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Bill Harding, Veterans Hotline

Bill Harding's "Veterans Hotline" column appears in the Craig Daily Press .

Disregard the April 4 meeting date listed in the March 5 "Colorado Veteran." It was published incorrectly. The meeting date will be May 9 in Craig at VFW Post 4265, and new district officers will be elected.

Honor flights plans to D.C. are progressing

Plans for the Honor Flights are progressing. The VAVS office has received names of those who have applied to date. Fundraising efforts are ongoing, but there is a need for more sponsors to make sure it happens. The program also is seeking more guardians to fly with these older vets. The cost for guardian airfare/participation will be about $950.

State Cemetery Fund limited, needs help

The Western Colorado State Veterans Cemetery Fund needs help. The cemetery's funding is limited, but they are on the Colorado State Income tax form as check-off No. 37.

All donations go toward the upkeep of the cemetery. It only takes a moment to make a significant difference to our Colorado veterans and their families while handling your Colorado State taxes.

Tax-free health care premiums with Tricare

Military and federal civilian retirees would be able to pay their monthly health care premiums with pre-tax dollars under a bill reintroduced Feb. 25.

Though a section of the Internal Revenue Code lets employees in the public and private sectors pay for health insurance with pre-tax dollars, it does not authorize employers to make this premium conversion benefit available to retirees. Active federal employees now pay their premiums with pre-tax dollars under the premium conversion benefit.

One of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va. 11th, said extending the benefit to retirees is only fair.

"In these trying economic times, the need has never been greater to make health insurance more affordable for federal and military retirees," Connolly said in a statement. "Federal and military retirees lose ground every year as health insurance premiums skyrocket, and this premium conversion bill will provide them with much-needed tax relief."

Lawmakers say expanding premium conversion to retirees would save each participant $820 per year.

The bill also would allow active-duty military members to apply a pre-tax rebate to the supplemental insurance premiums many service members purchase to cover gaps in Tricare coverage. The Federal and Military Retiree Health Care Equity Act HR.1203 is co-sponsored by 15 other lawmakers. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., plans to introduce a similar bill in the Senate. Veterans are requested to ask their legislators to cosponsor this legislation. One simple way to do this is to use USDR's action alert at www.capwiz.com/usdr/issues/alert/.