Silicon Valley, California
Military Officers Association of America
Medical and Pharmacy
Tricare and Tricare For Life
A valuable asset is our local Tricare representative located at 587 Wescoat Court, side entrance, follow the signs, on Moffett Field (just past the chapel). Office hours are M-F, 0730-1600 (may be closed for lunch). Sat and Sun closed. The representative can assist you with initial enrollment into Tricare, provide information on the program, and assist with billing questions. Tricare West Region is now administered by TriWest Healthcare Alliance, PO Box 42049, Phoenix, AZ 85080.
The Tricare Representative also has literature and information on Tricare For Life.
TRICARE
Prime Premiums can be deducted from retired pay.
If your're enrolled in TRICARE
Prime, you can now choose to have your premiums taken from your retired
pay as an allotment. These allotments are being phased in between August
and November. All transactions will be handled by the three TRICARE regional
representatives. This option goes into effect in August 2004 for the West
region.
(extract from Army Echoes, Issue 3, Sept-Dec 2004)
Looking for more information
on Tricare and Tricare for Life? Here are some more numbers and web sites!
General Tricare Information; phone 1-888-874-9378 or
www.triwest.com.
Tricare for Life: call 1-888-363-5433 or log on to www.TRICARE.osd.mil.
For DEERS: phone 1-800-334-4162 or visit www.TRICARE.osd.mil/DEERS.
Government Grave Marker Request
Made Easier
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) has revised its application form
to make requesting a VA grave marker easier. The new form, Application
For Standard Government Headstone or Marker (VA Form 40-1330), includes
updated information about changes that expand eligibility for a government
marker. The new form and instruction sheets also permit better communication
between VA and veterans' families.
For deaths on or after September 11, 2001, Public Laws 107-103 and 107-330
made government markers available for use on veterans' graves that were
already marked with pivately furnished headstones or markers. Previous
law prevented VA from furnishing markers when a grave was already marked.
The laws require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to report to Congress
by Feb. 1, 2006, on the effectiveness of this benefit and to recommend
whether it should continue. One of the changes made to the application
form will allow VA to report on this new benefit by tracking its use.
In January 2002, VA introduced a toll-free fax service for submitting
applications. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week,
as an alternative to regular mail. Instructions, as well as the fax number,
1-800-455-7143, are on the VA website at
www.cem.va.gov. The application form on the website can be filled
in and printed for submitting by mail or fax. Questions about a headstone
or marker application can be directed to VA's Memorial Programs Service
applicant assistance unit at 1-800-697-6947.
(excerpt from MOAA Benefits Information Update - July
2003)
VA Palo Alto
Here is some information on how to find and contact the nearest Veterans
Administration Medical Centers.
VA Palo Alto Health Care
System
3801 Miranda Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1290
(650) 493-5000
VA Menlo Park Division
795 Willow Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 493-5000
VA Livermore Division
4951 Arroyo Road
Livermore, CA 94550
(925) 373-4700
VA San Jose OPC
80 Great Oaks Boulevard
San Jose, CA 95119
(408) 363-3011
VA Medical Center San Francisco
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121-1598
(415) 221-4810
Their website is; www.visn21.med.va.gov
Veterans can now apply for benefits and health care using the Internet. To apply for health care, log onto; www.va.gov/forms/medical. To apply for compensation, pensions, and vocational rehabilitation benefits, log onto; http://vabenefits.vba.va.gov.
Now Express Scripts!
National Mail Order Pharmacy-Tricare Mail-Order Pharmacy.
For New Service and Refills;
To order from the website; use
www.express-scripts.com
To order by phone: Customer Service: 1-866-363-8667
Mailing address is: Express Scripts, PO Box 52150, Phoenix, AZ 85072-9954.