Process Change for Student Survivor Benefit Plan The Department of Defense announced an updated process for child beneficiaries of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) when verifying that they are a full-time student. The SBP annuity is paid to the dependents of fallen service members or deceased military retirees. Payments usually stop when the dependent reaches… Read more »
Delayed Entry Program Advancement and Enlistment Bonuses Earn a promotion before you even ship to boot camp. Recruits who spend time in the Delayed Entry Program/Future Soldiers Program can earn the rank of E-3 by completing a few tasks while hanging around the recruiting station. The easiest way to get your first promotion to E-2… Read more »
Telemedicine for Military Communities Telemedicine is the use of technology to communicate about health, often without having to leave home or visit a healthcare facility. The words telemedicine, telehealth, and virtual medicine are often used interchangeably. Telemedicine protects patients and healthcare providers by limiting person-to-person contact. When you can’t meet with your healthcare team in… Read more »
Photo: Stadtbibliotheck in Stuttgart, Germany (image by Chelsea Bostelman) Did You Know About These Library Perks for the Military? Every April, libraries and library workers are celebrated during National Library Week. When is the last time you visited a library? For good reason, books come to mind for most people when thinking of libraries. But… Read more »
Two Republican lawmakers, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Military Personnel released their latest proposal on military family readiness on April 2, 2020. New Military Family Readiness Legislation Proposed Rep Thornberry stated that “Family readiness is a major… Read more »
$1,500 For Childcare Costs From Army Emergency Relief Childcare costs can be a huge drain on your budget. In some cases, the cost of childcare can mean a spouse decides not to pursue their own career. The Army Emergency Relief program can help with this. Army Emergency Relief, also known as AER, started back in… Read more »
TRICARE and FEDVIP open enrollment season begins Nov 9 and lasts until Dec 14, 2020. This is the time to make any changes to your existing plans without a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). We also list out the most common QLE’s.
Here is what you need to know about getting a breast pump with your TRICARE benefit: What Does TRICARE Cover With The Breast Pump Benefit? TRICARE covers breast pumps and breast pump supplies. Who Is Eligible For The Breast Pump? TRICARE beneficiaries that have a “birth event” may qualify. A birth event is a pregnancy… Read more »
New TRICARE Coverage for Babies 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… 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 »