to plan ahead and know the rules. — Capt. Jim Adams, USN (Ret) via email
Remembering Heroes I enjoyed the article about [retired Army] Lt. Col. John Wessmiller in the December issue of Military Offi cer (“A Hero’s Return”), but I would point out a
South Korea
Philippines
At sea
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