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☆ Veterans Affairs Agency Waives Doctor Copays for Native Veterans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Department of Veterans Affairs said it would waive all copays for eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans, in an effort to boost use of primary-care medicine among traditionally underserved populations. “It’s no mystery to a lot of people that healthcare is sometimes hard to come by in many Native American communities,” said Travis Trueblood , director of tribal health for the VA, adding that this policy tries to help address that discrepancy.

☆ Google parent Alphabet is cutting 12,000 jobs
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-20 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Google parent Alphabet is eliminating about 12,000 jobs, or 6% of its workforce, the company said Friday, in the latest cuts to shake the technology sector. “Over the past two years we’ve seen periods of dramatic growth,” Pichai said in the email. Google’s job cuts are just the latest in a bruising wave of tech layoffs, as inflation weighs on consumer spending and rising interest rates squeeze funding. “While layoffs from high-profile firms make the headlines, plenty of firms are desperate for more workers, especially tech workers. “The labor market is still so tight that many tech workers, and workers with other skills, are snapped up well before they need to collect an unemployment check.

☆ VA Expands Efforts to Curb Suicide Among Veterans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-14 | by ( Ben Kesling | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The VA is trying to find ways to address concerns many veterans have about seeking mental-health treatment. Veterans facing a suicide crisis, even those not enrolled in the VA system, can get immediate and free treatment, the Department of Veterans Affairs said Friday, part of a decadelong effort to combat mental-health issues that have long racked the veteran community. The VA has taken a more robust approach to addressing veteran suicide in recent years—especially suicide by firearm, which disproportionately affects the veteran community. VA officials are trying to find ways to address concerns many veterans have about seeking mental-health treatment or discussing their guns and firearms safety.

☆ CDC says it’s ‘very unlikely’ Pfizer booster carries stroke risk for seniors after launching review
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-13 | by ( Spencer Kimball | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A CDC spokesperson said this issue was first detected in late November. By mid-December, the CDC concluded the concern was persisting and launched an investigation into whether seniors are more likely to have a stroke in the first 21 days after receiving the Pfizer booster, the spokesperson said. The VSD monitoring system found that 130 people ages 65 and older had a stroke within 21 days of receiving the Pfizer omicron booster among about 550,000 seniors who received the shot, the CDC spokesperson said. No other surveillance system has detected a similar safety concern for the Pfizer booster so far, according to the CDC. The CDC has not changed its recommendation for the Pfizer omicron shot.

☆ The U.S. Government’s Woke Training
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-01 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Department of Veterans Affairs has a gender gingerbread person. And if U.S. Army servicewomen express “discomfort showering with a female who has male genitalia,” what’s the brass’s reply? Talk to your commanding officer, but toughen up. These are details from hundreds of pages of diversity and inclusion training materials used by the federal government in 2021 and obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Everyone in corporate life knows such training, lampooned in the second episode of the TV show “The Office.” Yet taxpayers might be curious how their money is being spent to instruct the federal workforce these days.

☆ Biden touts new law giving veterans suffering from burn-pit exposure more help: ‘The benefits are real’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

“And the benefits are real, they’re real benefits like exposure screening. Since Biden signed the law, more than 185,000 veterans have applied for benefits, the White House said. More than 730,000 veterans have also received screenings for toxic exposure, with nearly 39% reporting concern of exposure. The law gives veterans exposed to burn pits access to more medical care and disability payments. Biden said he has directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat the 23 presumptive conditions in the law immediately.

☆ A former VA secretary and his daughter have teamed up to transform care for people with chronic pain, and top VCs 7wire and Martin Ventures are backing them
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Called Override, it connects patients with chronic pain to a virtual team of pain specialists. An estimated one in five American adults are living with chronic pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Research has found links between chronic pain and opioid dependence, anxiety, depression, and lower quality of life. Override's model was informed by a health program for veteransA wealth of research supports a team-based approach to treating chronic pain. Patients with chronic pain are expensive, and those paying for that care need help managing their costs.

☆ Department of Veterans Affairs sued over decision to offer abortion counseling and certain abortions to veterans
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-14 | by ( Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A nurse at a Department of Veterans Affairs medical facility in Texas sued the department Tuesday over its decision to offer abortions services in certain cases and abortion counseling to veterans, claiming the new rules violate her religious beliefs. Though the lawsuit is reportedly one of the first challenges to the new rule, it is not seeking to block the department from enforcing the policy nationwide. Instead, it asks the court to rule that the policy is illegal and unconstitutional and block the department from enforcing the policy at the facility in Temple. The state additionally has a civil enforcement law – authorizing private citizens to bring lawsuits against alleged violators in state court – for abortions performed after around six weeks into the pregnancy. These services are also offered to Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries.

☆ US military atomic cleanup crews were sent out in the wake of American nuclear testing, and many paid a heavy price, veterans say
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Over a period of more than a decade, the US military conducted dozens of nuclear tests in the Pacific. Years later, soldiers were sent to the Marshall Islands to try and clean up the fallout from the testing. Nuclear tests like Castle Bravo produced a substantial amount of nuclear fallout that negatively affected the people of the Marshall Islands, according to the Brookings Institution think tank. Impact of radiation contaminationNuclear weapons testing in the Marshall Islands had "devastating effects" on the country's environment that "remain unresolved," according to a 2019 report by the Republic of the Marshall Islands' National Nuclear Commission. However, he, like thousands of others, are excluded from the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which only covers veterans present for atmospheric nuclear tests.

The Department of Veterans Affairs doesn't set a minimum credit score for VA loans, but lenders typically do. VA loan borrowers need to meet minimum service requirements set by the VA, as well as minimum credit requirements set by their lender. VA lenders that accept low credit scoresAs you prepare to apply for a mortgage, look for lenders that have low minimum credit score requirements or are willing to work with borrowers who have rocky credit histories. If you currently have no credit score, you may be able to use non-traditional credit with certain lenders to prove your creditworthiness. Lowering your credit card balances will also decrease your credit utilization ratio, which can increase your credit score.

☆ Veterans Affairs has denied benefits to Black people at higher rates for years, lawsuit alleges
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Victoria Ebner | Victoria Ebner Is A Desk Assistant With Nbc News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Obtaining benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs has been disproportionately more difficult for Black Americans for decades, a federal lawsuit filed Monday alleges. “The results of VA’s racial discrimination has been to deny countless meritorious applications by Black veterans, depriving them and their families of care and support that their faithful service has earned,” the lawsuit reads. Filed in federal court by Yale Law School’s Veterans Legal Services Clinic on behalf of Conley Monk Jr., a Vietnam War veteran, the suit claims Monk was repeatedly denied home loan, education and medical benefits because he is Black. According to VA records obtained through Freedom of Information Act litigation brought by the National Veterans Council for Legal Redress, of which Monk is the co-founder and director, and the Black Veterans Project, the average denial rate for disability compensation was 5.3% higher for Black veterans than their white counterparts between 2001 and 2020. “We hope that going forward, there won’t be another generation of veterans who are subjected to the same system,” Henderson said.

☆ Here's how those looking to 'age in place' can fund home health-care services
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Deborah Nason | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty ImagesSome 70% of people want to age at home, yet only 10% have long-term care insurance, a recent HCG Secure/Arctos Foundation study found. Furthermore, about half of respondents had no idea how much in-home care would cost. "Basically, I try to segment the risk into a short-term need and a long-term need, and to fund them separately," he said. "And most of them can't afford long-term care insurance." Digging into any corporate retiree benefits beyond just a pension, as there's often additional services for in-home care, he said.

K9s for Warriors, an organization that has rescued over 1,500 dogs from shelters and trained them as service dogs for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, matched Romero with Puppy — an Australian shepherd — in June. His wife, Brenda, who is a nurse practitioner in psychiatry, encouraged him to apply for a service dog. So far, O’Haire said, research based on participants from K9s for Warriors is showing that veterans with service dogs are struggling significantly less. And for those who are employed, there’s five times less absenteeism from work due to health.”But getting a service dog for veterans with PTSD is still a challenge. “The waitlist for service dogs on average tends to be two years.

Forum, founded in 1948 to ensure that Mexican American World War II veterans could access their government benefits. “Latinos have a long and honorable tradition of military service,” he said, “only somehow it is not as well-known as that of other groups. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, there are nearly 1.3 million Latino veterans, or about 8 percent of the veteran population. Issues for Latino veterans, Vazquez-Contes noted, range from accessing medical care through the Veterans Administration system to homelessness to suicide. “The promotion rates for the top enlisted ranks, and the top officer ranks, are just basically void of Hispanic names.”Ricardo Aponte of the Hispanic Veterans Leadership Alliance.

It's possible to buy a home when all or most of your income comes from disability benefits or insurance. In the eyes of a mortgage lender, disability income is basically viewed like any other income, with one exception that can work in your favor (more on that in a minute). How to qualify for a mortgage with disability incomeWhen using disability income to qualify for a mortgage, you'll go through the same process as any other borrower. The challenges of buying a house using disability benefitsIf you're only receiving short-term disability benefits, you'll likely have a harder time using that income to qualify for a mortgage. Beware of mortgage discriminationLenders can't refuse to consider disability benefits income, and they can't treat you differently because of your disability or your disability income.

☆ Rep. Mary Peltola — the 'pro-fish, pro-family, and pro-choice' Alaska congresswoman — credits her father for the encouragement she needed to defeat Sarah Palin
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( Isabella Zavarise | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

On September 13, Mary Peltola made history as the first Alaska Native sworn into Congress. Peltola told Insider she was on the fence about running until an encouraging call from her father. She's really been on my mind a lot lately," she said. Peltola is the first Alaska Native to serve in CongressOn September 13, Peltola was sworn into Congress, making history as the first Alaska Native. 'We built the table'When Dr. Michele Yatchmeneff, the Executive Director for Alaska Native Education and Outreach at The University of Alaska Anchorage found out about Peltola's win, she teared up.

☆ Salesforce has quietly become a giant government contractor, racking up over 1,400 deals with federal agencies in the last five years
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Caroline Haskins | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Salesforce has become a big software seller to the government, with over 1,400 contracts since 2017. Salesforce has become a prolific contractor with US government agencies, nearly quadrupling the number of government contracts it has engaged with in the past five years. The cloud-software giant has landed at least 1,443 contracts with government agencies since 2017. In comparison, Salesforce had engaged in only 363 government contracts between December 1, 2005, and September 1, 2017. All but two of these contracts were executed using third parties that sold its technology to government agencies.

☆ VA performs its first abortion weeks after saying it would in certain cases
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Courtney-Kube-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Courtney Kube | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the department's under secretary for health, said the VA came to its decision after listening to health care providers and veterans. "Offering this care will save veterans’ health and lives, and there is nothing more important than that," Elnahal said in a statement. In addition to abortions, the VA will also provide abortion counseling. The VA said its health care providers will be able to provide authorized services regardless of state restrictions. Decisions about if a pregnant person’s "life or health" are endangered will be made on a case-by-case basis by VA health care providers in consultation with patients.

When it comes to managing your money and planning to reach long-term financial goals, understanding the language is key. This glossary of terms focused on money management, saving, investing, retirement planning, loans, and other areas of personal finance can help you decipher the jargon you're likely to encounter along the way. Conforming mortgage: A mortgage that meets the requirements to be purchased by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. JJumbo loan: A mortgage that exceeds the borrowing limit for regular mortgages set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. USDA mortgage: A mortgage offered by a private bank or lender that's guaranteed by the Department of Agriculture.

☆ Biden signs bill to expand benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-10 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Rebecca-Shabad-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Rebecca Shabad | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden signed legislation on Wednesday expanding health care benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits. The bipartisan bill, known as the PACT Act, is the most significant expansion of veterans' health care and benefits in more than 30 years, a White House official said. Danielle Robinson was a guest of first lady Jill Biden during the president's first State of the Union address when he called on Congress to pass burn pits legislation. Biden has said he believes Beau’s cancer was linked to exposure to burn pits during his deployment. The legislation increases veterans' access to medical care and disability payments for exposure to burn pits.

☆ Senate OKs enhanced benefits for vets exposed to burn pits
▼ + stars: | 2022-06-16 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday approved a sweeping expansion of health care and disability benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in response to concerns about their exposure to toxic burn pits. The House in March approved similar legislation that would have cost more than $320 billion over 10 years. And, it would extend Agent Orange presumptions to veterans who served in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Guam and American Samoa. But lawmakers said that stories from constituents tell a different and more definitive tale, and they are reluctant to wait for an irrefutable link between veterans’ maladies and their exposure to toxic burn pits. The Senate version trimmed some of the costs early on by phasing in certain benefit enhancements.

The House of Representatives on Friday voted for the second time on a bill to decriminalize cannabis. US lawmakers just voted for the second time to federally decriminalize cannabis. Among the Republicans who voted for the bill were Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, California Rep. Tom McClintock, and Florida Rep. Brian Mast. Two Democrats voted against the bill: Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, and Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas. It was updated on April 1, 2022 when the House of Representatives voted to pass the MORE Act a second time.

Veterans can opt for group life insurance through Veterans Affairs' VGLI or get individual life insurance. Active duty military have SGLI group life insuranceSchaffer said active duty servicemembers are offered group life insurance of up to $400,000, known as Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (SGLI). Group life insurance is generally the cheapest life insurance you can get. Insider's Featured Life Insurance Companies Lemonade Life InsuranceNationwide Life InsuranceGuardian Life Insurance Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. Term life insurance Permanent life insurance Ends after a specified time frameIncludes death benefitMore affordable Lasts your lifetimeIncludes a death benefitCash value that can be used during your lifetimeMore expensive than term life in the early years of the policy

Persons: —, Rob Schaffer, Schaffer, SGLI Organizations: Veterans Affairs, Service, Life Insurance, Department of Veterans Affairs, Life, Veterans Group Life Insurance, of Veterans Affairs Locations: USAA, SGLI, VGLI

☆ Military families find money matters complex
▼ + stars: | 2019-05-23 | by ( Dick Powers | Power Plans | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

Almost half of service members are under the age of 25, and a high percentage are married with children. So, what do they need to do to stay financially ready, for both the military life and after they leave? SGLI is a group life insurance policy purchased by the Department of Veterans Affairs from a commercial life insurance company. Perhaps the most important thing service members and their families, or any young couple, can do is to have a budget. Of course, service members need to be willing to ask for some assistance with their money matters.

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