Military Officer - October 2008 - (Page 36) washingtonscene Forteo, and Fortical remaining available at the lower copayment. The newer hypertension drugs Bystolic and Azor also will move to the third tier, along with Xyzal, an antihistamine, and Zyflo CR, used to treat asthma. These medications only recently were introduced, so relatively few beneficiaries are taking them. The new third-tier recommendations will be submitted to the assistant secretary of defense for Health Affairs for a final decision. DoD will provide notifications to all beneficiaries currently taking the medications being moved to the third tier so they and their doctors can consider alternative medications available at a lower copayment. Information on alternative medications can be found via TRICARE’s Formulary Search Tool, www.tricareformularysearch.org. A doctor who thinks it is important for a patient to take a third-tier medication can provide “medical necessity” justification to TRICARE. If approved, the patient will continue receiving the medication at a lower copayment. Yes, if they have served at least 90 days on federal active duty after Sept. 10, 2001. Can servicemembers transfer postSept. 11, 2001, GI Bill benefits to family members? Currently serving servicemembers who qualify for the post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill might be able to transfer benefits to a spouse and/or dependent children, subject to DoD regulations, but only if they have six or more years of service and agree to extend for four additional years. However, the law gives DoD authority to adjust the service criteria, which means DoD may choose to require longer service to be eligible. Critical skill criteria no longer apply to the transferability program. Will veterans, including military retirees, be permitted to transfer post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill benefits to dependents? No. Post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill transferability is a force management tool that works just like a reenlistment bonus. Only currently serving servicemembers who meet service reenlistment/extension requirements will be eligible. Are service academy/ROTC scholarship commissioned officers eligible for the post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill? Officers from these commissioning sources can qualify for the post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill. But time spent satisfying their initial active duty service obligation does not count toward the service necessary to qualify for the benefits. How does the post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill compare to the current Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)? The post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill pays benefits based on active duty service performed after Sept. 10, 2001. Benefits are tailored to a veteran’s specific school and location. MGIB benefits, on the other hand, are elective upon enlistment and You Asked, We Answered New post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill Qs and As. W ho is eligible for the newly increased GI Bill benefits? Servicemembers who have served at least 90 days on active duty since Sept. 10, 2001, qualify for at least some post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill benefits. It takes 36 months of cumulative active service after that date to earn full benefits. Are military retirees and National Guard/ Reserve servicemembers eligible for the post-Sept. 11, 2001, GI Bill? 36 MILITARY OFFICER OCTOBER 2008 http://www.tricareformularysearch.org
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