Biden Urges Veterans To Seek Health Benefits Under New Law
President Joe Biden urged military veterans on Friday to take advantage of new healthcare opportunities under legislation that he signed in August. He promoted the aid as he visited a Delaware National Guard facility named for his late son, Beau.
More Than Half A Million Troop Families, Exposed To 'Forever Chemicals', Watchdog Group Says
The Defense Department has greatly underestimated the number of people exposed to dangerous levels of harmful chemicals and downplayed the exposure risk in an internal report published this year, an environmental advocacy group charges.
Lawmakers Mull Making VA Home Loans Transferable To Vets' Families
Lawmakers and Veterans Affairs officials are considering plans to allow veterans to share unused home loan benefits with immediate family members or other descendants, as a way to bring the loans in line with other veterans' benefits and make up for past racial discrimination within the program.
AFSA's Total Force Survey is LIVE! Help our Military and Government Relations Team help you by taking the time to complete the survey. This year's survey is comprehensive and covers several important topics for our members - including An Active Component, Reserve Component, and more!
Have any questions? Please reach out to our M&G Team at milgov3@hqafsa.org.
The 2023 Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, rates for military service members will increase by an unusually large average of 12.1% thanks to soaring housing costs nationwide, though some troops have already begun to receive their new amounts thanks to a temporary bump this year.
The Pentagon announced the 2023 BAH rates on Dec. 14, 2022.
Rates will go up in 291 of the 300 military housing areas (MHAs) in the U.S., stay the same in four, and go down in five with the start of the new calendar year. The Defense Department estimated that it will pay about 1 million service members a total of $26.8 billion in BAH in 2023.
The "significant increase" in average rates reflects "unique market conditions experienced across many locations nationwide over the past year," DoD spokesperson Maj. Charlie Dietz said in a statement. "While average BAH rates increased substantially, different rental markets experience different market trends, and the 2023 BAH rates reflect those geographic market condition differences."
The handful of locations where rates fell include Lake Charles, Louisiana, by 10%; Alamogordo, New Mexico, by 4%; Long Island, New York, and Enid, Oklahoma, by 2%; and Buffalo, New York, by 1%.
Twenty-eight MHAs received temporary BAH increases on Oct. 1, 2022, as part of an effort announced by the DoD to reduce troops' financial burdens amidst soaring inflation. The new rates in those areas will remain largely unchanged from the temporary boosts, Dietz said.
That's a shift from 2022's rates, which went down in some areas after a temporary 2021 boost ended.
The DoD calculates BAH rates based on a uniformed service member's geographic duty location, paygrade and dependency status, along with housing costs in each local market. BAH is payable only when government quarters, such as barracks, are not provided or when a service member has dependents.
Each year, the department releases new BAH tables in mid-December for rates effective Jan. 1.
The increases in BAH come as service members anticipate their biggest military pay raise in decades, proposed in Congress' fiscal 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. Expected to pass this month, the plan provides a 4.6% raise. A separate measure proposed in the House of Representatives would have provided an inflation bonus of at least 2.4% for service members and Defense Department civilians making less than $45,000 in 2023, but did not appear in the final bill.
2023 BAH Rates
The 12.1% average increase from 2022 to 2023 represents another larger-than-normal increase. The 2022 increase of 5.1% was already up from 2.9% in 2021.
The department bases BAH on a combination of local costs for rent and utilities for various housing types. Any fluctuation of one or more of those factors affects BAH rates for that location.
Individual Rate Protection
In locations where the BAH rate falls from one year to the next, service members already living there will have their BAH rate protected thanks to individual rate protection. The policy prevents the BAH rate from being lowered as long as the service member's status remains unchanged.
BAH Rates Below Actual Housing Cost
After a congressionally mandated change, BAH rates were slowly reduced over time to 5% below current housing costs. That process was completed in 2019. The nearly one million troops who receive BAH will absorb $82 to $184 of their calculated housing costs monthly in 2023. Rates will continue to sit at 95% of actual costs going forward.
BAH Does Not Cover Renter's Insurance
Another congressionally mandated change eliminated renter's insurance from the BAH calculation. That means troops are expected to pay out of pocket for such insurance. Privatized-based housing companies also no longer provide that protection as part of on-base rental agreements.
BAH and the GI Bill
The GI Bill Monthly Housing Allowance (MHA) is generally the same as the BAH for an E-5 with dependents. MHA is based on the ZIP code for the school a service member attends. Unlike the BAH, which changes Jan. 1 of every year, the GI Bill MHA rates change on Aug. 1, the beginning of the academic year.
Updates the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) by requiring the VA to continue providing assistance to a family caregiver for at least six months after the death of a veteran participating in the program.
Requires the VA to establish a process by which veterans who are determined to have the most significant need for caregiver assistance are permanently eligible for such assistance.
Requires the VA to standardize the criteria used across all facilities in its required evaluations of the needs of the veterans and the skills of the family caregiver.
Standardizes criteria used in accepting and evaluating applications for participation in the program across all facilities.
Support the CHAMPVA Children's Care Protection Act!
This bill provides that a child shall be eligible for medical care under the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) until the child's 26th birthday, regardless of marital status.
Support the AUTO for Veterans Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92795/respond
Legislation Summary
The Advancing Uniform Transportation Opportunities for Veterans "AUTO" Act would reduce the financial burden incurred by virtue of military service by ensuring severely disabled veterans receive a grant from the VA's Automobile Assistance Grant program to purchase a specially equipped vehicle once every ten years - as opposed to only once.
Support the Aid and Attendance Support Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92792/respond
Legislation Summary
The Aid and Attendance Support Act temporarily increases eligible disabled veterans' and surviving spouses' Aid and Attendance (A&A) allowance by 25%.
Support the Ensuring Survivor Benefits during COVID-19 Act!
The Ensuring Survivor Benefits During COVID-19 Act requires the VA to solicit a medical opinion to determine if a service-connected disability was the principal or contributory cause of death in situations where a veteran's death certificate identifies COVID-19 as the principal or contributory cause of death, the certificate does not clearly identify any of the veteran's service-connected disabilities as the principal or contributory cause of death, and a claim for dependence and indemnity compensation is filed with respect to the veteran.
Ensures Reservists and National Guard members have no-fee healthcare through TRICARE Reserve Select that covers medical and dental coverage.
Fixes the parity gap for Reserve Component retirees receiving early retirement pay due to deployment credits making them eligible for TRICARE upon receipt of retirement pay.
Provides an incentive for small businesses to hire Reserve and National Guard members by ensuring their healthcare costs are covered.
Ensures service members can access physicals needed to be ready for no-notice deployments (which have increased over the past year).
Eliminates the statutory language that excludes Federal Employees Health Benefits Program eligible service members from TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility.
Support the Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92818/respond
Legislation Summary
The Advancing Toward Impact Aid Full Funding Act would:
Split Impact Aid's $1.1 billion request evenly over five years, across three main categories for funding: Basic Support, Federal Property, and Children with Disabilities.
Increase Basic Support funding by $190 million annually, meeting Impact Aid's 2019 funding requests.
Increase Federal Property funding proportionally to Basic Support (BSP) by allocating an additional $11 million annually.
Increase funding for Children with Disabilities by $9 million annually, funding $2,000 per eligible student.
Advance national K-12 school systems to become more equitable and meet educational needs.
Support military families that are especially impacted by federally tax-exempt land.
Support the Health Care Fairness for Military Families Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92815/respond
Legislation Summary
Modifies the extension of dependent coverage under TRICARE by allowing a dependent at the age of 26 to be covered without an additional premium.
Authorizes such coverage of dependents without a premium regardless of whether they are eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored plan.
Support Expanding TRICARE Cranial Remolding Helmet Coverage!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92802/respond
AFSA urges our nation's elected officials to support legislation that would expand the scope of TRICARE's coverage of the DOC Band Post-Op device if your baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Is diagnosed with craniosynostosis or nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly (to include torticollis)
Support the Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92799/respond
Legislation Summary
Allow an employer a work opportunity tax credit for hiring the spouse or domestic partner of a member of the Armed Forces.
Specifically, an employer may receive a tax credit equal to 40% of a new employee's first-year wages if the employer hires a service member's spouse or domestic partner (as recognized under state law or by the Armed Forces).
Create programs for service members to pay for childcare on a pretax basis.
Specifically, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security (with respect to the Coast Guard) must implement flexible spending arrangements that permit members of the Armed Forces to use basic pay and compensation to pay on a pretax basis for dependent childcare.
Support the Retired Pay Restoration Act!
Link to Advocacy Campaign: https://www.votervoice.net/AFSA/campaigns/92798/respond
Legislation Summary
Allowsthe receipt of both military retiredpay and veterans' disability compensation with respect to any service-connected disability.
Extends full concurrent receipt eligibility to individuals who were retired or separated after at least 20 years of military service due to a service-connected disability.
Call To Action:Share How TRICARE's coverage of the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty (DOC) Band Post-Op device negatively impact your family's quality of life!
For the past year, our Military and Government Relations Team has been working with AFSA military families on getting legislation introduced that would expand the scope of TRICARE's coverage of the DOC Band Post-Op device if a baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Is diagnosed with craniosynostosis or nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly (to include torticollis)
Despite unsuccessful efforts (via FOIA request) to obtain important data for the purpose of quantifying the need of this issue in the aggregate, our Team is looking to hear from the field to share your story and help have your voice heard by members of Congress.
Issue Background
Helmet therapy is used to gently correct the shape of babies' skulls over time.
Newborn babies' skulls are soft plates with spaces between them. As the baby grows, these plates grow, gradually harden, and knit together.
Unfortunately, there are circumstances under which the soft plates may develop a flat spot or uneven appearance. This condition is called plagiocephaly.
Today, almost one in two babies (47%) is affected by some form of plagiocephaly.
When the baby's skull joins together too early, or in an abnormal way, this is called craniosynostosis. There are several types of craniosynostosis, depending on when the baby's skull joins together.
Today, it is estimated that 1 in every 2,500 babies has craniosynostosis.
Positional skull deformities and/or abnormalities - whether diagnosed as a form of plagiocephaly or craniosynostosis - can have short and long term health effects on a child.
However, despite this, TRICARE only covers the Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty (DOC) Band Post-Op device, synonymously referred to as a "molding helmet," if your baby:
Is three to 18 months old; and
Has had craniosynostoris surgery;
But still has a misshaped skull.
In other words, cranial molding helmet(s) are not covered for the treatment of nonsynostotic positional plagiocephaly or for the treatment of craniosynostosis before surgery; despite medical evidence that suggests the presence or absence of congenital or acquired plagiocephaly (to include torticollis) can, at the very least, increase the risk of gross motor development.
In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics school-aged children with moderate to severe plagiocephaly scored lower than controls on cognitive and academic measures.
As a result, military families - who face unique challenges given the sacrifices that come along with serving our country - have been put in the tragic position to either front the hefty cost of the helmet (approximately $2,000), seek alternative forms of treatment that may not be preferred, or forego treatment altogether.
We are pleased to share the AFSA Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay procedures and marketing materials to help share the process with our members, your membership and potential new recruits.
The Set-It-Forever/Auto Pay program creates an opportunity to JOIN AFSA or RENEW a membership by making a $36 once-a-year/every-year auto payment, or a $4-each-month/every- month auto payment. The $36 once-a-year option is set at $36, and the $4-a-month option includes a bank processing fee of $1 each month.
Review the two ways to enroll, the benefits to using the auto-pay option, and the marketing materials to help share the details of this program and ensure its success.
For questions, please contact AFSAHQ Member & Field team at 800-638-0594 x 288.
Please Update Your Contact Information Today!
Dear Air Force Sergeants Association Member,
In order for the AFSA to effectively communicate with our members, it is essential to ensure we have your current and / or valid e-mail address. We are in the process of updating our records and need your help! Please take a moment to ensure that we have your most current mail and email address (no .mil's); and accurate membership listing information.
We've made it easy, as you can update your information in either one of three ways:
Call Member & Field Relations team directly at 800-638-0594 x 288 (Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (EST)
Email to: msvcs@hqafsa.org
Visit www.hqafsa.org and select the UPDATE button on the right
We thank you in advance for your support and prompt updates.
In sum,The PACT Act, a piece of legislation, aids in the screening of veterans for exposure to items like Agent Orange, a deforestation agent used during the Vietnam War, and burn pits, where waste was burned in military facilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Numerous events have been held across the nation by the administration to highlight the new advantages. The White House reports that over 730,000 veterans have already had screenings.
The president's eldest son, Beau Biden, served in the Delaware National Guard as a major. The president has speculated that exposure to fire pits on his base in Iraq may have contributed to his death in 2015 from brain cancer. The statute requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct screenings as well as assume that various malignancies and respiratory diseases are related to burn pits. Veterans are now eligible for disability payments without having to demonstrate causal causation.
Prior to the regulation, the government would deny around 75 percent of disability claims involving burn pit exposure.
In addition, according to a Pentagon study published in April, approximately 175,000 people at 24 installations drank water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, during the period when the contamination level exceeded the lifetime exposure levels previously deemed acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The number is really larger, according to the Environmental Working Group, a watchdog group that studies hazards from such chemicals, with an estimated 640,000 people at 116 military installations.
The group claimed that the DoD's research ignored the newly accepted standard of less than 1 part per trillion and only included facilities where chemical levels were above 70 parts per trillion, the EPA's recommended limit set in 2016. Additionally, the study excluded the possibility of exposure through drinking water from non-DoD sources, such as privately owned on-base water systems or local utility companies, which may also be polluted.
And lastly, the idea proposed by Rep. James Clyburn, D-South Carolina, has garnered preliminary support from department officials and Democrats on Capitol Hill, but its future is unknown given that Republicans are expected to hold the majority in the House in 2019. But proponents of the legislation claim that if passed, it may help minority families currently suffering from the aftereffects of institutional racism and enhance benefits for all veterans.
One of the most well-known and popular advantages for veterans is the VA Home Loan program. Department authorities guaranteed more than 1.44 million loans totaling around $447 billion in fiscal 2021, setting a record and increasing by 15% from the previous year.
The federal government backs loans provided through the program, which enables borrowers to buy a home with no down payment, no mortgage insurance, and lenient credit standards.
And that's the way it is for Tuesday, December 20, 2022.
Stay tuned for our next M&G-B, where we will continue to keep you in the loop on all things pertinent to the coronavirus, veterans, active-duty members, guards and reservists, and military family members. Stay happy, and stay healthy!
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