Last Friday, August 23rd, 2019, President Donald Trump signed pieces of legislation that will help veterans and service members when it comes to bankruptcy. The first is the Honoring American Veterans in Extreme Need Act of 2019 or the HAVEN Act. This will prevent debt collectors from seizing veterans’ disability compensation if they declare bankruptcy…. Read more »
You may have heard that TRICARE will give you a free breast pump when you have a baby. But, you might also have some questions about how this all works, what you need to do to get your pump, and any other details about the benefit. Here is what you need to know about getting… Read more »
According to an article by Military Times, 3 million more people will gain access to military shopping in 2020. These new customers will be able to shop at the Commissary, the Exchange, and even have access to some MWR programs. When Will This Happen? This will start on January 1st, 2020. Why is This Happening?… Read more »
As a member of the military or a spouse of a member of the military, you are entitled to TRICARE, which is a benefit of serving. You might have TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select or another TRICARE plan. One of the most common questions people have is what TRICARE is and what it actually covers. This… Read more »
There will be quite a few changes for those that make the decision to transition from active duty to National Guard. One of the biggest changes will be with healthcare when going from active duty to the National Guard or Reserves. Healthcare From Active Duty to National Guard As an active duty service member, you… Read more »
Verizon and the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA, have partnered to help veterans who are also Verizon customers have access to the VA’s telehealth app “VA Video Connect” that launched in 2017. This app will enable remote consultations with healthcare professionals and with the partnership, the app can be used on a 4G… Read more »
Marine Corps Spouses Will Now Be Reimbursed For Licensing and Certification Fees Earlier this month, both the Army and the Air Force, started reimbursing military spouses for licensing and certifications fee. The Marine Corps just joined them, with the Navy hopefully doing the same sometime soon. Marine Corps spouses will now be able to apply… Read more »
TRICARE has added a new coverage for babies. They will now be covering some or all of the cost of breast milk for those in need of the milk for their new baby. Here is what you need to know: When will TRICARE cover the breast milk? TRICARE will cover banked donor breast milk under… Read more »
COLA stands for Cost of Living Adjustment and is a way to increase benefit amounts in order to keep up with inflation. COLA in 2019 went up 2.8%. Because of federal law, the COLA changes to the VA’s compensation and pension rates are the same percentage increases that social security benefits receive. Social security started… Read more »
Space-A can help you save a ton of money on plane tickets and is offered to many service members, retirees, and their dependents. The key to Space-A is knowing how to fly this way, having a lot of patience, and being able to be flexible. Here is what you should know about Space-A: What is… Read more »
As of March 1st of this year, the Army has suspended its utility billing program for privatized housing units. The program, that started in 2006, was designed to provide incentives to residents in privatized housing to decrease their energy use. The Army would calculate a baseline average usage for housing, and then either send a… Read more »
Trying to decide between TRICARE Prime vs Select? This is a question a lot of military families face. There is always a lot of discussion each winter during the Tricare Open Season concerning the differences between TRICARE Prime vs Select. Here’s the breakdown. TRICARE Prime vs Select TRICARE Open Season “TRICARE Open Season is the… Read more »
Here are the 2019 Reserve pay dates. These dates apply for pay for the following: Army Reserve Pay Dates Marine Corp Reserve Pay Dates Navy Reserve Pay Dates Air Force Reserve Pay Dates Coast Guard Reserve Pay Dates If you serve in the Reserves for the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, or the Coast… Read more »
Here are the TRICARE dental changes for 2019. The TRICARE Retiree Dental Program (TRDP) ended on December 31, 2018. Anyone who had that plan was able to choose a dental plan from among 10 different dental carriers in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP.) Coverage started on January 1, 2019 after a… Read more »
What is SGLI coverage? SGLI stands for Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance. SGLI provides low-cost term life insurance coverage to service members that are eligible. If the service member is eligible, they are automatically issued the maximum in SGLI coverage. They are automatically enrolled and will not have to apply. Service members can however decline the… Read more »
One of the updates from the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act is the ability for disabled veterans to be able to fly using Space-A. Here is some information about this change. Space-A Travel Now Available to Disabled Veterans The veterans will need to have a service-related disability, rated at 100%. These veterans will now be… Read more »
As a service member, you will receive different types of pays during the course of your military career. There is your base pay, BAH for your housing and BAS for food. There are also different special and incentive pays, over 60 of them which you may or may not qualify over the course of your… Read more »
As a service member, you will receive different types of pays during the course of your military career. There is your base pay, BAH for your housing and BAS for food. There are also different special and incentive pays, over 60 of them which you may or may not qualify over the course of your… Read more »
As a service member, you will receive different types of pays during the course of your military career. There is your base pay, BAH for your housing and BAS for food. There are also different special and incentive pays, over 60 of them which you may or may not qualify over the course of your… Read more »