In a report to the Defense Department, the Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation panel has recommended fee changes to TRICARE, the military’s health-care system. The changes would mostly affect retirees; not affected would be active military and their dependents, said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. Jan Eakle, the director of the study, in a Pentagon briefing last week.

The panel believes fees need to be fair to all retired military members, Eakle said, with the higher-value plans having higher premiums. TRICARE’s fee structure has not changed in 13 years, and, since 1995, military members and retirees have been charged $230 a year per individual and $460 per family.

Over-65 military retirees, those using the TRICARE for Life program, have been paying the Medicare Part B program fee of 25 percent, but this is due to rise. TRICARE for Life is a more generous program than TRICARE Prime, Eakle says, asserting there is a need for parity between the older and younger retirees.

The panel recommended that under-65 retirees begin paying 40 percent of the Medicare Part B premium using the same fee structure that is assessed by the Medicare system. Also, those under-65 retirees who elect to use TRICARE Standard and Extra would pay a fee of about 15 percent of the Medicare Part B. The family rate would be set at double the individual rate and the premium increase would be phased in over four years.

Other recommendations include using the Medicare deductible rate of $135 per person in 2008 for TRICARE. The panel also recommended to the Defense Department that all co-pays and co-insurance for any preventive service be provided at no cost to all members and retirees who have access to TRICARE. The final panel recommendation was to establish an open enrollment period for TRICARE, Eakle said.

Victory Day observances

Two veterans groups will observe Victory Day today in Rhode Island, the only state that still has a holiday commemorating the Allied victory over Japan that ended World War II.

At 11 a.m., members of the Pawtucket Veterans Council will assemble at Veterans Memorial Park, on Roosevelt Avenue, for a public ceremony with civic and political dignitaries.

The United Veterans Council of Newport County will hold a ceremony at noon on the lawn of Newport City Hall. The Newport Artillery Company, Newport County veterans’ organizations, clergy, city and legislative officials and others will participate.

IRS issues reminder on stimulus payments

The Internal Revenue Service wants retirees and veterans to know that it is not too late to file for an economic stimulus payment. The IRS plans to send a second set of information packets to 5.2 million people who may be eligible but who have not yet filed for their stimulus payment.

The packages will contain everything needed by a person who normally does not file a tax return but who must file this year in order to receive a payment of up to $300 — $600 for those married and filing jointly.

In Rhode Island, Congressman James R. Langevin will join IRS representatives tomorrow at the Providence VA Medical Center, on Chalkstone Avenue, to help raise awareness about the economic stimulus payment. The IRS estimates that about 22,000 eligible Rhode Islanders have not claimed their stimulus payment. The deadline for filing for the payment is Oct. 15.

For more information call the rebate hot line at (866) 234-2942 or check the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=184701,00.html.

Pawtucket names advocate for veterans

Maurice P. Trottier, of Pawtucket, a Korean War veteran active in veterans affairs, has been appointed the city’s unpaid ombudsman for local veterans, to ensure they are well represented at City Hall.

Mayor James Doyle, in a recent installation ceremony, said he wants Trottier to identify ways in which the city can better honor its veterans, especially on Memorial Day, Victory Day and Veterans Day.

Trottier, who enlisted in the Army at age 18, in October 1949, heads Maj. Walter G. Gatchell VFW Post 306, Pawtucket. He is a cofounder of Ocean State Chapter 1 of the Korean War Veterans Association.

He and his wife, Penelope, live on Oakdale Avenue, in the city’s Fairlawn section.

Filmmaker seeks Navy veterans of Normandy

Tim Grey has another D-Day documentary film in the works and wants to locate Navy veterans of the invasion of Normandy.

Tim Grey Media Inc. is producing Navy Heroes of Normandy, a one-hour documentary film chronicling the building and dedication of the first monument in Normandy to recognize the Navy’s role on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The 12-foot-high monument will be dedicated next month at Utah Beach.

Interested veterans should call Gray at (401) 862-3422, or e-mail him at timgray@timgraymedia.com.

•8th Air Force Historical Society

The Rhode Island chapter meets at 11 this morning in the Bickford’s at 1802 Post Rd. in Warwick. For more information call John Soito at (401) 573-2200.

•House Advisory Council

The Rhode Island House of Representatives Veterans Affairs Permanent Advisory Council meets at 10 a.m. today in State House Hearing Room 135.

•Veterans of Foreign Wars

Washington County Post 916, at 155 High St. in Wakefield, will meet tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.

State Cmdr. Stephen Stewart and president Rosemary Williams will lead their respective officer delegations to the national convention in Orlando starting Saturday.

The following department officers were elected/appointed at the recent state convention: commander, Stephen Stewart; senior vice commander, Joseph Cerrito; junior vice commander; Vincent Scirocco; judge advocate, Melvin Defoe; quartermaster, Roger Lavoie; chaplain, Donald Johnston; surgeon, James Geyer; adjutant, Salvatore Capirchio; chief of staff, Robert Stevens; inspector, Richard Lacroix; and, officer of the day, Frank Dolan. The following were named district commanders: district 1, Leo Swider; district 2, Robert Harkin; district 3, Raymond Greene; district 4, Roseanna Evans; and, district 5, William Donnelly.

•Korean War Veterans

Northern R.I. Chapter 3 will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the Chepachet senior center, 1210 Putnam Pike, Glocester.

•Marine Corps League

VanGyzen Detachment 1285, at 265 High St. in Somerset, Mass., will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday. New members are welcome.

•Coast Guard Auxiliary

Flotilla 78 and guests will meet Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., in the Aspray Boathouse, in Pawtuxet; for more information go to www.cgaux0708.org or call (401) 884-5638.

•Reserve Officers

The Rhode Island Department’s executive committee will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Harwood Army Reserve Center, 385 Niagara St., Providence.

•Coventry Veterans Council

The council will meet Friday at 10 a.m. in AJ’s restaurant, Main Street, West Warwick.

•Seabee Veterans of America

Island X-1 Davisville will meet at the Seabee Museum, 21 Iafrate Way, North Kingstown, on Saturday at 9 a.m.

•Italian-American Veterans

The Department’s recently installed new officers include Joseph Fratus, department commander, Joseph Sauro; senior vice commander; Angelo Lauro, junior vice commander; John Paesano, quartermaster; Joseph Spanedda, adjutant; Frank Ciccone II, judge advocate; Ralph Paparella, chaplain; Romano Del Rossi, officer of the day; Bruce Oliver, U.V.C. delegate, and Richard Enos, U.V.C. alternate delegate.

George W. Reilly can be reached at VeteransColumn@verizon.net or by writing to The Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.