Ever been bumped from a flight? Although the number of
involuntary "bumpings" because of over-booking is down slightly,
it still happens to you:
If you are bumped involuntarily, you are owed nothing if your new flight gets you to your original destination less than one hour from the original scheduled arrival time. For destination delays of 1 to 2 hours on domestic flights (1 to 4 on international), you are owed the face value of the ticket for that segment of the flight from which you were bumped, or $200, whichever is less. For longer delays, you are owed double the one-way fare, or $400, whichever is greater. |
No federal rules apply in cases where you voluntarily give
up your seat, so be sure you know what is being offered before you
volunteer. Armed Forces Vacation Club Vacation values NOT too good to be true! We have all been warned, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." Well, there is at least one exception to that rule, resort condominium rentals for only $234 per week through the Armed Forces Vacation Club (AFVC). In 2000, eligible families booked over 71,000 7-day resort vacations at locations around the world, paying far less than they would at most hotels. Normally, resort condos rent for up to $1,500 a week. Through the AFVC space available program, eligible personnel pay only $234 a week -- a real vacation value. Vacationers also help support MWR activities because $22 from each confirmation comes back to the installation. The AFVC resort vacation program is open to all active duty, retired, national guard, reserve and DOD civilian personnel, around the globe. Phone: 1-800-724-9988TROA |
TROA asks all members to contact their Senators and Congressmen during recess on items of interest below.
| Long-Term Care Insurance Tax Relief:
Legislation permitting an "above-the-line" tax deduction for
premiums paid for qualified long-term care insurance plans was approved by
the full House before the August recess. H.R. 4946, "Improving Access
to Long-Term Care Act of 2002," would provide tax relief for
long-term care premiums for individuals with an adjusted gross income
between $20,000 and $40,000 (or, $40,000 and $80,000 for married couples
filing jointly). The deduction would be for a percentage of eligible
long-term care premiums for which a taxpayer pays at least 50 percent of
the cost of coverage. The deduction is available for a qualified long-term
care insurance plan or contract that covers the taxpayer, spouse or
dependents.
If enacted this year, the deduction would be phased-in gradually over nine years as follows: 25 percent in 2003, 2004, and 2005, 30 percent in 2006 and 2007, 35 percent in 2008 and 2009, 40 percent in 2010 and 2011, and 50 percent in 2012 and thereafter. Under current law, individuals may claim an itemized deduction for the cost of eligible qualified long-term care insurance premiums, but only to the extent that such premiums, combined with the taxpayer's additional medical expenses, exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. |
A "qualified long-term care insurance" contract is
one that meets certain consumer protection requirements of the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The new Federal Long-Term
Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) is one of the plans that would meet this
qualification.
Under current law, individuals are entitled to a personal exemption deduction ($3,000 in 2002) for the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse and each dependent. More importantly, H.R. 4946 also would allow an additional personal exemption to those taxpayers who assume the responsibility of providing for the care and support of individuals with long-term care needs. The exemption would be phased-in as follows: $500 in 2003 and 2004, $1,000 for 2005 and 2006, $1,500 for 2007 and 2008, $2,000 for 2009 and 2010, $2,500 for 2011 and succeeding years. H.R. 4946 comes at the right time since the FLTCIP began its open season enrollment on July 1, 2002 (it ends on December 31, 2002). For more information about FLTCIP, call 1 800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337). TROA supports H.R. 4946 since the legislation would make long-term care insurance more affordable for policyholders. We recommend members and others urge |