JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Fisher House in 20th Year
On its 20th anniversary, the Fisher House Foundation isn't basking in past achievements. It opened its third house at the Bethesda, Md., National Naval Medical Center. Nine more are being built nationwide this year. The program started in 1991 as a modest endeavor, with Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher donating a house to provide free temporary lodging for military families. The Fishers presented a second house a month later at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. The third house opened shortly thereafter at the Air Force's Wilford Hall Medical Center at Lackland Air Force Base, Tx. By the time of Zachary Fisher's death in 1999, he and his wife had financed more than 20 Fisher Houses.
Grandnephew, Ken Fisher, is keeping their vision alive. Today, 56 Fisher Houses grace the grounds of dozens of major military and Veterans Affairs medical facilities in the United States and in Landstuhl, Germany. A Fisher House at Joint Base Andrews opened in 1994. Collectively, they have served more than 142,000 families since the program's inception. During 2010, their 651 guest suites accommodated 12,000 families. The Fisher House at Dover Air Force Base, Del., is called one of the foundation's greatest achievements because of its impact on families of the fallen. The Fisher House in Dover serves grieving families as they prepare to witness the dignified transfer of their loved ones. The foundation always looks ahead to respond to military families' needs. Three houses were built in Bethesda, Md., to accommodate an expected surge in demand as the hospital merges with the Walter Reed Army Medical Center later this year. Even after passing control of the Fisher Houses at dedication ceremonies, the foundation picks up the $10 daily fee the services must charge families. This year, the foundation will pay more than $1 million to cover that cost.
Electronic Enrollment Fees
Retirees and their families, including survivors and eligible former spouses, enrolled in Tricare Prime pay an annual enrollment fee. This can be paid electronically, either by an allotment from your retirement pay or by creating an electronic funds transfer from your bank account. Beneficiaries can download the Enrollment Fee Allotment Authorization letter or EFT Payment Authorization form from their regional health care contractor's website.
North Region - www.hnfs.net/bene/enrollment/fees/Enrollment+Fees-Payments.htm
Return the completed form to the regional contractor by mail. The system does not allow electronic form submissions. A quarterly payment is required before establishing a monthly payment option. Beneficiaries are able to view online payment history and claims status at any time. Mail-in payments continue to be accepted and pay-by-phone also is offered.
Bye Bye SSN
Social Security numbers on military identification cards will soon disappear to protect DoD identification card holders from identity theft. The Social Security Number is printed on the back of common access cards, and on the front of cards issued to dependents and retirees. Beginning this month, as current cards expire the SSN will be replaced with a 10-digit DoD identification number.
An 11-digit DoD benefits number will appear on cards of those people eligible for DoD benefits. The first nine digits are common to a sponsor and the last two digits identify a specific person within the sponsor's family. Social Security Numbers embedded in bar codes on the back of identification cards will be phased out in 2012.
"Because cards will be replaced upon expiration, it will be approximately four years until all cards are replaced with the DoD number," an official said.
Dates set for Retiree Days
Preliminary planning is under way for Retiree Appreciation Day programs this fall at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and Joint Base Andrews. Bolling's popular salute to military retirees in the National Capital Area will be held Saturday, Oct. 22, at The Club. At Andrews, a full house is again expected at The Club, Saturday, Nov. 5. Highlighting both events will be health fairs, including influenza immunizations. For more information, call the RAOs: Bolling 202 767-5244; Andrews, 301 981-2726. Suggestions for program presentations are always welcome.