Research - Rehabilitation - Re-Employment

Sgt. Shaft 07/26/2004

Dear Sgt Shaft
I have a problem and I need your help. I retired from the Navy with 22 years of service. Three months before I retired I had a stroke and was placed on medical leave until I retired on my regular retirement date. I was told that the VA will take care of my post rehabilitation. After my retirement I went to the VA and started the long process of application. I enrolled myself and family in tricare prime and stared paying the premium. I also applied and was approved for Social Security disability benefits. After two years receiving the SS benefits I qualified for Medicare. I was given Medicare part A and I declined part B. I found out from Tricare that since I declined Part B, I no longer qualified for Tricare. Tricare informed me that I had dual eligibility under age 65. I contacted SS and told them my situation and enrolled in Part B. Now here's my problem I will pay Medicare part B premium (66+ $) and also Tricare premium (400+$) Why must I have to have Medicare parts A and B? I have Tricare.

Thanks for anything you can do to help and for your column.

Alfredo A
USN (Ret)

Dear Alfredo
By now you should have received the following letter:

You are in the dual eligible category which requires Medicare Part eligibility, Participation in Medicare Part B, & a valid Military ID Card for a cost of $66/month. This secures your TRICARE benefit. You will incur no additional TRICARE cost for your care. Because some folks were not adequately advised of the requirement of Medicare Part B, you should receive a letter in September that automatically enrolls you without penalty.

However, for your family to participate in TRICARE Prime, it is billed at $230/person (spouse only) or $460/family (spouse & children). This cost is incurred annually.

Regards,
Katherine O'Neill Tracy
CDR USNR
MOAA Deputy Director Benefits Information
800.234.6622 x126 703.838.8126

Dear Sgt Shaft
There are over 20,000 United States Marines serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and every day Marines are wounded in combat, often severely. These American heroes are returning to the United States after being stabilized at military hospitals in Germany. Their destination is typically the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, but on some occasions the Marines are sent to hospitals around the Country. The length of their stay depends on the severity of their injuries and when they are recovered enough to proceed to a rehabilitation hospital or a hospital closer to their duty station. However, some have initial hospital stays for durations of more than one month and follow-on rehabilitation can last years.

On May 18, 2004 the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund was created to facilitate immediate resources to active duty Marines and their families who have been injured in combat.

At this time, the Department of Defense (DoD) will pay lodging and travel expenses for two next of kin to visit those Marines considered seriously injured. DoD pays for these two individuals to stay for the duration of up to one week. After the term of one week, if the family members choose to stay at their Marine’s bedside, it is the sole responsibility of the family to arrange and pay for lodging and transportation. Additionally, next of kin are defined as the two family members a Marine lists in his record. In the case of a married Marine who has listed his spouse as his primary next of kin and his father as the secondary next of kin, DoD cannot accommodate the mother, children, siblings, or grandparents with payment of travel expenses. DoD does not reimburse families under any circumstances for rental cars, long-term childcare, or lost income. In the case of Marines requiring long-term rehabilitative care, these financial burdens remain with families for a period of years.

The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund has a close working relationship with the United States Marine Corps and is assessing the needs of injured Marines and their families on a regular basis. In the short-term, lodging, transportation, and assistance with daily financial burdens for the families are the most challenging area of concern and will be a major focus. When families arrive, they do so under extraordinary stress and limited financial resources to help them survive in the Washington, D.C. area for any period of time. They arrive in Washington, and in most cases are entirely unfamiliar with their surroundings. They spend time round the clock at the bedside of their Marine, and do so for weeks at a time. They need assistance with airline tickets for additional family members to provide relief for the primary and secondary next of kin, as well as hotel accommodations, rental cars, food, and other essentials. Expenses can be overwhelming for any family, especially those with very limited resources. In the long-term, the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund will assist with the needs of families as they move from the crisis stage to rehabilitative stage with financial assistance for items including but not limited to, handicap accessible and orthopedic equipment, respite care, and childcare needs.

Fund Specifics: Immediate financial assistance is needed. The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund has applied for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS and is accepting donations. To contribute to the fund please send your donations to:

Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund
825 College Blvd Suite 102, PMB 609
Oceanside, CA 92057

Rene Bardorf
Marine Liaison Office
Bethesda

Dear Rene
You have my wholehearted financial and Shaft ink support

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.

BAVF Home | Who We Are | Sgt. Shaft | Flag Week | Links | Financials | Search | Contact BAVF

BAVF - P.O. Box 65900, Washington, D.C. 20035-5900

Copyright BAVF 2004