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The TRICARE system is one of the many managed healthcare plans offered by the Veterans Administration (VA) Healthcare System, intended to provide comprehensive medical coverage to Servicemembers, Veterans, Retirees, and their families. TRICARE insurance offers a variety of different plans for military personnel, based on their type and length of service in the US Armed Forces. You can read more about the TRICARE system in general at this link. Those who have retired from service may also utilize TRICARE. The various plans offered to retirees through the TRICARE insurance system are numerous and come with a variety of different benefits. Read on to learn more. What is TRICARE for Retired Military Members? TRICARE for retired military members is a system of managed care for US Armed Forces personnel that operates through a variety of VA-funded hospitals and clinics, as well as civilian medical professionals who partner with the VA system. TRICARE for retired military members involves a series of different TRICARE insurance plans that cover both the retiree and their dependents. The TRICARE retired benefits might differ from TRICARE plans for active duty and overseas Servicemembers. Most TRICARE insurance plans cover preventative and ongoing health maintenance, prescriptions, dental

The Veterans Administration provides several services and benefits to military personnel, the more well-known being its healthcare system. For many who served in the Armed Forces, VA healthcare is free and requires little to no copayments. The VA healthcare system has many aspects, each branch pertaining to a version of its healthcare based on a person’s service record or their relationship to a Servicemember. The VA TRICARE system is one such program of the VA healthcare system. TRICARE is the program for active duty Servicemembers, active duty family members, National Guard and Reserve members and their family members, retirees and retiree family members, survivors, and certain former spouses worldwide. It synthesizes many resources in the VA healthcare system, such as hospitals and clinics, as well as partnerships with civilian healthcare providers and pharmacies. The goal of this system is to provide uniformed members of the military a convenient and affordable healthcare system that offers as many healthcare benefits and opportunities to the military personnel and their families as possible through a variety of TRICARE plans. You can read more about the TRICARE system in this article. What is TRICARE for Active Duty? TRICARE for Active Duty is

The decision to send soldiers off to war is never an easy one, especially considering our understanding of how combat and war situations can affect Servicemembers. For many years, the military exposed soldiers to the horrors of war, sent them home with little to no help, and expected them to resume their lives, families, and careers as if nothing had changed. This forced many Veterans to conceal their physical and mental service-related illnesses, often resorting to self-medicating with substances and drugs as a coping mechanism. Sadly, Veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or other mental illnesses often find themselves homeless with few resources. Other Veterans may become unexpectedly homeless due to a variety of circumstances, such as being away from their careers for an extended period or experiencing unexpected emergencies. The Veterans Administration (VA) seeks to address this problem by offering VA homeless programs that seek to provide financial assistance, career training, housing vouchers, transitional housing, and emergency benefits to qualifying Servicemembers and Veterans who are in need of housing assistance and meet VA homeless assistance eligibility. If you are a Veteran or the family member of a Veteran experiencing homelessness and want to know more about

The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program of the United States military is an important and necessary part of mission readiness for Servicemembers. Most military professions are rewarding but also very high-stress and, in many cases, dangerous. Frequent deployments mean time away from families, feelings of isolation and loneliness, and can even cause marital problems and issues with relationships with children. The MWR program is designed to help Servicemembers combat these problems by optimizing time spent with loved ones while they are home. These programs provide discounted, and in some cases, free programs for the entire family that range from leisure activities, recreation, travel, family enhancement and enrichment programs, and a variety of other services. Many locations around the country offer special services to military families, and many destinations have special activities specifically for MWR programs. If you want to read more about MWR in general, you can do so at this link. If you are visiting San Diego anytime soon, you will be pleased to know that there are a variety of San Diego MWR tickets for attractions around the city that are worth looking into. What Are San Diego MWR Tickets and How Do They

The Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR) program is a quality of life and readiness program designed to support the needs of the military community, including Veterans, civilian employees, retirees, and, of course, Servicemembers and their families. The mission of the program is to help Servicemembers relax, have fun, and form bonds with their families in an effort to help maintain work-life balance and mission readiness, as well as provide emotional support for military personnel. One of these benefits is discounted rates, special perks, and offers on travel and lodging. Certain destinations offer military-only rates, tickets to attractions and theme parks, and special recognition days for military members. Key West, Florida, a popular vacation destination, has several Key West MWR programs, with discounted MWR Key West tickets to many destinations, that military families might want to consider for their next vacation. Key West MWR: What It Offers and Why It Matters MWR programs, which include recreation, family and youth programs, and entertainment on top of travel and leisure activities, all seek to serve military families by providing discounted access to relaxing, enjoyable activities to connect with their families. You can read more about MWR in general at this

What Are Space-A Flights? Space-A flights are flights provided at free or reduced fare for Veterans, enlisted personnel, and their families. These are non-commercial flights that utilize Department of Defense mission aircraft for a variety of reasons and are subject to availability. There are several priority tiers for these flights that enable people to get emergency flights for medical treatment, look for houses, see family, and more. Passengers typically book Space-A travel when they have some flexibility for their trip dates and qualify for the seats. Space-A flights were called Military Air Command flights for many years and may also be called Air Mobility Command flights. How Do Space-A Flights Work? Book Space-A flights through your AMC contact at the passenger terminal or the terminal you want to depart from. Most people book flights approximately 72 hours before departure and will remain registered for up to 60 days. Passengers who need a flight related to an unfunded medical emergency receive priority seating at all times. AMC flights are managed by Air Mobility Command and Space-A staff for the Department of Defense. Bag, weight, priority, and accompanying dependent restrictions will vary based upon travel type and situation.

When we experience the death of a loved one in the family, whether it is sudden or a lengthy process, it can still lead to a great deal of confusion and grief. The survivors often find themselves not well prepared to deal with the recent loss, especially when it comes to funeral and burial arrangements.  The US Government holds the belief that those who served in defense of the country should receive honorable burials as a token of the country’s appreciation for their service. It is for this reason that the Veterans Administration (VA) provides funeral benefits to the survivors and families of Servicemembers and Veterans. Survivors can apply to the VA to receive VA burial benefits on the Veteran’s behalf, or the Veteran can do so himself as part of end-of-life planning. These VA burial benefits assist in covering the unexpected and significant expenses of funerals and burials. The application for burial benefits is easy, and VA burial benefits eligibility is very broad. Understanding VA Burial Benefits: What is Covered? VA burial benefits and Veterans funeral benefits are programs offered by the Veterans Administration that include a burial allowance to help cover funeral costs, the option

If you are the spouse or dependent of a military Servicemember who died in the line of duty, a retiree, or Veteran, you are eligible for a variety of benefits offered by the Veterans Administration. The Veterans Administration established these VA survivor benefits to provide certain means and support to survivors, particularly widows, of military personnel who have lost a family member. Recognizing that spouses and families are an essential part of the support system for military personnel, VA survivor benefits seek to provide these important supporters of the military with education, healthcare, and other VA surviving spouse benefits. What Are VA Survivor Benefits? Depending on your deceased Servicemember’s level of service, VA survivor benefits cover a variety of different types of healthcare, financial, educational, survivors pensions and other supportive VA surviving spouse benefits. Both the spouses and dependents of the deceased Servicemember typically qualify for these VA survivor benefits, with a primary focus on healthcare and education. Some of these VA surviving spouse benefits include: Dependency and indemnity compensation is paid to a surviving spouse, child, or parent of a Veteran who died after January 1, 1957. The surviving spouse or unmarried dependent child of a

It is never a comfortable topic to think about one’s own mortality and what will happen to your family once you have passed on. Individuals in their later years often confront numerous decisions, such as their funeral preferences, the idea of living wills, and securing life insurance for their surviving family members to cover unforeseen expenses and life events post-death. Many people postpone getting life insurance until later in life, citing their daily expenses as a better use of the monthly premiums. However, individuals serving in the military, who frequently encounter hazardous conditions and potentially life-threatening situations, should consider life insurance from the outset. The Veterans Administration offers Servicemembers Group Life Insurance (SGLI) as a low-cost form of coverage to eligible Servicemembers. If you meet the eligibility criteria, the Veterans Administration may automatically sign you up for SGLI coverage. This article covers the basics of SGLI insurance for Servicemembers and information on SGLI coverage and SGLI costs. If you have questions about how military life insurance can benefit your family, read on to learn more. You can also speak to a resource officer at your base, or at your local VA regional office if you have further

The Veterans Administration offers many perks and benefits to Veterans and Servicemembers and their families, including many financial benefits and assistance. The VA offers, for example, VA-backed home loans for qualifying military personnel that help Servicemembers apply for and insure home loans. These home loans often give certain benefits, such as lower or no down payments, better terms, and less strict credit checks. However, in addition to these VA-backed home loans, the VA also offers refinancing options that help Veterans make home payments at monthly payments lower than traditional loans and with lower interest rates. Understanding VA Loan Refinancing: Which Option is Right for You? VA loan refinancing is a wonderful way to negotiate better terms for your VA-backed home loan. There are many reasons why you might seek VA refinance options for your home loan. You might be experiencing financial hardship and need a lower monthly payment, or there might be better interest rates available. Also, if you want to transfer other home loans with variable rates to a lower fixed rate on a VA loan, then VA refinancing is an option. The VA loan refinancing program offers many options, including Interest Rate Reduction Refinance