Newsbytes April 12, 2024

In this issue:
Oppose New TRICARE Fee Increases
Legislative Update: Help Caregivers with Mental Health Concerns
Veterans and 3M Settle Earplug Lawsuit
Deadline for VA Direct Deposit Consolidation Approaching 
Submarine Force Day

Oppose New TRICARE Fee Increases
Congress has begun work on the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and now would be a good time to remind your Representative and Senators that you oppose any new TRICARE fees or fee increases. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) testified before the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee (SASC-P) last year on reducing the Department of Defense compensation costs. In its written testimony, CBO urged Congress to enact a new TRICARE for Life (TFL) annual enrollment fee of $575 for individual coverage or $1,150 for family coverage. TFL beneficiaries would also be required to pay the first $850 and 50 percent of the next $7,650 in cost annually. Currently, TFL beneficiaries do not pay an annual enrollment fee. Further, CBO recommends increasing retirees' TRICARE Prime annual enrollment fee from the current $352 for the individual and $704 for the family to $650 and $1,300, respectively. TRICARE Select beneficiaries would pay an annual enrollment fee of $485 for individual coverage and $970 for a family.

Although no legislation has been introduced, FRA members are urged to use the Action Center to tell their legislators to oppose these CBO proposals at: https://www.votervoice.net/FRA/Campaigns/100158/Respond

Legislative Update: Help Caregivers with Mental Health Concerns
The House recently passed the "Caregiver Outreach and Program Enhancement Act" (COPE-H.R. 3581), sponsored by House Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations Chairwoman Rep. Jen Kiggans (Va.). This bill will create a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) grant program that would help veteran caregivers seek the mental health care they need without fear of reducing access for veterans or concerns about the stigma of mental health. Members are urged to use the FRA Action Center to weigh in on this legislation at: https://www.votervoice.net/FRA/Campaigns/110014/Respond

Veterans and 3M Settle Earplug Lawsuit
The 3M Corporation recently announced a $6 billion settlement in a series of lawsuits over allegations that earplugs sold to the military during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars caused hearing damage will move forward after nearly 250,000 veterans and service members agreed to accept the deal. The settlement in what has been one of the largest federal mass tort cases in U.S. history was announced in August, but the deal required that it would move forward only if at least 98 percent of the veterans who filed claims against 3M agreed to it. With the deadline for veterans to opt-in now past, the company announced that more than 99 percent of eligible claimants have agreed to participate in the settlement.

The cases revolved around 3M's Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2, that were issued to troops between 2003 and 2015. The earplugs were dual-sided with one side meant to block out all sound and the other meant to protect from loud sounds such as explosions while letting the user hear soft noises such as speech.

Lawsuits filed by nearly 300,000 veterans and service members alleged the earplugs had design flaws that allowed them to slip in users' ears without them noticing, letting in damaging noise and resulting in hearing loss or tinnitus. Before the settlement, some lawsuits had gone to trial and saw mixed results.

Out of more than 293,000 claims filed before the settlement, more than 249,000 claimants registered to participate in the settlement, and more than 41,000 claims were dismissed by courts. While it agreed to the settlement, 3M continues to deny liability and maintains the earplugs were "safe and effective for its intended purpose" when "used properly."

Deadline for VA Direct Deposit Consolidation Approaching
As first reported in the March 22, 2024, Newsbytes, veterans will no longer be able to use multiple bank accounts for different veteran benefits under new anti-fraud measures being rolled out by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) beginning on April 20, 2024. This change will impact approximately 50,000 students who receive the GI Bill and other VA benefits in separate direct deposit accounts. VA is sending weekly emails and text messages to this group of veterans and beneficiaries informing them of the upcoming change and asking them to select one bank account going forward. If students do not consolidate their bank accounts by April 20, VA will continue to send payments but will designate the non-education benefit payment account as the primary bank account. For more information go to: https://www.va.gov/change-direct-deposit/

Submarine Force Day
This week (April 11), the U.S. Navy celebrates the creation of the Navy submarine force. On April 11, 1900, the Navy commissioned its first modern submarine. The submarine force has played a vital role in shaping naval tactics and establishing the U.S. Navy as the most powerful naval force in the world. This day the nation recognizes the brave men and women who serve and have served on these underwater vessels.