If you've been turned down by the V.A. you should reapply

VA To Offer Health Care to Previously Ineligible Veterans

WASHINGTON (Jan. 8, 2009) – The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced plans to re-open enrollment in its health care system by July 2009 to about 265,000 veterans whose incomes exceed current limits.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer what has been called ‘the best care anywhere’ to many more new veterans,” said Dr. James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. “We’ll be able to provide these newly enrolled veterans with the kind of timely, high quality health care veterans who already use our system are accustomed to.”

The change affects veterans whose incomes exceed the current VA means test and geographic means test income thresholds by 10 percent or less. Congress provided funds in VA’s fiscal year 2009 budget to support the new enrollment.

In 1996, Congress established a priority-based enrollment system for VA and a uniform package of medical benefits for all enrollees. The legislation opened enrollment in VA’s health care system to all eligible veterans and required that each year the Secretary of Veterans Affairs assess veterans’ demand for services and determine if the necessary resources are available to provide timely, quality care to all enrollees.

Enrollment for the lowest priority of the eight groups—veterans who are not being compensated for a military-related disability and who have incomes above a set threshold—was suspended on January 18, 2003, although veterans in that priority group who were already enrolled for care were permitted to remain enrolled.

VA originally suspended enrollment for Priority 8 veterans because it was unable to provide all enrolled veterans with timely access to its health care due to a tremendous growth in the number of veterans then seeking enrollment. VA is now plans to reopen enrollment for a portion of these veterans without compromising the Department’s ability to provide high quality health care services to all enrolled veterans who are eligible for care.

VA’s computer systems are being modified to accommodate the changes, and the Department is preparing communication and education materials to ensure that Congress, veterans service organizations, and the public are aware of the coming changes.

“The rule will take effect by June 30, 2009, if the regulatory process proceeds smoothly,” Peake said. “We look forward to welcoming these newly eligible veterans into the VA system. VA will continue to monitor wait times to ensure the quality of care is not adversely affected.”

Rest in Peace Ed McMahon

TV host Ed McMahon who for 30 years was Johnny Carson's partner on "The Tonight Show" passed away shortly after midnight (L.A. time) today. He was 86 years old. No cause of death was given. But it was noted that he suffered from a "multitude of health problems the last few months".

Born Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. on March 6, 1923, in Detroit, McMahon grew up in Lowell, Mass. He got his start on television playing a circus clown on the 1950-51 variety series “Big Top.” But the World War II Marine veteran interrupted his career to serve as a Marine Corps fighter pilot in Korea.
Another Marine reporting sir. I've spent my time in hell.
Semper Fidelis

Take a ride with the Blue Angels!

If you have a strong constitution or a couple of barf bags handy, click on this link for a terrific 10 minute ride in the cockpit of the #7 jet of the famed U.S.Navy Blue Angels taken during a recent air show at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis MD.
When you get to the video page, click the icon to make the video take up your full screen real estate, then sit back and enjoy the ride!.

Hey Marines!

If you've been looking for somewhere to obtain your dress blue trousers, NCO's trouser stripe and short sleeve uniform shirts, your search is over!
The Camp Lejeune Uniform Sales Shop has what you're looking for.
Call 1 (888) 267-3559 (Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM). Identify yourself as a former Marine and they will fill your order. They can handle all transactions over the phone as long as you have a valid credit card. Dress Blue Trousers cost $31.75, Short Sleeve Uniform Shirts cost $19.65 and the NCO Trouser Stripe costs $2.85. Shipping costs are extra.
The detachment gets several requests for Color Guards throughout the year and for quite a while the same detachment members have been carrying the weight of those Color Guards. We need more members to step up and volunteer for these Color Guard requests. So if it's within your means, why not order these uniform items so you can help out when the need arises. It's yet another way you can support your detachment!

June News and Info update

The detachment's newsletter "Finnegan's 411" for June 2009 has been published. You can download a copy here
There are a few events on the horizon concerning the detachment, which you're going to want to know about. Not the least of which is our next meeting June 11, 2009 at 8:00PM. This will be our last meeting until September. As such and as we've done in the past, we will be providing food (assorted sandwiches and salads) from Dominic's deli and there will be an open bar after the meeting! So come hungry and thirsty! We'll be discussing upcoming events that we've planned which will take place over the summer. So be sure to be there.

Feel free to bring your spouse or significant other with you to this meeting. It gives them an opportunity to see a little of what goes on at our meetings and it gives the detachment a chance to say “thank you” to them for their continued support of and assistance to the detachment in all our events and activities. By all means, if you have friends who are former Marines who may have expressed an interest in the League, bring them as well!