Long-Term Care Open Season: Military members, federal employees, and their
spouses, have a six-month window starting 1 July to take advantage of a
streamlined application process for the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance
Program.  Federal personnel officials estimate that 20 million people may
be eligible to enroll. The John Hancock and MetLife insurance companies
offer the insurance through a contract with the Office of Personnel
Management. Long-term care insurance helps people with chronic health
conditions to pay for care givers and services that help them do such
things as get out of bed, wash, dress, eat, go to the toilet, and other
activities that the ill and frail find difficult.  Long-term care may be
provided at home, in a nursing home or in an assisted-living facility.
Long-term care is not medical care and usually isn't covered by medical
insurance plans. Likewise, the long-term insurance program does not cover
medical care expenses or medicines.
      During the program's first "open season," from July 1 through Dec.
31, eligible military members, federal civilians, and their spouses need to
answer a few health questions as part of the streamlined underwriting
process. Underwriting is key: It determines an applicant's level of risk,
eligibility to participate, premiums and benefits.  On the other hand,
because premiums for long-term care insurance are based upon age and state
of health, all federal civilian and military retirees must undergo full
underwriting, which involves answering more health-related questions and
providing more information.  The Long-Term Care Partners
[http://www.opm.gov/insure/ltc] Web site www.ltcfeds.com has open season
information kits and application instructions.  There may be additional
FLTCI Open Season enrollment windows, but none are scheduled or promised at
this time.  Procedures and rules could change for future open seasons. To
consult with a certified long-term care insurance specialist by phone call
1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337) or TDD 1-800-843-3557. This service is
available 8 A.M. - Midnight EST 7 Days a Week.  [Source: American Forces
Press Service 1 JUL 02]

MEDICARE Part B Payment Assistance: More than 16 million people with low
incomes who may need help paying their Medicare Part B (medical insurance)
premiums and other medical costs can expect a letter in the mail telling
them how to qualify for the Medicare Savings Programs. People with income
and assets below certain limits can save as much as $600 a year as
explained in the letter to be sent jointly by Social Security and the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The letter gives the phone
numbers of the state agencies people can contact to see if they qualify.
The mailings are staggered, and will be completed by December 21, 2002. For
more information about the Medicare Savings Programs, visit the Medicare
site www.cms.hhs.gov [Source: NAUS Update for 21 June 2002]

Air Traveler Rights if Bumped: Although the number of involuntary bumpings
(when someone is forced against their will to miss a flight because it is
overbooked) is down slightly, it still happens with regularity. If you do
not want to get bumped here are some helpful hints:
·       Make sure to get a seat assignment when you purchase your ticket.
·       Check in early, at least no later than the time specified by the
airline. Airlines don't owe you anything if you fail to comply with their
check-in times.
·       Board the airplane when your row is called. Airlines must ask for
volunteers before they involuntarily bump someone, so make sure the flight
attendants have asked for volunteers before you give up your seat.
If you are bumped involuntarily you are owed nothing if your new flight
gets you to your original destination less than one hour from the original
scheduled arrival time. For destination arrival time delays of 1 to 2 hours
on domestic flights (1 to 4 on international), you're owed the face value
of the ticket for that segment of the flight from which you were bumped, or
$200 whichever is less. For longer delays, you're owed double the one-way
fare or $400, whichever is greater. [Source: TROA Member Services Update
for June 02]

Space-A On Medevac Planes: Banned since November 2001, Space Available
travel aboard C-9 medical evacuation aircraft has been re-authorized. Due
to post-Sept. 11 concerns, Space-A flights aboard medical evacuation planes
marked with a Red Cross had been restricted. According to the Geneva
Convention, only patients and other specified noncombatants can fly in
aircraft marked with the Red Cross insignia. To gain more versatility in
aircraft use, the Air Force removed the red crosses from the tails of all
but one of its C-9 fleet, allowing the aircraft to be used as
general-purpose transports. Any C-9 without the Red Cross can still be
designated as a medical flight and receive the protection afforded by the
Geneva Convention. The Air Force routinely flies C-9s from Germany, Spain,
Italy, Sicily, Crete and England. For more information visit
http://amcpublic.scott.af.mil/spacea. [Source: Armed Forces News Issue:
Fri, June 14, 2002]

Lt. James "EMO" Tichacek, USN (Ret)
Director, Retiree Activities Office & U.S. Embassy Warden Baguio City RP
Email: raoemo@mozcom.com (PRI) or raobaguio@hotmail.com (Alternate)
Web:http://downloads.members.tripod.com/post_119_gulfport_ms/rao1.html
Tel: (63-74) 445-6786 or 446-2087 to record msg. or FAX 1-801-760-2430
AL/AMVETS/CORMV/DAV/FRA/NAUS/NCOA/PRA/TROA/USDR/VFW/VVA member