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RETIREDandSEPARATED…Notgone,Notforgotten.

RETIREE RAG October 2019

MarkYourCalendar!2019FederalBenefitsandTRICAREOpenSeason:

November11–midnight(ET)December9TheFederalBenefitsOpenSeasonisyourannualopportunitytoenrollin,change,orcancelaFEDVIPdentaland/orvisionplan.Withtendentalandfourvisioncarrierstochoosefrom,FEDVIPoffersgreatflexibilitywhenselectingtherightcoverageforyouandyourfamily.Thereare10Dentalplansofferedfor2020,and4VisionPlans.Youcanorderabrochureabouteachcarrierfromhttps://www.benefeds.com/Portal/EducationSupport?EnsSubmit=dental-vision&ctoken=jYUxzDrY, orbycalling1-877-888-FEDS(1-877-888-3337). TheFederalEmployeesDentalandVisionInsuranceProgram(FEDVIP)isavoluntary,enrollee-pay-alldentalandvisionprogramavailabletoFederalemployeesandannuitants,certainretireduniformedservicemembers,andactivedutyfamilymembers.ItissponsoredbytheU.S.OfficeofPersonnelManagement(OPM)andofferseligibleparticipantsachoicebetweentendentalandfourvisioncarriers.BENEFEDSadministerstheenrollment,planchange,andpremiumpaymentprocessesforFEDVIP.BENEFEDSdoesnothaveclaimsinformation.Contactyourdentalorvisionplancarrierdirectlyifyouhavequestionsaboutyourcoverageorclaims.FrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQs)areansweredhere:https://www.benefeds.com/Portal/EducationSupport?EnsSubmit=dental-vision-faqsComparePlansbygoingtothewebsiteat:https://www.benefeds.com/Portal/PlanSearch?submit=planSearch&ctoken=jYUxzDrY

BENEFEDSalsoadministersthepremiumpaymentprocessesonbehalfoftheFederalLongTermCareInsuranceProgram(FLTCIP).YoumustenrollinFLTCIPatwww.ltcfeds.comOpensinnewwindowbeforecreatingyourMyBENEFEDSaccount.Onceenrolled,createyouraccounttoviewyourFLTCIPpaymenthistoryorpayyourdirectbill.BENEFEDSworkswiththeFederalpayrollproviderstocollectallotmentsfortheFederalFlexibleSpendingAccountProgram(FSAFEDS).YoumustenrollinFSAFEDSathttps://www.fsafeds.com/beforecreatingyourMyBENEFEDSaccount.Onceenrolled,createyouraccounttoviewyourallotmenthistory. TricareOpenSeasoncorrespondswithBenefeds,November11toDecember9,2019.However,TRICAREOpenSeasondoesn’tapplytoTRICAREForLife(TFL).TFLcoverageisautomaticifyouhaveMedicarePartAandPartB.Italsodoesn’tapplytopremium-basedplans.

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At the 2019 NGAUS national convention, a Retiree Luncheon/Caucus was held on Sunday, September 2. All Army and Air Guard retirees that attended were able to share ideas on the issues that are important to military retirees and veterans. Retirees shared the expectation that NGAUS would monitor health care, retirement, pension and other important issues for National Guard retirees and families. NGAUS plans to develop and distribute a Retiree Update newsletter several times a year, however, it is important that NGAUS and NGAKS have accurate emails for retirees to ensure that you receive these notices. They will cover issues such as pay, benefits, services, health care, VA benefits and more. NGAUS National Board of Directors, Elected Retiree Representatives are: Brig. Gen. Bobbi Doorenbos, Retired, Arkansas, retired/separated-Air director, no email available.

Col. Pete Duffy, Retired, Maryland, retired/separated-Army director. duffylaw@juno.com

141st General Conference & Exhibition August 30 - September 02, 2019 Denver, Colorado

The Retirement Services section cordially invites you and your spouse to our semi-annual pre-retirement briefing. If you were or are currently a traditional drilling soldier and between the ages of 55 and 60 (over 60 if you have not yet applied for retired pay) you are eligible to attend. When: December 7, 2019 Where: Museum of the Kansas National Guard; 125 SE Airport Drive, Topeka, Kansas 66619 Time: 0830-1530 Briefings Include: Applying for Retired Pay, TRICARE, VA, Annuity & Survivor Benefits, and more. Register: Please register via email to etoi.d.purnell.mil@mail.mil or by calling 785-646-0135to reserve seating. **ID card machine will be available** (2 forms of ID required. If dependents are not in DEERS, a marriage license is required)

Etoi Purnell, SFC, KSARNG, RPAM NCO Etoi.d.purnell.mil@mail.mil 785-646-0135 Fax: 785-646-0191

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AIRFORCERETIREMENTAPPLICATIONNOWONLINEONLYGrayAreaRetiree–HowtoApplyforRetiredPayinMyPerswebsite

AirForce,AirNationalGuardandReserveRetireesmustnowapplyforretiredpayonlineonly.Toaccomplishthis,retireesmustcreatealoginandaccountpriortothedatewhentheyareeligibletodrawretirement.1.ReadmoreaboutRETIREMENT&applyingforpay:https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/retirement2.RetrieveDDForm2656DataforPaymentofRetiredPersonnelfromDoDpublicationssite.https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/forms/dd/dd2656.PDFCompleteform(readinstructionsatendofformbeforecompleting)--Completeelectronic,print,signwithinkpen,scanbackintoyourcomputer.3.LogintotheMyPerswebsite.Thisisaself-servicetoolthatcommunicatesdirectlytotheAirReservePersonnelCenteratBuckleyAFB,Colorado.https://mypers.af.mil/app/login/redirect/homeIfyouretiredBEFORE2007,youprobablydon’thaveanaccount.SoCREATEACCOUNT.You’llbeaskedforName,DateofBirth&SSN#.Ifthesystemsaysyouhaveexistingaccount,workthruFORGOTYOURUSERNAMEORPASSWORD?Assistanceviaphoneat1-800-525-0102.BelowiswhatthepagelookslikeforLoginwithexistingUSERID/Password.

ARMY AND AIR Retirement Websites: http://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/ ARMYBENEFITS https://soldierforlife.army.mil/ ARMYSOLDIERFORLIFE http://kansastag.gov/ KANSASADJUTANTGENERALhttps://www.retirees.af.mil/library/afterburner/ AIRFORCEAFTERBURNERhttps://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/retirement AIRFORCEPERSONNELCENTER

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NGAKSSTATERETIREEUPDATES:WENEEDYOUREMAILADDRESS!SenttoRayorSheli,yourNGAKSRetireeReps,listedbelow.Also,checkoutNGAKSRetireepageathttps://www.ngaks.com/retirees.html.

SheliSweeney,Maj(Ret) Air-Retired shelisweeney@hotmail.com 7852139053 RayRhodd,LTC(Ret)Army-Retired rhoddrl2@gmail.com 7856408751

TRIBUTE TO FALLEN IN PLAINVILLE, KANSAS: “Remembering Our Fallen,” a national traveling display in honor and memory of those military personnel who have died in the line of duty, in training, and as a result of PTSD since 9-11, will be in Plainville, Kan. October 18-20, 2019.

This will be the first time since the debut of the national display at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in the fall of 2017, this basketball court-sized pictorial display has traveled this far west of Kansas City in the state of Kansas.

This traveling memorial originated with Bill and Evonne Williams, Omaha, Neb., the parents of four sons who have voluntarily served in the military. This display is an attempt preserve and honor the memory of those soldiers.

The opening ceremony is at 10:30am on Friday, October 18, with honored guests to be Kansas Gold Star Families. The memorial is located at Andreson Memorial Park, Highway 183, Plainville, Kansas. All are invited to tour the tribute.