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TIPS & CLIPS

TIPS AND CLIPS:

Shift Colors

Shift Colors (the newsletter for no longer arrives at your home via U.S. Mail. e only
Navy Retirees, issued by the way to receive it is through email notice or to go directly
Navy Personnel Command) to the website – www.shiftcolors.navy.mil.

Scams

Joanne Elliott ere have been several scams purporting to be from the Social Security Administration,
National Treasurer that are aimed at retirees, or fraudulent credit card protection services. e list goes
military and seniors. Be very on from there. Bottom line: never give your personal
wary if you receive calls from people receive calls from information over the phone.
people purporting to sell you VA Home Loans, anyone

COLA Increase
On September 26, 2019, President Trump signed a cost- compensation (DIC) for survivors and certain other ben-
of-living increase for retirees, and veterans receiving dis- e ts for 2020. e increase will be 1.6%.
ability compensation and dependency and indemnity

Blue Water Navy Legislation
Legislation was recently passed that recognizes Veterans and may be entitled to service connection for any of the
who served in the o shore waters of the Republic 14 conditions related to herbicide exposure. However,
of Vietnam between Jan. 9, 1962 and May 7, 1975. there is a caveat to that legislation which states that it will
Beginning Jan. 1, 2020, Veterans who served as far as 12 not go into e ect until funds are appropriated. If you were
nautical miles from the shore of Vietnam, or who had ser- in the Navy and o the coast of Viet Nam during that
vice in the Korean Demilitarized Zone, are presumed to timeframe, please contact your nearest VA facility to nd
have been exposed to herbicides, such as Agent Orange, out more and to begin the claim process.

Military Records

If you will be leaving the military soon, ensure that you for active duty or ACDUTRA. Make sure all information
have copies of your medical records and your person- in your DD214 is accurate and nothing is missing. As
nel record. Make sure your DEERs is updated and that the years go by, it becomes more di cult to nd missing
NAVPERS has all your copies of evals, treps and orders information.

TRICARE Increases
Tricare pharmacy copayments will increase starting Jan 1, from $7 to $10. Brand name drugs will increase from $24
2020. If you get home delivery or at a retail pharmacy you to $29. At a network pharmacy, for a 30 day supply of
will pay from $2 to $7 more. ere is still no extra cost to generic drugs the cost will rise from $11 to $13; brand
ll your prescriptions at a military pharmacy. If you use names - $28 to $33; non formulary drugs from $53 to
home delivery, your copay for generic drugs will increase $60. For more information, contact TRICARE.

The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association 7