For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
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Life insurance premiums to drop for vets
Question: Has there been a reduction in military's life insurance programs?
Answer: On July 1, the premiums for basic Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance will be 6.5 cents per month for $1,000 of coverage, down from 7 cents per month for $1,000. This translates into a 7 percent savings.
Servicemembers with the maximum $400,000 of coverage will see their monthly premium reduced from $28 to $26. Servicemembers are also covered against severe traumatic injury for an additional dollar each month.
The premium cuts affect military personnel and veterans covered by the Veterans' Group Life Insurance. On July 1, premium rates will be reduced for veterans aged 30 to 64, who make up 85 percent of those insured under the program. Premium reductions, ranging from 4 percent to 12 percent, are a result of fewer claims being received. To obtain more information about the servicemembers' and veterans' premium reductions or to view a table with the new veterans' rates, visit the Department of Veterans Affairs insurance Web site at www.insurance.va.gov, or call the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance at (800) 419-1473.
Q: What is the VA doing for veterans who need some help with weight control?
A: The VA has designed a weight management program to reduce the high rates of illness among VA's patients caused by obesity.
The MOVE program, "Managing Overweight Veterans Everywhere," not only encourages veterans enrolled in VA care to get in shape but also offers information to family members and anyone trying to lose weight through an Internet link.
Anyone can log on to www.move.va.gov, where a questionnaire helps identify personal barriers to weight control. The questions link to about 100 informational materials on the site. People not enrolled in VA health care can take the information about themselves to their personal health care providers.
For more information on the MOVE program, contact the VA Medical Clinic at 433-0600 or 433-7676.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at
www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.