Page 7 - untitled

number of days of maternity care at VA facilities; increases women veterans in one place on the VA web site.
the number of gender-specific providers and coordinators at
VA facilities; training for clinicians on gender specific care; The House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair is forming
retrofitting of VA facilities to improve privacy and environ- a new congressional task force to address barriers that
ment of care for women; support services provided for legal women veterans face when trying to obtain VA benefits
assistance and grants for organizations supporting low-in- and health care. NERA supports these efforts.
come women veterans; and centralizes all information for

Consolidation of Exchanges and Commissaries

A task force convened by the DoD Chief Management that the consolidation would cost more, take longer than
Officer has recommended consolidation of the exchanges expected, and fail to produce the promised efficiencies.
and commissaries. NERA strongly feels more study and NERA, and many of our partner associations, feel the
oversight by Congress is needed before going forward result would endanger the provision of low-cost groceries
with this and opposes privatization and consolidation. and support for MWR relied on by service members and
The military services have already expressed concerns their families.

VA Giving Purple Heart Recipients Priority
Beginning April1, 2019 VA has announced they will give and advocate on many other legislative and policy issues
priority for initial disability claims to Purple Heart recipi- concerning compensation, benefits and well-being of our
ents. This priority does not apply to claims appeals. Purple members and their families. If you have specific questions
Heart recipients already receive priority for medical care please email me at [email protected] or send postal mail
and are exempt from co-pays. NERA continues to follow to my attention at NERA national headquarters.

Dear Chief Elliott, LETTERS TO NERA

Please find the enclosed check in the amount of $250 to Never did I imagine as I attended
boost my membership from a Life Member to a Member drills and active duty early in my Navy
to Premier Benefactor, membership from a Life Member to career, that the medical benefit would save our family
Premier Benefactor. I would like to take a few minutes to from financial devastation. This was made possible by the
explain why I have decided to increase my membership level. tireless work of our leadership and association members
who fought hard for these types of benefits.
In August 2017, I had one really bad day that took me
into the emergency room. Immediately they found some I extend my family’s gratitude for your continued sup-
issues with my heart. But this was not the main problem. port and am indebted to all who made a positive outcome
In October of that year I was eventually diagnosed with possible. I am glad this Naval Reservist became a mem-
a large cancerous tumor in my colon. Over the past two ber of NERA. At that time I realized the value of a hard
years there were many ups and downs with my health, but fought benefit of retirement pay, but NEVER imagined
thank God l have had steady improvement. During this how valuable the health benefit would be to me and my
time l decided to retire from my work that I loved and left family in the future.
a great bunch of supportive people.
Thanks again,
However, I am writing this letter to you and NERA to say
thank you! When I started to see those hospital bills fly
past me I was really worried about how they were going
to get paid. Fortunately, for me and my family, Tricare SKC Michael D. Parise, USNR (Ret.)
stepped up and took care of almost everything. February 3, 2020

The Naval Enlisted Reserve Association 7