The Chapter welcomed New Mexico State Representative
Sandra Townsend to our final meeting before the break for Summer.
Representative Townsend was also our quest speaker for the evening.
During
her address, Rep. Townsend provided us with an overview of the last
legislative session. She remarked that there was a noticeable change in
the “atmosphere” of the legislature since the change in leadership in
the House. She also said the there were several outstanding issues
involving redistricting and the State Capitol Improvements appropriation.
She expected that the Governor would call for a Special Session to handle
the redistricting matter and that she was hoping to get the Capitol
Improvements appropriation on the slate of items to be considered during
the Special Session.
After the formal presentation, Rep. Townsend fielded
questions form the membership concerning legislative matters. She enjoined
the membership to attend a day at the Round House when the legislature is
in session. The experience should prove to be enlightening and possibly
interesting.
We thank Rep. Townsend for taking time form her busy
schedule to keep us abreast of the latest legislative news important to
this region.
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By Larry
Brewer
Cardin Bill Would Waive Part B Penalty
Congressman Ben Cardin (D-MD) has introduced a new bill
that would ease financial penalties on Medicare-eligible retirees who have
not previously enrolled in Medicare Part B. In order to qualify for
TRICARE For Life, Medicare-eligible uniformed services retirees must be
enrolled in Medicare Part B. (Part B covers doctor bills, whereas Part A
covers hospitalization.)
Beneficiaries who do not enroll in Medicare Part B when
they first become eligible are assessed a 10% premium penalty for each
year they delay. For a 75-year old, the 10-year delay means a 100% penalty
- a $100 per month Part B premium for life vs. the normal $50.
Rep. Cardin's HR 2073, the TRICARE Retirees Opportunity
Act (we like that acronym - TROA), would:
*Waive the late enrollment penalty for military
retirees who enroll in Medicare Part B between January 1, 2001 and
December 31, 2002.
*Create a special, continuous Medicare Part B
enrollment period for military Medicare-eligibles through December 31,
2002. This is necessary because the annual open enrollment period for late
enrollees normally runs only from January 1 to March 31.
If enacted, this legislation would reduce the penalty
for an estimated 84,000 Medicare-eligible beneficiaries who delayed
election of coverage. About 13,000 of these individuals reside overseas,
where Medicare doesn't pay for services. Many others were counseled years
ago by military health advisors not to enroll in Part B since they lived
near a military hospital and could get care without Part B. Still others
have been obtaining care through the VA, which doesn't require Part B.
But the advent of the TRICARE system has dried up much
of the previous space-available care for older retirees, and Part B
enrollment is now a mandatory requirement to use the TRICARE For Life
coverage that will begin October 1.
TROA strongly supports HR 2073, and recommends
contacting legislators to urge cosponsorship and enactment. You can do
this via TROA's Web site at http://capwiz.com/TROA/home/ . Just enter your
ZIP code, click "GO", and click on the "Please cosponsor HR
2073" link above the legislators' photos.
Question: How will provider claims be paid under TFL
that are payable under Medicare and TRICARE?
Answer: Most providers now bill Medicare directly
for payment. Under TFL, Medicare will process the primary claim and send
the Medicare payment directly to the provider. The secondary claim will be
automatically processed by TRICARE using the paid Medicare claim as
documentation. TRICARE will send the patient's Medicare copay directly to
the provider. You will get a copy of the Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
from both Medicare and TRICARE showing that both programs have paid the
bill and that you owe nothing.
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Submitted
by: Larry Brewer from the Internet
What happens when a president gets elected in a year with a
"0" at the end? And notice it goes in increments of 20 years.
And LOOK were it lands this year!
1840: William Henry Harrison (Died in Office)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (Assassinated)
1880: James A. Garfield (Assassinated)
1900: William McKinley (Assassinated)
1920: Warren G. Harding (Died in Office)
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Died in Office)
1960: John F. Kennedy (Assassinated
1980: Ronald Reagan (Survived Assassination Attempt)
2000: ?????????????????????????????????????
You might be interested in this. Have a history teacher explain this
---- If they can.
Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.
Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.
Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.
John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.
Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.
Kennedy was shot in a car called 'Lincoln' made by Ford
Booth ran from the theater and was caught in a warehouse.
Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.
Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
And here's the kicker:
A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland.
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.
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By Al
Garcia
The majority of our members fall into the category of
"Father" and grandfather, etc. It is appropriate that we salute
all of you for fulfilling the most important career in your entire life.
June 17 is the day to honor fathers and I hope that each of you will be
remembered by your offspring. Each Totah Chapter member who is a
father....HAVE A HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.
I hope all of you are enjoying the summer vacation.
Larry and Peggy Johnson were deeply involved with Four Corners Antique
Power Association 2001 show on June 1 & 2. Congratulations are in
order to both of them for their contribution to the community through
their participation in that association. They attend shows in other
communities.
Our annual summer picnic is scheduled for July 28 at
Don and Eleanor Castle's home, beautiful backyard. We appreciate their
gracious invite to gather at their home. This year I would like for us to
add another activity to our picnic, do a fund raiser by having an auction.
Each member could donate something to be auctioned at the event. I promise
to donate some wooden items. We all have some extra items at home that we
could donate to the cause. I have asked what you think and those I've
asked have agreed to support this idea. We will have a meeting of the
Board of Directors and the Picnic Planning committee on Tuesday, June 12
at Earl and Helen Mealer's home.
Since we became a chapter, Lt. Col. Tom Martin of
Roswell has been the president of the New Mexico Chapter of Councils (NMCOC).
The vice president has been Col. Gil Martinez who will become the
president in September. Col. Martinez is asking for some ideas on how to
manage the COC more efficiently. He is interested in making changes where
these are warranted, i.e. number of meetings, meeting agendas, location of
meetings, etc. We should look forward to COC closer relationship with our
chapter. We will host the NMCOC meeting in August here in Farmington.
We are on vacation from holding our regular general
membership meetings until September but I hope that we are keeping in
touch with each other, especially with those that have been ill or are in
need of our phone calls and visits. Our chapter membership signifies that
we are fellow retirees and spouses with similar aspirations. Let's
continue to practice this attitude.
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