Volume 1 Issue 4 Post 5896 Newsletter Norman L . Rigdon V.F.W. Post 5896 Health Care Bill Targets Military Personnel Normally I swerve away from political matter in my newsletter. However, in this case when it could directly negatively affect active duty and retired military personnel. I can not in good conscience remain unvoiced. This new 1990 page Obama Health Care Bill being introduced by the House has also targeted military personnel on active-duty and retirees. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has already drafted proposed legislation too: Increase health care cost for family members of active-duty, increase medical cost sharing for military retirees who are not yet eligible for Medicare and to introduce minimum out-of-pocket requirements under TRICARE For Life (TFL). What happened to the, “If you like your health care you can keep it”. As open and vague as the language is in the Health Care Bill, these CBO proposals could easily be adopted by the Obama controlled administration. Just to give you some examples of the proposed “changes”: Currently military treatment facilities do not charge family members of active-duty or retired military personnel copayments for medical services or pharmaceuticals. This would change and there would be a copayment! Active-duty personnel using TRICARE for medical care off base their copayment would go from a $3 to $9 to 10% of the cost of the health services obtained. Military retirees covered under TRICARE will see their annual deductible of $150 (single coverage) or $300 (family coverage) go to $550 (single coverage) and $1100 (family coverage) that’s an increase of 360 percent. Military retirees TRICARE $12 copayment for each outpatient visit to a civilian physician would more than double to $28 for each outpatient visit. Military retirees that signed up for TFL as a supplement to Medicare for them and their family with few out-of-pocket fees will see their out-of-pocket fees increase year after year. This option of TFL would not cover the first $525 of the enrollee’s cost-sharing liabilities and would limit coverage to 50% of the next $4725 in Medicare cost. I welcome you to read for yourself the Congressional Budget Office proposed legislation at www.cbo.gov/ ftpdocs/99xx/doc9925/12-18-HealthOptions.pdf (Budget Options, Volume 1: Health Care). Look at the actual document page numbers 173, 174, 175 & 176. Men and women joining the military signed a contract with the government and one of the conditions is free health care. The government would be breaking this contact and breaking a sacred trust that veterans have with their government. What can we do? You as veterans are the only ones that can stop this and you must act NOW! Call, write and e-mail your U.S. Congressmen and U.S. Senators, tell them you are a veteran and a registered voter. Inform them it is unconscionable to pass along the costs of government mismanagement to our veterans and you will not stand for it. Tony Carroll, Post Commander Farmington V.F.W. Post 5896 Bingo always can use more volunteers and it is for a good cause. Financially speaking Bingo is what keeps the Post doors open. As always keep the men and women serving in our military in your prayers. Also pray for the soldiers and their families of the U.S. Army Fort Hood, Texas tragedy. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year’s. Post Commander’s Column Date: Dec. 2009 — Jan. 2010 Farmington Missouri www.vfwwebcom.org/mo/post5896 (573) 756-8852 Merry Christmas With Thanksgiving over and Christmas is almost here, there are several things we should be thinking about. The December meeting will be on the 14th, at which time we will have our Christmas Party. Please try to attend, if you haven’t been before. We do have a good time and the meal is being catered, again this year. If you want to participate in the gift exchange, bring a $10.00 gift. We are going to do the stealing game this year, a some of the members have wanted to try it. We are going to have the White Elephant sale also, so if you have some things you would like to donate please bring them. The proceeds from this sale go to Cancer Aid and Research. The annual Post party will be December 19th, we are asking everyone to bring a hearty dish, either vegetable or salad and a dessert. The Post is supplying meat and rolls. I believe we will eat at 5:30 and Santa will arrive around 7:00 PM. We are still going to Jefferson Barracks on the 3rd Friday of the month to have Bingo for the residents of building 52. I am not sure if we are going to do December or not. Depends on our schedule and the weather. Contact me if you would like to go with us. It is such a joy to see how much this means to them. Remember our January meeting will be on Monday the 11th, at 7:30 PM. To our Sisters ill and in the Hospital we wish you a speedy recovery. Our sympathy goes our to those loosing love ones, our Prayers are with you. Marilyn Gonz, President Sr. Vice Commander’s Column Ladies’ Auxiliary President Column Pictures from Post Halloween Party Please welcome your new members to the post. They are: Anthony (Tony) Carper, Fredericktown, Mo. US Army, Iraq; Ken Paul, Jr., Ironton, Mo., US Army, Afghanistan; Craig Wadlow, Park Hills, Mo. Nat'l Guard Iraq and Blain Jaeger, Farmington, Mo. US Navy WW2 Our last two gun winners were: October Dennis Portell Charles Daly 12 gauge November Sam Stimpson Mossberg 535 12 gauge We gave away 13 guns during the year-long drawings. The cost for participants was $1.92 per drawing. ($25.00 divided into 13 drawings). That's cheap enough to take a chance on a gun, don't you think? Unfortunately the time for annual dues is here again. Please spare the Commander and I the time and effort of calling, mailing, and knocking on doors, and remit your dues. It would be much appreciated. Thank you and may the holidays be a great one for you and your families. Dwain Asberry, Sr. Vice Commander (Membership Chairman) PAGE 2 POST 5896 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 PAGE 3 POST 5896 NEWSLETTER VOLUME 1 ISSUE 4 December 2009 Merry Chris tmas Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 VFW Meeting 7:30 PM 2 Men’s Aux Meeting 6:30 PM 3 Bingo 6:15 PM 4 5 6 7 Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941 8 War Declared on Japan 1941 9 10 Bingo 6:15 PM 11 Germany & Italy Declared War on U.S. 1941 12 13 14 Ladies Aux Meeting 7:30 15 16 17 Bingo 6:15 PM 18 19 Post Christmas Party 5::00 PM 20 21 22 23 24 No Bingo 25 Dinner 2PM Club Christmas Day 26 27 28 29 30 31 Bingo 6:15 Official End of WWII 1946 J anuar y 2010 Happy New Year Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year’s 10 PM Clubroom Bring Finger Food 2 3 4 5 VFW Meeting 7:30 PM 6 Men’s Aux Meeting 6:30 7 Bingo 6:15 PM 8 9 10 11 Ladies Aux Meeting 7:30 12 13 14 Bingo 6:15 PM 15 16 17 Gulf War Began 1991 18 Martin Luther King, Jr. 19 20 21 Bingo 6:15 PM 22 23 24 / 31 25 26 27 Signing of Vietnam Peace Accord 1973 28 Bingo 6:15 PM 29 30 Post Service Officer will be at the Post every Monday, 8 AM to 12 noon / excluding Holiday Norman L. Rigdon V.F.W. Post 5896 Officers 2009 – 2010 Commander: Tony Carroll Chaplain: Joel Meador Sr. Vice Commander: Dwain Asberry Guard: Joyce Shoulders Jr. Vice Commander: Chuck Thomure Adjutant: Bob Wilfong Quartermaster: Joe Crider Judge Advocate: Terry Williams Service Officer: John Danieley Surgeon: Randy Finnical Officer of the Day: Dave Fuller Ladies Auxiliary Officers 2009 – 2010 President: Marilyn Gonz Treasurer: Deloris Brooks Sr. Vice President: Naomi Hulsey Conductress: Arzela Savlic Jr. Vice President: Aileen Sales Chaplain: Mary Whaley Secretary: Sandra Stuart Guard: Mary Hafner Men’s Auxiliary Officers 2009 –2010 President: Ron Sloan Secretary: Darrell Pulliam Vice President: Norm Tucker Treasurer: John Slaner Chaplain: Mark Stevens V.F.W. Post 5896 814 E. Karsch Blvd. Farmington, MO 63640 NON PROFIT U.S. Postage Paid Farmington, MO 63640 Permit No. 158