Weekly newsletter of the Fleet Reserve Association

July 20 2018
           

Big Changes to TRICARE Dental Coming Soon
Acting MCPON Statement
Appeals Court Limits Lawsuits on Burn Pits

Big Changes to TRICARE Dental Coming Soon
Military retirees will soon be receiving a postcard in the mail pertaining to on upcoming changes to TRICARE dental and vision programs. This new insurance option for certain beneficiaries is set to be implemented on January 1, 2019.  The existing TRICARE Retiree Dental Plan, which is currently provided through Delta Dental, will expire December 31, 2018. The newly designed option was included in the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. Which allowed a delayed start date of 2019 meant to allow for better preparation and communication for the new plan, as it will be offered and administered through the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Under this new program beneficiaries must choose a plan during TRICARE's open season (November 12, 2018-December 10, 2018). Beneficiaries need to understand there is no automatic transition for those currently enrolled in the TRICARE Retiree Dental Program. Changes can only occur during open season and life changing events.

All TRICARE retirees and their families are eligible for both the dental insurance and vision coverage. Active duty military families are only eligible for the vision coverage.

The FEDVIP dental program of offerings will replace the existing TRICARE Retiree Dental Plan, which is currently provided through Delta Dental. 

The retiree dental plan and the new addition of a vision plan will allow for beneficiaries to make a selection from among several dental and vision carriers with a variety of benefit options. The FEDVIP program lists 10 dental carriers and four vision carriers (Delta Dental is included) with comprehensive dental and vision insurance at competitive group rates. 

Beneficiaries are encouraged to start getting information and pre-enrollment communications through the website that was set up specifically for this program. 

Acting MCPON Statement
The Navy's acting Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy(MCPON), Fleet Master Chief SW/IW/AW Russell Smith, is calling on chief petty officers to "visibly lead" through the transition to the next MCPON and beyond. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson appointed Smith to temporarily take over the MCPON's office after former MCPON (SG/IW)Steven Giordano's resignation first reported in June 29, 2018 Newsbytes. The position of MCPON was created by legislation in 1966 that was strongly supported by FRA.  The holder of this rank and post is the senior enlisted member of the Navy. MCPON is appointed by the CNO to serve as a spokesperson to the highest positions in the Navy on issues impacting enlisted personnel.

Giordano was appointed the 14th MCPON in September 2016, and his resignation comes during an ongoing inquiry by the Navy Inspector General's office into claims he created a "toxic work environment" in his office. According to press accounts a complaint was filed by a member of his own staff. MCPON Giordano's resignation leaves the MCPON position open for the first time since the position was created.  

Acting MCPON's statement says: "It's vital we maintain the integrity of the office and what it stands for — advocating on behalf of our Sailors and their families. Our Navy is a learning organization that is constantly growing and evolving. As an institution we are strong enough to absorb this challenge, but we must visibly lead through it if we are to come out stronger on the other side. With that I say thank you for your faith, support and well wishes as we keep charging to make this happen. This is the beginning of the next chapter for this historic office. Our goal is to provide authentic, transparent communications and a seamless transition."

A copy of the full statement is available online. 

Appeals Court Limits Lawsuits on Burn Pits
A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals recently concurred with a lower court opinion that Iraq and Afghanistan disabled veterans because of exposure to burn pits cannot move forward with dozens of lawsuits against a military contractor (KBR, a former subsidiary of Halliburton). The prevailing opinion of the lower court found for the contractor since the military had unrestricted control over KBR so that KBR's decisions on waste management and water services were "de facto military decisions" not appropriate for judicial review. The plaintiff's attorney representing more than 800 current and previous service members stated that they were disappointed with the decision and did not indicate if they would appeal to U.S. Supreme Court.  KBR successfully argued that the decision to use burn pits was made by the military, which also made decisions on where the pits would be located, what hours they would operate and what would be burned.

FRA is supporting the "Burn Pits Accountability Act" (H.R. 5671). The bill directs the Defense Department to provide service members in Iraq and Afghanistan to have periodic health assessments during deployment and during military separations; an evaluation of whether or not a service member has been exposed to open burn pits or toxic airborne chemicals. If they report being exposed, they will be enrolled in the Burn Pit Registry unless they opt out. The bill is sponsored by Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii) and Brian Mast (Fla.), Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, respectively. This bill is listed on the FRA Action Center on the website and members are encouraged weigh in on this issue. 

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