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AAFES Retired Employees AssociationNewsletterApril 2018Supporting the Interests of AAFES, Its Retirees and the People it Serves2017—Historical Year of Changefor the ExchangeFDavid NelsonChief OperatingOfficer, Army and AirForce Exchange Service(Exchange)rom the launch of the Veterans online shopping benefit (VOSB) to the acceptance of theMILITARY STAR card at the commissary, 2017 was a historic year for the Exchange.VOSB has welcomed more than 500,000 Veterans home, which is astonishing when youconsider we only recently advertised on national platforms. At the commissary, sales withMILITARY STAR have reached 62.3 million, with 845,000 transactions. And we cannot forget ourincredible associates. In fact, we have hired more than 1,100 Wounded Warriors since 2010, a benchmark second only to the Army. Through programs focused on growth and improved efficiencies, aswell as the dedication and hard work of our associates, earnings will exceed last year and once thebooks are closed, we anticipate exceeding financial plan.2017 also cemented the Exchange’s position as a leader in the retail industry. WalletHub listed the Army & Air Force ExchangeService among the top 10 retailers offering money-saving bargains for Black Friday, surpassing Amazon, Walmart and Target.New Age Electronics, a leading distributor of consumer electronics and gaming products and services, announced it selectedthe Exchange as its Retailer of the Year during the 2018 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Additionally,Consumer Reports recognized the Exchange both for our in-store and online experience, ranking the Exchange number two forwalk-in stores and number three for online retailers. Samsung also recognized the Exchange with its Partnership Award withsales second only to Best Buy. The two main TVs featured for Veterans Day and Black Friday weekends sold more than 50,000units combined!(Continued on page 3.)OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION VOTEThe constitutional amendment to extend the positions to 4-year terms in theJanuary Newsletter was approved, setting up the Officers election in thisNewsletter. Please vote for the candidate of your choice by using the balloton page 31.The slate of officers for 2018– 2022 includes:President—Chuck PoffenbargerPresident-Elect/Vice-President—Tom GallagherSecretary—Don SmithTreasurer—Terry CorleyVotes must be cast no later than April 30, 2018
Pag e 2April 2018AR E A N EW SL ET T ERChuck Poffenbarger, PresidentBit O’ ThisBit O” ThatWelcome to the April 2018 edition of AREA’s Newsletter, the first month ofSpring. The Officers of the Association – Chuck Poffenbarger (P), TomGallagher (VP), Terry Corley (T) and Don Smith (S) wish you a pleasantSpring season.OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION VOTE:The constitutional amendment to extend the positions to 4-year terms in the January Newsletter was approved, setting up theOfficers election in this Newsletter. The new term begins June 1. Please vote for the candidate of your choice. The final date tovote is Monday, April 30. (See page 31 for details and ballot.)SCHOLARSHIP DONOR RECOGNITION PROGRAM:AREA has a program to recognize the generous donations from retirees and other sponsors when awarding scholarships: For large donations of 1,000 or more, we’ll name one of our ten 3,000 scholarships after the donor, or someone else ifdesignated, and provide the sponsor with the student’s name and address should they want to send a congratulatory note. Likewise, sponsor donations of 2,000 or more are available for each of our two 5,000 scholarships.Send an email to Chuck Poffenbarger, cpoffen@earthlink.net for further details. To make a donation of any amount, complete theScholarship Fund Donation Form in this newsletter (pages 24 and 25) and mail the completed form/check to the address shown onthe form. An easier option is to go to our web site link: ociation/.Under the Community Programs section (on the right side of the web page), go to the 2nd bullet item, “YouCaringDonations”. When you click on the link, it will connect you to the “AREA-sponsored Internet Scholarship Donation Page” whereyou can use a credit card. (Note: We award scholarships in late March so donors desiring to participate in our Donor RecognitionProgram beginning April 1 will be recognized in our 2019 program.)APRIL THOUGHTSGive me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.Frank Lloyd Wright (1869 - 1959), quoted in his obituary, April 9, 1959I've learned that you can't have everything and do everything at the same time.Oprah Winfrey (1954 - ), O Magazine, April 2003It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.George Orwell (1903 - 1950), "1984", first sentenceYes, there is a Nirvana; it is leading your sheep to a green pasture, and in puttingyour child to sleep, and in writing the last line of your poem.Kahlil Gibran (1883 - 1931), Essay on Robert Frost, quoted in N. Y. Times:Obit-Editorial, April 1982O, how this spring of love resembleth the uncertain glory of an April day!William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616), "The Two Gentlemen of Verona", Act 1 sceneWe can reme mber minutely and precisely only the things which never really happe ned to us.Eric Hoffer (1902 - 1983), The New York Times Magazine, April 25, 1971Conspicuous by its absence.John Russell, Address to London electors, April 6, 1859AREA.JUST FOR YOU
AR E A N EW SL ET T ERApril 2018P ag e 32017—Historical Year of Change for the Exchange(Continued from page 1)AAFES RetiredEmployees AssociationThe AREA Newsletter ispublished in January, April,July and OctoberMailing Address:AREAP. O Box 380614Duncanville, TX 75138-0614President:Chuck Poffenbargercpoffen@earthlink.netTel: (972) 296-0388Membership & AddressChanges:Send your newsletter address,membership changes, and membership dues to the AREAMembership Director PatWeaver. Note new e-mailaddress for Pat:pitterpat6026@gmail.comAs great as 2017 was, I fully expect2018 to show equally exceptionalresults. On the technology front,projects are underway to improve theeCom shopping experience andin-store Point of Sale system (POS).Among the benefits, NextGen 2.0 willprepare the Exchange for futuregrowth of Ecommerce and improvethe shopping experience, bringing theability to order online and pick-up in store the same day. Fulfilling online ordersthrough our stores (Ship from Store) enables us to more quickly deliver products tocustomers by vastly expanding our distribution opportunities (72 locations worldwide), typically delivering within three days or less, often at a cheaper cost.Additionally, some of youwill remember the POSfrom 20 years ago - we’refinally updating it! Ournew POS system will provide enhanced functionalityat the register, and whilefilling up your car, bringvideo entertainment, suchas news, sports andexclusive Exchange offers.Through our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) initiative we will knowmore about our customers than ever before so we can better cater to their needs. Atlast a single Soldier living in the barracks will no longer receive an ad for babydiapers; that person will now see an ad about a product they are more interested inbased on their shopping history. In addition, I am excited to report that geofencingis coming to the Exchange. This will enable us to push messages directly to customer mobile devices in real time as they shop with us, highlighting items that areat their local facility as they walk through our stores.Tel: (972) 780-9810Newsletter input:Submit articles to the editor bye-mail to: Marcia Kane atkanemarea@windstream.netAREA Web -employeesassociation/Your legacy is alive and well. You continue to make a difference through theimpact you made on others as you developed and led teammates during your tenureat the Exchange. You can take great pride in the organization you helped build andbe comforted knowing you left it in capable hands. I am fortunate to servealongside such amazingly talented associates, both past and present.
Pag e 4April 2018AR E A N EW SL ET T ERYOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS Benefits Q&A—Questions you ask; answers from Exchange BenefitsQ: I was checking on my 401K and asked them if it was protected by ERISA (Employee Retirement IncomeSecurity Act). They informed me that it was not. That there was a clause in the documentation thatspecifically stated that it was not protected by ERISA. Can you explain why it is not?A: Thank you for your question. It’s true – the Exchange 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan is exempt from ERISAbecause ERISA doesn’t apply to plans operated by government employers. ERISA was enacted in 1974 and wasdesigned to provide pension reform by setting standards pertaining to employee rights, communication, and funding ofpension plans for the private sector. Although we are not subject to ERISA, the Department of Defense (DoD) requiresus to follow all reporting and communication principles of ERISA.The Exchange takes pride in the benefit package we offer, and we take our job seriously when it comes to protectingthese benefits. There’s also plenty of other oversight protecting your retirement benefits. They include the DoD,Internal Revenue Service, and the Plan Trustees among others. Although our plans are not subject to ERISA, they arein good hands.Q: Can you explain the vision care benefit? Do I need a separate card for the visiondiscounts?A: Aetna has several health arrangements to manage various parts of our health plans, andone of them is EyeMed for the vision care part. But you don’t have to change anything inhow you use the insurance plan. Show the doctor’s office your Aetna health insurance cardwhen you have your appointments for your eye exam, and/or glasses, or contact lenses.Coverage related to vision, if you are in the POS II plan and visit an in-network doctor: Routine eye exam and/or contact lenses fitting (one each per calendar year): coverage is 100% no copay.Note: A routine eye exam and/or contact lenses fitting is not covered out of Aetna’s network. Prescription eyewear (lenses, frames and contacts). Coverage is 100% no copay, up to a 150 maximum benefitper person per calendar year. You are also eligible to use Aetna vision discounts.Coverage related to vision, if you are in the Traditional Choice Indemnity Plan*: Routine eye exam and/or contact lenses fitting (one each per calendar year): 100%, no deductible Prescription eyewear (lenses, frames and contacts). Coverage is 100%, no deductible, up to a 150 maximumbenefit per person per calendar year. You are also eligible to use Aetna vision discounts.Vision discounts can help you also save on eye care products and services, including eyeglasses, contact lenses andsolution, and LASIK surgery. You can even get discounts on such items as eyeglass chains, designer frames,sunglasses and other vision accessories not usually covered by insurance. To use the vision discount, simply visit aparticipating provider and show your Aetna member ID card. You can choose from thousands of providers, includingnational chains such as Pearle Vision, Lenscrafters, JCPenney Optical, Target Optical and participating Sears Opticallocations. Go to http://member.aetna.com and once signed in, click on “Find Care.” Scroll down to “Find what youneed by category” you will see “Vision Care.” Click on the links to find providers who provide vision care and/ordiscounts.*Note: Discount Programs rely on stateside provider networks. As a result, it is not available overseas. You and your covered dependentscan take advantage of these discounts when you are stateside, and covered dependents living in the US can use them anytime.
AR E A N EW SL ET T ERApril 2018P ag e 5YOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS Visit the ‘Retirees’ page on NAFHealthplans.com for reference documents related to healthcare: Link is: https://www.nafhealthplans.com/retiree/ Understanding Medicare and how it works with DoD NAF health coverage November 2017 Open Enrollment booklet for retirees Health Benefits 101 Video: Medicare Basics in American Sign Language Video: How Medicare works with Social Security DisabilityAetna phone numbers / email addresses: https://www.nafhealthplans.com/contact/ This site has contact information for Aetna Member Services in the US and overseas, also for Aetna Pharmacy, Aetna Mail Order Drug,Pharmacy Advisor (Talk to a pharmacist), Teladoc, 24-hour Nurse Line, Quest labs, and others.DoD NAF Health plan coverage for Stop-smoking (“Smoking Cessation”) medications 100% coverage, no copay, for a 180-day supply of the drugs listed below The drugs are FDA-approved medications with a valid prescription: Bupropion SR, nicotine gum, nicotineinhaler, nicotine lozenge, nicotine nasal spray, nicotine patch and varenicline. Includes eight (8) counseling sessions per calendar yearSource: Summary of Benefits chart, ical/DoD NAF Health plan coverage for Mental Health and Substance Abuse TreatmentAetna Choice POS II plan(most under-65 retirees with our health coverage are on this plan)Healthcare itemCoverage at a network hospitalor doctor’s officeInpatient care for MentalHealth or Substance Abuse(no maximum # days)90% coverage after deductible,plus a 200 fee each time you’readmitted as an inpatient(“per-confinement fee”)Outpatient care for MentalHealth or Substance Abuse(no maximum # days)100% coverage after 45 copayper visit, no deductibleCoverage at a hospital or doctor’soffice that is not in the network60% coverage after deductible,plus a 400 fee each time you’readmitted as an inpatient(“per-confinement fee)60% coverage after deductibleGo to www.aetna.com and sign in to look at DocFind, to find network doctors and hospitals.If you’d like a printed list of doctors and hospitals in your zip code area, call Aetna at 1-800-367-6276and ask them to print and mail a copy to you. Please remember that networks are updated frequently.(Mental Health information continued on next page.)
Pag e 6April 2018AR E A N EW SL ET T ERYOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS DoD NAF Health plan coverage for Mental Health andSubstance Abuse Treatment (continued)Aetna Traditional Choice and International Traditional Choice plan(most over-65 retirees with our health coverage are on this plan)Remember: If you’re over age 65, give the doctor/hospital your Medicare card since Medicare is your primary coverage.After Medicare processes your claim, and pays some or all of it, they’ll send it on to Aetna for secondary processing.Healthcare itemCoverageInpatient care for MentalHealth or Substance Abuse(no maximum # days)80% after deductibleOutpatient care for MentalHealth or Substance Abuse(no maximum # days)80% after deductibleSource: Summary of Benefits chart, ical/Links to 2018 DoD NAF Medical and Dental InformationIf you can’t find the information that was mailed out during the fall DoD NAFenrollment period, here is the link to the retiree newsletter, sent out in lateOctober 2017: https://www.nafhealthplans.com/index.php/download file/view/423/144/It’s also on our main Exchange page on the NAFhealthplans hange/Links:The NAF Health Plans site: https://www.nafhealthplans.com/The Wellness section of that site: https://www.nafhealthplans.com/wellness/The page focusing on Health Incentive Credit program, and how to take the Health /health-incentive-program/The page focusing on the Biometric Screening, how to register for one: screening-metabolic-syndrome/
AR E A N EW SL ET T ERApril 2018P ag e 7YOUR EXCHANGE BENEFITS Metabolic Syndrome Screening: Oops, this editor goofed. While I correctly stated in the chart on page 11 of the January2018 newsletter that you can now get 150 for the Metabolic Syndrome Screening anytime before November 30 (new for 2018)”,I did not make the same change to the text in item 2 below the chart. Sorry for any confusion this error may have caused. Thecorrected information is shown next.Earn health incentive credits to lower your out-of-pocket costsEach year, DoD NAF employees, retirees and their families have the opportunity to earn Health Incentive Credits for takinghealthy actions. Employees with individual coverage can earn up to 250 and those who cover dependents can earn up to 600.The chart below outlines the Health Incentive Credit program.ActivityHealth Incentive CreditAmountCalendar year maximumYou and your covered spouse must complete the Health Assessment to earn any incentives.No other activities will earn an incentive until the assessment is completed.Complete metabolic syndrome screening beforeNovember 30 (new for 2018) 150 eachComplete 3 calls with an Aetna Disease Managementnurse to achieve a goal 100 eachComplete online Journey (average time 32 days) 50 each up to 4 Journeys 150 for employee only and 300 foremployees and covered spouses 200 for employee only or 400 foremployees who cover dependentsDependent children under the age of 18Complete preventive exam for children under age 18 50 for each child per yearFor all activities, you can earn up to the calendar year maximum of 250 for employee only or 600 for employees who cover dependents.You can view current and past credits online. Log in to your Aetna Navigator and click on “Incentives” under the “Stay Healthy” section of the home page.If you’re living with one or more chronic conditions, you can call Aetna Health Connections Disease Manage ment Program at 1-866-269-4500 to learn moreabout the personal help available to you.1.You must complete the health assessment before you can earn any credits. You are required to complete the health assessment before you are able tobegin earning any of the incentives. The CompassTM Health Assessment is a questionnaire that covers a wide range of health related topics — and it takes just15 minutes to complete. Get started now by logging in to Aetna Navigator and clicking on “Complete your Assessment” under the "Stay Healthy" section onyour home page.2.Get your metabolic syndrome screening and earn 150 credit. New for 2018—If you complete your screening by November 30, you will earn a 150credit. Your covered spouse is also eligible to earn the credit. There is no cost when you or your covered spouse complete your screening at a QuestDiagnostics Patient Service Center or another network lab. If your doctor does your screening, you may pay a fee.3.Screenings will be held at several AAFES and NAF locations (lots of NEXCOM sites; one ARMY location; and also at HQ AAFES Dallas) this Spring. Seepage 20 for the HQ AAFES, Dallas dates/times. All participants in the DoD NAF plan can go to any one of them, as long as they can get on the installation. And of course they can also get a screening done at any Quest location. Learn more about the screening and how to schedule it by going to the lastlink shown on page 6.4.Complete 3 calls with a Disease Manage ment nurse and earn a 100 credit. If you or your covered spouse live with a chronic medical condition (such asasthma or diabetes), help is available from Aetna’s Disease Management program. The program provides one-on-one support for over 35 conditions. You’llget help to understand and follow your treatment, make healthy lifestyle and avoid health complications. Complete this incentive by December 31 to receivethe 100 credit.
Pag e 8April 2018AR E A N EW SL ET T ERPO Box 75138 Duncanville, TX. 75138AREA Scholarship ProgramSince 1985 AREA has provided educational opportunities to “AAFES Kids” through its scholarshipprogram. In 2017 AREA awarded 29,000 in scholarships to nine graduating high school seniors.Amounts were one 5,000 and eight 3,000 awards.In 2018, we now have two ways to make a tax-free donation to AREA’s scholarship program. Thisyear, we’ll award
participating provider and show your Aetna member ID card. You can choose from thousands of providers, including national chains such as Pearle Vision, Lenscrafters, JCPenne
