Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 02/05/2001

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
I am hoping you will be able to help me, or rather my aunt. I have been stonewalled by all parties and it is very frustrating.

My aunt is the widow of an Army colonel in the Medical Corps, who served in two world wars with honor. He died in 1966 of a service-connected illness and she has been receiving a pension as well as being covered by CHAMPUS. She is also a life member of The Reserve Officers Association.

She has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and I found out, after obtaining power of attorney and going through her papers late last summer, that she had inadvertently let her medical insurance policies lapse. Her certificate had been underwritten by Hartford Life Insurance company. I was told by brokers Seabury and Smith that her policy had been terminated in May 1998 and would not be reinstated, but that I could obtain the supplemental coverage for her. The company also said my aunt was eligible for Medicare. Medicare insists she is not, but the Seabury and Smith will not believe me. I applied for the supplemental coverage in August 2000 and have been stonewalled ever since. Meanwhile, my aunt's medicine is very expensive, as are her doctors' fees.

This is a lady who is getting older, needs medical attention, whose husband devoted his life to the Army and served in two world wars, but is now being callously ignored by the same armed forces.

Can anything be come to help her?

Dolores T.
Arlington, VA

Dear Dolores:
A recent change in law will restore your aunt's DOD TRICARE benefits provided she has taken Medicare Part B and is paying the monthly premium for that program.

Under the restored health entitlement:
Your aunt will qualify for medical prescriptions at a reduced cost depending on where she acquired the prescription. Reinstatement of the prescription benefit is effective April 1, 2001.

Since you hold power of attorney for your aunt, you should obtain a new ID card for her. You can take your aunt to a local military installation for this service. If your aunt is unable to make the visit, you can arrange with the ID office to secure photographs of your aunt and, with her power of attorney, arrange for the replacement of the ID card.

Securing the ID card will also update the DEERs information on your aunt, so that when TRICARE prescriptions are secured, the costs after April 1, 2001, will in part be covered by TRICARE.

Effective October 1, 2001, your aunt will again be eligible for health care benefits under the DOD TRICARE program provided she is signed up for Medicare Part B. Also, entitlements of health care allowed by TRICARE that are not authorized by Medicare may be reimbursed by TRICARE if allowed by that program.

Information on these programs is available on the Internet at http://www.tricare.osd.mil/. I hope this information is helpful.

Dear Sgt. Shaft:
Our United States Navy Reunion Group is planning our fourth annual reunion for the Asheville and Tacoma Class Navy Patrol Gunboats, to be held August 8-12 in San Diego, CA. The Asheville gunboats were authorized in response to the Cuban missile crisis. The USS Asheville (PG-84) was the first ship of the class. All 17 ships remained in commission throughout the Vietnam War, participating in numerous coastal and river operations. They were also utilized for Counter Drug Operations following the war. The ships were 164.5 feet long, 23.8 feet wide and had a ship's complement of four officers and 20 enlisted men.

Our fourth national reunion is for all the ships in the Asheville and Tacoma class, as well as Squadron Staffs and Flagships. Our cut-off date for early reservations will be in early July. Persons wanting more information should contact me, Terry W. McManuels, ETCM(SW)Ret., 1673 Kilt Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23464; phone (767) 479-2261, email macs@visi.net.

Terry W. McManuels
USS CANON (PG-90)

Dear Terry:
Hope your Navy Patrol boat buddies have smooth sailing, along with a helluva good time.

Shaft Kudos
The Sarge is looking forward to receiving the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program's 2001 President's Award at ceremonies April 26 in Pittsburgh. The Leadership Project works in collaboration with more than 100 local service providers in southwestern Pennsylvania and is the only agency in that area which provides job search and retention assistance, career counseling, transitional housing, life skills training, and total case management of support services at no cost to all unemployed, underemployed and homeless veterans and their families. The VVLP also provides these service to members of the National Guard and those in the Reserves. The VVLP serves individuals from every socio-economic class, but the majority of its clients represent the thousands of veterans and their families who suffer economic hardship after leaving the armed forces. VVLP's experienced staff provide direct services, including referrals for medical and mental health needs, job training, chemical recovery programs, and child-specific needs to a client population of 39% homeless and 55% low income veterans and family members. VVLP's Homeless Veterans Program is the only comprehensive program in southwestern Pennsylvania dedicated to complete case management for all homeless veterans, their spouses, and children. Through outreach and referrals, homeless veterans and their families receive food, clothing, health services, and employment and personal counseling. VVLP also provides low-cost housing assistance, and for many veterans and their families, the VVLP offers opportunities to acquire skills that will help them to find and maintain viable employment.

The Sarge returns the salute to you, my friends, at the Pittsburgh VVLP, for your distinguished and dedicated service.

Send letters to Sgt. Shaft, c/o John Fales, P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900; fax to 301-622-3330; call 202-462-4430 or email sgtshaft@bavf.org.

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