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.