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Service Members: Filing Their Taxes

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January is here, which means the holidays are over and you should be thinking about taxes. Whether you plan to do your taxes yourself or take them in for an accountant to handle, you need to think about getting ready to do them.

5 Things Military Service Members Need to Know About Filing Their Federal and State Taxes

Taxpayers have until Monday, April 18, 2016, to file their 2015 tax returns.

Here is a list of 5 things that military families need to know about filing federal and state income taxes. Make sure to go over these and apply them to your situation.

Free Tax Assistance On Post Most military installations will offer free tax filing assistance through the on-post tax center. This can be very helpful because you can make an appointment to get your taxes done and have someone with experience do them for you for free. A lot of military members take advantage of this service. Check and see what is available at your duty station. You probably do have to make an appointment ahead of time.

Free Tax Online Programs If you want to do your taxes online using a tax program you should learn about the free options for service members.

H&R Block at Home, TaxAct, TaxSlayer and TurboTax offer free tax preparation software for your federal taxes.

Keep in mind that in most cases you will have to pay for the state part of your return. That will depend on which state you are filing with and you should figure out what the fees will be for your particular state. Some states do not have an income tax and others do not tax members of the military.

Tax-Exempt Income When you are serving in the military, not all of your income is taxable. You do not have to pay taxes on combat pay. This is important to remember, especially if you were deployed for the whole calendar year.

BAH, BAS, uniform allowances, moving and travel pay and educational payments are also not taxable. This means that the amount that you make that you have to pay taxes on is a lot lower than what you brought in. Luckily, any tax program you use is going to know how to get you the best refund when you are dealing with combat pay and other extra military expenses that are not taxable.

One thing to remember is that in order to qualify for the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit) you have to have a minimum of a certain amount of taxable income.

Military Deductions There are a few tax deductions that service members need to know about. You can deduct some of your uniform expenses, some of the job and travel expenses you may have had when getting out of the military as well as travel of more than 100 miles if you are a part of the Reserves.

Extension of Time to File Taxes If you have served in a combat zone or outside of the United States, then you should be able to extend the time you need to complete your taxes to October 15. This can come in handy for a lot of people serving and makes their lives a little easier.

And finally, new to 2016, active duty, Guard, Reserve and retirees will need their proof of health care coverage (IRS Form 1095) when filing their federal tax returns for 2015 as part of the federal Affordable Care Act. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service will be providing this information to members of the military. This form will also be available online through your myPay account. Look for it in the taxes section.

As a member of the military, you don’t want to miss out on these tax breaks and benefits that you are entitled to. They can help you keep more money at tax time and they are the reason a lot of military families receive a tax return each year.

Find a place to get your taxes done that you can feel comfortable with and be aware of what you can do to make filing taxes a little easier on yourself.

What questions do you have about filing taxes?

The Do’s and Don’ts of the Tricare Nurse Advice Line

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We should always take our health seriously, but sometimes we’re on the fence about what to do. For example, what if it’s been a week and you can’t beat that terrible cough. Do you need to go to the doctor?

When and How to Use the Tricare Nurse Advice Line

Is this fever too high? Should I take her to the doctor?

For those that need more guidance, Tricare beneficiaries have the opportunity to reach out to a health care professional no matter what time of day on any day of the week with the Tricare Nurse Advice Line. To reach the Nurse Advice Line, call 1-800-TRICARE (874-2273) and press option 1.

The team of registered nurses at the other end of the line are ready to help families with whatever health concerns you have and can lead you in the right direction for self-care or assist you in scheduling an appointment at the correct medical facility.

The Tricare Nurse Advice Line supports a majority of Tricare beneficiaries, including Alaska and Hawaii. Eligible Tricare beneficiaries include:

  • Tricare Prime
  • Tricare Prime Remote (TPR)
  • Tricare Prime Remote for Active Duty Family Members (TPRADFM)
  • Tricare Standard
  • Tricare Extra
  • Tricare Reserve Select (TRS)
  • Tricare Retired Reserve (TRR)
  • Tricare Young Adult (TYA)
  • Tricare For Life (TFL)

Please keep in mind that those enrolled in the US Family Health Plan can’t utilize the Nurse Advice Line. Also, if you’re on Tricare Overseas Program (TOP) traveling to the United States, you can call the Nurse Advice Line for medical advice, but if in-person care is recommended, you need to call your TOP Regional Call Center first.

I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to keep your information updated in DEERS. That will help the staff of the Nurse Advice Line to either, make sure you qualify, give you sound medical advice and to direct you to the proper care at your current location.

My suggestion above is a great example on how the Tricare Nurse Advice Line can help guide you to care for yourself appropriately. I don’t know what it is, but I routinely acquire a cough at the change of seasons. Typically, it goes away after a handful of days, but every once in a while it evolves to a sinus infection. Before making the effort to schedule an appointment with my PCM, I can call the Advice Line to discuss my symptoms with a nurse.

How else can the Tricare Nurse Advice Line help you?

The Tricare Nurse Advice Line is not only wonderful for you to get the guidance for any ailments that come your way, you can call it to discuss any questions regarding your children’s health too. Children seem to come up with all kinds of different issues that parents may not know how to handle, especially if it’s never came up before.

For example, your toddler has lice and you have no idea what to do. The Nurse Advice Line can pass along the tools needed to combat this new and acute annoyance. If there is anything else bugging your little ones, the Nurse Advice Line can assist you.

It’s requested that your child be present at the time of the call. That will allow the nurse to get the most accurate information. Also, you can request the nurse to check in on your child to make sure things are progressing positively.

When shouldn’t you use the Tricare Nurse Advice Line?

If it’s really something that needs immediate attention, call 911 or get yourself or your family member to the emergency room at your nearest medical facility. Most of the time, those situations can be gauged at the moment.

For example, you believe your child broke a bone. Don’t pick up the phone, take them to the ER as soon as possible. Since the Nurse Advice Line is 24/7, they could also encourage you to head to the emergency room ASAP, but don’t hesitate.

Have you used the Tricare Nurse Line in the past? What was your experience with it?

Tricare’s Long-Term Prescription Policy Changes

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It seems as if every time you turn around there’s talk of Tricare changes. It isn’t just talk any more. As of October 1, 2015, there is a big policy change by the Defense Department. It issued a major change to how beneficiaries receive long-term medication that is brand name.

Tricare will no longer allow these maintenance medications to be filled at retail pharmacies.

All reoccurring medications must now be either ordered through the Tricare mail order pharmacy system, Express Scripts, or picked up at a military treatment facility (MTF).

Why is Tricare changing their policy on maintenance medication refills at retail pharmacies?

The reason why is abundantly clear, to save money. The government is always looking for ways to save money and this is yet another avenue they are choosing to go down. 61 million prescriptions, last year alone, were filled at retail pharmacies using Tricare. That cost the government $5.1 billion.

Using military treatment facilities or Express Scripts will save the government 32% on brand-name maintenance medications over retail store purchases. Government officials estimate moving to this new policy will save $88 million annually.

It isn’t just the Department of Defense that will save money. Beneficiaries are forecasted to save around $176 per prescription over the course of a year by no longer paying co-pays at retail pharmacies and instead having them filled at an MTF or through Express Scripts.

How Tricare's Long-Term Prescription Policy Changes Affect Military Families

What will happen if you don’t switch to Tricare mail order pharmacy and instead try to fill your brand name drug at a retail pharmacy? You will pay 100% of the cost.

For immediate needs, new prescriptions for brand-name long-term care medications can be filled at retail pharmacies, but only for a 30-day supply or less. If more than 30 days is needed, the beneficiary is required to get further medication from a MTF or through the Tricare mail order pharmacy.

What happens if you run out or there is an emergency and you can’t get to a military treatment facility?

Tricare will continue to grant case-by-case exceptions for beneficiaries to include personal hardships, emergency and other circumstances. Those requests will need to be made through Express Scripts.

What will happen if you don’t switch to Tricare mail order pharmacy and instead try to fill your brand name drug at a retail pharmacy? You will pay 100% of the cost.

Because it doesn’t cost the government nearly as much, beneficiaries can still fill generic drugs using Tricare at retail pharmacies. Medications that treat acute illnesses and prescriptions that are covered by other insurance can also continue to be filled at retail pharmacies.

What are maintenance drugs?

Maintenance drugs are medications taken on a regular basis for chronic, long-term conditions. These include drugs that control blood pressure, antidepressant medications and painkillers, for example.

Related: Military Families May Need to Pay for ER Visits in the Future

They do not include short-term prescriptions such as drugs prescribed for short term uses, such as antibiotics.

How can you be sure if you need to fill your prescription through Express Scripts?

The Defense Health Agency has a list of drugs it categorizes as maintenance medications. This list will be available to beneficiaries on the Tricare Pharmacy Program website and will be available through Tricare Pharmacy Program Service Center phone system. You can also review the list of brand name maintenance drugs here.

If you are unsure if your prescription should be switched over to Tricare mail order pharmacy system, call Express Scripts at 1-877-882-3335.

What questions do you have about Tricare’s change to long-term prescriptions?

Switch to Tricare Standard When You’re Pregnant?

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If you’re a pregnant military spouse who is considering switching from Tricare Prime to Standard, you’re not alone.

Google the words “pregnant and Tricare” and you’ll find numerous community posts similar to this question:

I’m 17 weeks pregnant with Tricare Prime and currently being seen at a Naval Hospital. I haven’t had any appointments since 11 weeks where there did an ultrasound and pap. I don’t have another doctor’s appointment until 22 weeks. I’m worried and feel like I’m not getting the care I need or deserve at the Naval Hospital. I was thinking of switching to Tricare Standard but don’t know how long that process takes if it would even be worth it.

The responses range from “Yes, you should definitely switch. I switched to Standard and I’m so much happier” to “You need to call your PCM and make another appointment. They’ll get you in if you explain your situation.”

I’ve given birth twice using my Tricare Prime health insurance as a military dependent. The first time I received my prenatal care from a PCM (prime care manager) and delivered at an overseas military hospital as a Tricare Prime Overseas patient.

The second time, I received a referral to an obstetrician and delivered in a civilian hospital because we were stationed more than 50 miles (actually it was 52.1) from a military treatment facility. In my case, I was pleased with the medical care in both situations.

Was my prenatal care prefect? Hardly. Was I upset about some medical decisions that were influenced by Tricare coverage policies? Of course.

Insurance isn’t perfect. But it helps pay for your medical care. And having a baby isn’t cheap. In fact, the average American delivery costs $8,000 and considering I paid nothing to have 2 healthy children, in the end, I’m pleased with Tricare.

What about you? Are you a pregnant military spouse with Tricare Prime insurance? Are you frustrated or pleased with your prenatal care? Are you thinking about switching from Tricare Prime to Standard? Are your military spouse friends recommending that you switch to Standard?

Here are 5 things to consider if you’re thinking about switching from Tricare Prime to Standard during your pregnancy.

Here are 5 things to consider if you’re thinking about switching from Tricare Prime to Standard during your pregnancy.

Before switching to Tricare Standard take time to research your options so you fully understand your decision and the outcome of your decision.

Picking Your Doctor Provides Peace of Mind for Many

With Tricare Standard you get to pick your doctor instead of being assigned one. When I was at a military medical treatment facility, it seemed like my doctor was PCSing every 2 months and a new one was assigned to me. For consistency, it would be nice to see the same doctor for your entire pregnancy. With Tricare Standard you don’t need a referral to see a specialist, so you can see an obstetrician during your prenatal care without waiting for referral through Tricare Prime.

Tricare Standard May Mean More Regular Appointments

Many military medical facilities are crowded and busy. There are lots of military spouses and active duty service members having babies which means that the scheduling can get pretty tight. Many people prefer seeing an off-base doctor through Tricare Standard so that they know they will see their doctor every month. At many military medical facilities, pregnant (who aren’t having complications or considered high-risk) military spouses are seeing their doctors every 6 weeks instead of 4 weeks.

Tricare Standard May Lead to Medical Bills

With Tricare Standard, you will have an annual deductible for outpatient services and cost-shares for most services. In general Tricare Standard covers 80 percent of medical costs (you pay the remaining 20 percent) and in many cases, it’s 100 percent if you use an in-network doctor. Review this cost shares chart for more information.

If you have health insurance through your employer, you can use that insurance and Tricare can be your secondary insurance.

If you don’t have a second insurance plan, you may want to purchase one. You can purchase a Tricare Standard supplement insurance through MOAA (Military Officer’s Association of America), Air Force Association, Uniformed Services Benefits Association or Association of the U.S. Army. Before purchasing a policy, Tricare recommends that you consider several aspects of the available coverage. You can compare Tricare supplement companies with this chart.

Tricare Doesn’t Cover Routine Ultrasounds (Standard or Prime)

I noticed many small differences between Tricare prenatal care coverage and other health insurance companies. One of these differences deals with ultrasounds. When I was seeing my Tricare Prime-approved obstetrician, he complained to me at EVERY appointment about Tricare’s ultrasound policy. He wanted to do a 20-week ultrasound because “it’s routine” in his opinion.

Here’s what Tricare’s maternity care fact sheet says:

Some providers offer their patients routine ultrasound screening as part of the scope of care after 16–20 weeks of pregnancy. Tricare does not cover routine ultrasound screening. Only medically necessary maternity ultrasounds are covered by Tricare.

Because I wasn’t a high-risk pregnancy I didn’t get a 20-week ultrasound. Later I was measuring small and then it was medically necessary to have an ultrasound, so I did. I think it was around 30 weeks and it confirmed that my baby was small, but still growing at a healthy rate.

Choose What’s Best for You and Your Baby

You can switch to Tricare Standard at any time. Here is a link with by step-by-step instructions for how to leave Prime and enroll in Standard. You can start using Tricare Standard on the day after your Tricare Prime coverage ends.

But let’s say you want to go back to Tricare Prime? You may not be able to re-enroll in Tricare Prime for up to one year after you disenroll. So consider your options carefully before making the switch.

Every baby is a unique individual and every pregnancy is a unique experience. No two pregnancies are created equal. You may have a smooth sailing 9 months followed by a difficult delivery. Your sister may be the opposite. That’s why in every pregnancy you need to be your own advocate and listen to your body.

Before switching to Tricare Standard take time to research your options so you fully understand your decision and the outcome of your decision.

Now it’s your turn. What’s been your experience with Tricare and its prenatal care?

The Ideal Surrogate, the Military Wife

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The Ideal Surrogate, the Military Wife

Did you know that officially, Tricare does not cover surrogacy?

Twenty percent of the 1,000 babies born each year via surrogate in America are carried by military wives, or some say. There is no official data, though you’ll see this number over and over again in so many sources, as surrogacy is highly unregulated. In fact, there is no federal law governing it.

State laws vary on surrogacy and in New York for example, it is illegal and any parties to a surrogacy arrangement can be fined up to $10,000. For a lawyer or agency, if they are caught a second time it is a felony. Other states, such as New Mexico don’t have a law at all. Tennessee, on the other hand, has a statute that expressly authorizes the surrogate birth process.

This makes surrogacy a bit complicated for some hopeful would-be parents. Finding the ideal surrogate in the right location can be a challenge. This is where military spouses come in. For some, they are seen as the ideal candidate. According to multiple agencies, military spouses make up 15 to 20 percent of their surrogates.

Military spouses are considered the ideal surrogates for many reasons.

Doctor examining a pregnant woman

What’s your opinion on military wives being surrogates?

Military spouses are generally independent and self-sufficient from years of being part of the military lifestyle. Their spouses are away a lot and so they must learn to overcome and do things on their own. They are mentally able to handle situations in a strong responsible way. Giving up a baby you’ve carried for 40 weeks is hugely emotional and some feel that military wives are more emotionally equipped.

The Ideal Surrogate, the Military Wife

How do you feel about military wives being surrogates?

Having a sense of duty and a desire to help is something strongly felt within the military community. Many surrogates state that their desire to help another couple have a family is their driving factor. Many people have the assumption that women become surrogates for the money, but looking at surveys and community boards, it is clear that most of them say the No. 1 reason they choose to do this is because they truly want to help another family.

The money however is also a driving factor. Service members do not, in general, make a lot of money. Surrogates are compensated between $25,000 and $50,000, with an average closer to $35,000. This is a substantial amount of money, especially for lower ranked enlisted who don’t earn much.

Health insurance, Tricare, is one reason agencies particularly like military spouses. Tricare pays for all of the doctor appointments, pre-natal care and deliveries. That is a huge savings for potential parents, as purchasing health insurance for the surrogate could cost them up to an additional $25,000 on top of the average $100,000 cost of having a baby though a surrogate via an agency. There is huge controversy in using Tricare however.

Officially, Tricare does not cover surrogacy. Doctors aren’t likely to specifically ask if you are having the baby for yourself. If Tricare becomes aware of this however, they have the right to recoup the cost, which they have done. The Chief of Public Affairs though has said,

We have 9.5 million beneficiaries and our beneficiaries will have roughly 2,100 birthday every week. We have to be focused on making sure everybody gets their care. We can’t be a big police force.

People have very strong opinions of those that take advantage of this loophole. Some don’t see a problem with it at all. Tricare is a benefit they are entitled to as part of a military family. It is their body and their right to do with it as they please.

Others say they are abusing the system. They are using taxpayers’ money to have babies for other people, possibly for would-be parents in other countries. I’m not quite sure how I feel yet even after all this time researching surrogacy in the military.

What’s your opinion on military wives being surrogates?

Military Families May Need to Pay for ER Visits in the Future

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There are a range of proposals being discussed in Congress right now for the 2016 fiscal year that affect military families. The Tricare reforms catch our attention because of the changes to procedures or policies in our health care system. One detail that particularly stands out is the proposed changes in emergency room care.

Military Families May Need to Pay for ER Visits in the Future

An ER fee is only a single proposal among many that are being considered by lawmakers related to health care for military families.

Under the 2016 plan, military families would have to pay a fee depending on your sponsor’s rank to utilize emergency room care for a misused visit.

What would deem a misused visit?

That’s still up for debate and can spark a whole new issue if the proposal does get approved.

Military Families May Need to Pay for ER Visits in the Future

Do you frequently visit the ER because your MTF is closed at nights or on the weekends?

Military families are rallying together to oppose the emergency room fees arguing that often times we are driven to use ERs for immediate care. When a parent would call their local MTF (Military Treatment Facility), it might be weeks or at worst months to schedule an appointment with their PCM (Primary Care Manager).

Additional factors that drive families to ER visits are MTF locations closed at needed times (evenings or weekends), not being able to receive the proper referrals to an Urgent Care facility and not to mention, the wait for paperwork to get pushed through, so you can start utilizing your new MTF location.

For example, immediately after my PCS to Virginia (literally 3 days after we moved in), I caught a sinus infection. My husband wasn’t due to report for another couple weeks, but I knew I had to see a doctor as soon as possible. Because of the tight turnaround, I didn’t have the proper paperwork ready or even changed our MTF facility yet. At the recommendation of hospital personnel, I used the emergency room so I could be seen and receive prompt attention.

Would this circumstance be considered a legitimate emergency under this proposal?

Also, you never really know what would constitute as a non-emergency when you may not actually know what’s going on yet. For example, if your daughter is complaining about her knee after a hard fall, do you take her to the ER on Saturday morning? Or wait it out until Monday when the MTF is open?

This proposal leaves a lot of questions unanswered and as a result, we start playing the waiting game on our family members’ health.

Keep in mind that adding a fee to emergency room care is only a single proposal among many that are being discussed by lawmakers. National Military Family Association, a nonprofit that advocates for military families on Capitol Hill, breaks it down for us here.

NMFA argues that the problem stems from military families not given the proper avenues for urgent care and day-of appointments. The organization is working toward “improved access to acute care appointments for all military families using MTFs.”

In addition, NMFA started a petition for this particular issue. If you disagree with the emergency room care fee, sign their petition here.

What do you think of this proposal? Do you frequently visit the ER because your MTF is closed at nights or on the weekends?

The Ins and Outs of the Tricare Choice Proposal

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As military families, we have a love-hate relationship with Tricare. Every military family has an opinion and the topic comes up quite easily in group settings. Prepare for the onslaught of Tricare talk at your next gathering as the program may completely change as early as 2017.

Understanding the Costs of the Tricare Choice Proposal

What do you think about the proposed Tricare Choice?

The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission recently released its 302-page final report that outlines recommendations to “modernize the Uniformed Services’ compensation and retirement system.” This report includes a complete overhaul of the Tricare program.

Here are the ins and outs of the proposed changes to Tricare.

Currently Tricare offers health care programs, such as Tricare Prime and Tricare Standard. You choose a program and are locked into its rules.

The Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission has decided, based on surveys and town hall meetings, that military families would like more options and to be able to have more say in their medical treatment. The commission’s proposal therefore would completely do away with every Tricare plan except Tricare for Life. Tricare for Life would remain exactly the same.

A new program, Tricare Choice, would replace the current system. According to the report, Tricare Choice would

increase access, choice and value of health care for active duty family members, reserve component members and retirees by allowing beneficiaries to choose from a selection of commercial insurance plans offered through a Department of Defense health benefit program.

This being said, the proposed privatized program would allow families to choose a health care plan from a list similar to that of federal employees. The level of care and costs associated with that would be determined by the plan chosen. Options would include:

  • traditional fee-for-service plans
  • those offered by health maintenance organizations
  • preferred provider network options from some of the biggest names in the industry, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Kaiser Foundation and more.

There would be new benefits such as chiropractic care, fertility treatments and acupuncture that are not covered under the current system; of course each would come at a cost.

The Tricare Young Adult program would be cut and adult dependent children under the age of 26 would be covered under their parent’s Tricare Choice plan no matter their circumstances. Unlike the current program, this would allow these dependents to stay in the program even if they are “married, not living with their parents, attending school, financially independent or eligible to enroll in their own employer’s health care plan.”

Related: Commission Recommends Combining Commissaries, Exchanges

Tricare dental plans would remain the same with a few Tricare Choice options including partial dental care coverage.

What does the Tricare Choice proposal mean to you?

For active duty members, everything remains the same. Active duty and reserve family members as well as retirees would choose a plan during annual open enrollment and be able to pick the doctors they prefer including military treatment facilities if the plan allowed it. They would pay 5 percent of premiums initially and it would increase each year until it topped out at 20 percent of costs or until they become eligible for Medicare or Tricare for Life. Co-payments would be made, even when visiting a military treatment facility. They would also pay an annual enrollment fee. The report estimates that “retirees with families would see their average total out-of-pocket costs increase from about $2,000 a year to $3,500.”

How will these new costs be covered?

The commission recommended that a basic allowance for health care, BAHC, be created to completely cover premiums, cost-shares and co-payments. The money would be directly paid to the insurance company in part and the rest would go straight to the service member. If a plan is chosen that costs less than the BAHC, the family could actually make money.

The government, of course, could potentially save money as well. The Defense Department currently has a $49 billion annual health budget. The MCRMC report estimates that this new plan would cut personnel spending for the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs by $12 billion a year.

The report is now headed to Congress where they will decide the future of Tricare. There are 9.2 million military beneficiaries who will be waiting to hear the outcome.

What do you think about the proposed Tricare Choice? Are you willing to incur an additional expense for more health care options?

Early Detection Saves Lives

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With deployments, PCSing, constant employment searches, financial instability, your kids’ homework and all of the chaos that comes with military life, it’s easy for you– the military spouse– to forget about your health.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and while we are bombarded with pink items available for purchase at our favorite stores, this month is the perfect reminder that women need to take time for our health needs. We must do our monthly breast self-exams. It’s non-negotiable. It’s a necessity for our health and wellness.

Early detection is the key to conquering breast cancer.

Early detection is a combination of 2 regular screenings. First, women are advised to do monthly breast self-exams. Every. Single. Month. Not once in a while. Not when they think about. Not the day before a doctor’s appointment. Every month. Secondly, women are advised to have a clinical exam every 3 years during their 20s and 30s. Starting in your 40s, women are recommend to have an annual mammogram. For women who have a 15 percent higher risk, Tricare covers mammograms beginning at age 30. These basic screenings– clinical exams and mammograms– are covered by Tricare.

Breast cancer research conducted at Johns Hopkins Medical center states that “40 percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.” With early detection the survival rate for breast cancer is 98 percent. That statistic alone should make breast self-exams a priority in your life.

4 Ways to Remember to Do Monthly Breast Self-Exams

When was the last time you did your self-exam? More than 31 days ago?

Here are 4 ways to remind yourself to do a monthly breast self-exam:

  1. Create an account with Early Detection Plan. It takes 5 minutes to set up reminders for monthly breast self-exams and routine clinical check-ups. Besides the website, smartphone users can download the Early Detection Plan app for either iPhone or Android.
  2. Pick 1 day each month that’s your self-exam day. Make this date easy to remember.  Many women choose either the first day or last day of the month. Or you can choose the same date as your birthday. For example if your birthday is July 23, you simply make it a routine to do your self-exams in the shower on the 23rd of every month.
  3. Schedule a reminder. Do your breast self-exam today and then schedule a reminder on your electronic calendar. It will send you a text message alert every month. Have the reminder say that “40 percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump.”
  4. Choose an BSE accountability buddy. Ask a sister, aunt, mother or close friend to be your breast self-exam (BSE) accountability buddy. We have friends who kindly remind us to exercise or eat healthy. Breast self-exams are necessary for healthy lives for women.

Want more information about breast self-exams?

Visit Susan G. Komen’s website, American Cancer Society’s website or National Breast Cancer organization’s website. These websites, along with many others, explain in detail how to conduct monthly breast self-exams.