November 6, 2009 • June Walbert
Q: As an Air Force retiree and divorced, will my new spouse be eligible for retired benefits, such as an ID card and medical care?
-Joe, Europe
A: Joe, sign her up! Your new spouse will be eligible for medical benefits after you register her in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). This registration will also allow her to get an ID card. Don’t forget to check out your options when it comes to the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP). Remember, I'm a big fan of that program! On the SBP front, your options will depend on what happened during your divorce. Assuming your former spouse is not covered, you have up to one year to contact DFAS to update or change your old election, otherwise your old coverage and premiums will apply to your new spouse. If the divorce decree provides for SBP coverage for your ex-wife, then your new spouse is out of luck.
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June Walbert is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM practitioner with USAA Financial Planning Services, one of the USAA family of companies.
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when is the next sbp open season. i would like to sign up for it.
Posted by: matthew watson | November 16, 2009 at 04:25 PM
My husband has alzheimer's and I had to leave my job a year ago to take care of him as he can no longer be alone.
Our income cut in half and his ex has a court ordered 30% of his income. She has since remarried and has a 3 ditit income herself. Please advise.
Posted by: Mrs William Register | November 14, 2009 at 09:07 AM
I'm trying to avoid reading the 2,000 pages of the House health care plan. Is there any language regarding impact on TriCare and retired military health insurance benefits?
Posted by: Keith | November 09, 2009 at 04:59 PM
my wife and are have been married for 40 years
Posted by: Paul R | November 09, 2009 at 03:57 AM