Need help for a young Marine.

[InvisibleTouch]

This concerns the grandson of a friend of mine, who's in a very bad situation. I'm looking for some advice or ideas as to what can be done to help him - he's a typical and sad example of how the drumbeat of "support our troops" evaporates when they actually need help.

I don't have all the details, but this is the situation as I know it: During his training in the Marines, this young man contracted a life-threatening illness, and he's now in a military hospital in Florida awaiting treatment. Almost nothing is being done for him, as the hospital is saying they can't procede since they have no orders; his doctors are on vacation, plus he's about to be discharged (read: hung out to dry) by the Marines since he can no longer serve, due to his ill health.

His parents and grandparents are trying to get him moved to an excellent private hospital, but they're being blocked. They're being told that unless the kid is in a military hospital, he'll receive no coverage at all - and to re-iterate, the military hospital he's currently in, is doing next to nothing for him.

I've advised them to try and get as much publicity for this situation as possible - to write to local newspapers and television news programs, and to contact their elected representatives. To really shine a spotlight on how shameful it is that a young man who got drastically ill in the service to his country, is now being denied treatment.

Anyone have any advice on how they could get him moved to a treatment center of their choice, and retain his medical coverage? From everything I'm gathering, it needs to happen fast. I will pass along any advice and specific instructions to his grandmother. Thanks in advance.

[bpeale]

1. There's nothing...

Because of the military glitch, there is nothing that can be done. However, to get treatment started, since he is STILL military, I would suggest that a letter be written by him to his congressman.

[GoldenOldie]

2. Time for your elected Reps to do their jobs.

It's campaign/election time....get everyone you know to contact your congressman/woman, Senator. One of the major issues this go around is the failure of our elected reps to truly support the troops and our veterans.

Find someone that writes well to do an editorial/opinion piece in your state and local papers using this local man as an example. Get others to swamp the paper with letters to the editors. One or two they can ignore, dozens they cannot. Use your churchs, temples, club members, business associaties. They work for us and it's now time to review their job performances.

[GoldenOldie]

5. Another thought!

I happened to be listening to C-SPAN and a group of retired military have joined forces VETPAC, to counterattack the "swiftboat Liars." Many of them are running for State and Federal office to clean up this mess. One of the men had mentioned that military members, their families and citizens do not realize that wounded soldiers who are discharged from military medical facilities and the service, must wait ONE-Year to be picked up by the VA for further treatment. He gave an example of one young man who had sustained servere head wounds and he and his family had a $90,000 civilian hospital bill for the year with no military coverage.

Try to go on-line and see if there is a VETPAC member in your State. Don't know how much they can help but it sure gives them more ammo to go after these bastards.

[InvisibleTouch]

6. Thanks for the input!

Good ideas all, and I will pass them along. You're right, and I've said this to my friend also, this is an election year and they really need to pressure their representatives about this.

[pecwae]

16. A must to get the Rep./Sen. involved!

I know this is a military hospital, but I can't believe the old sage "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" that applies to the VA hospital will not also apply here.

[roguevalley]

20. I agree. Call and write your senators and congressmen, the

governor of his state and the hierarchy of the militia of the state. Hound them.

[Lars39]

3. K&R

:kick:

[InvisibleTouch]

7. Thanks for the K&R - much appreciated! n/t

[Lars39]

13. Glad to help. I hope he is able to get the help he needs.

[democrank]

4. Someone should place a call

to his Senator`s or Representative`s office and keep calling until a satisfactory response is given.

[acmejack]

8. Doesn't make sense that his "doctors are on vacation"

They're military too. One might be on leave, but they all can't be. There has to be some more facts to this case. I would like to know more about this before I really told you them how to go. This kid has been in the service how many days now? This doesn't sound right top me, sorry.

I am an ex CPO and now a disabled vet with (unfortunately) a lot of experience with the Navy medical system, which is what he is dealing with & something is wrong, but procedure wise this doesn't make any sense. Check the facts before going off the deep end, not saying anything against anyone, but be sure to avoid any embarrassment-just a note of caution. I have seen something similar before and it wasn't the Corps fault.

Just a friendly heads up.

[InvisibleTouch]

11. Well, that's the info I've been told...

...and as I said, I don't have all the details - I don't know if "the doctors are on vacation" is just an excuse that the parents have been told, or why the doctors might otherwise not be available, legitimately or not. I do know that his health situation is very serious, that he's been in the hospital for some time now, that his family is trying to get him moved to a more competent treatment facility, and are being told he'll lose his coverage in such a case. So any insight you might have from your experience, would be much appreciated. But I understand if you can't suggest specifics if you don't have more details - which I simply don't have at this point. I'm just trying to gather some leads for his family to pursue, as they are very upset and worried.

[OneBlueSky]

9. get to your Congressman's office IN PERSON asap . . .

if you go to a district office, insist on speaking with the head person (probably the District Representative), not some low level "constituent service" staff . . . better yet, pay a visit to the DC office if at all possible and speak with the highest level staff you can find . . .

let them know that a constituent in the military is in a life-threatening situation and needs immediate assistance . . . and refuse to leave until something is put in motion to provide that assistance . . . it's a month until the election, so they should be more than willing to help . . .

you might also contact your two senators with pretty much the same approach -- though they generally aren't as quick to act as a House member . . . good luck . . .

[The Wielding Truth]

10. Maybe this will help.

http://www.bethesda.med.navy.mil/Patient/TRICARE/

[InvisibleTouch]

12. Thanks for the replies, all!

Please keep them coming ... I won't be able to check the thread again until this evening, but I appreciate all the input.

[Recursion]

14. Find your Congressman

And talk in person to your Congressman. That still moves some brass.

I'm hot as a pistol on reading this. You don't leave another Marine behind and that's what they're doing to him. I knew 3 guys in training that got serious illnesses and the Corps looked after them like they were supposed to (the VA is another story, but hey...)

If he got the condition while in training and on national defense status he *should* be eligible for full VA benefits, unless he lied about his condition before enlistment. But you never know. Buy the people a ticket to DC and have them scream bloody murder at their Congressman about this.

Edit: Congress is out of session, so don't come here. Find where the Congressman's local offices are, set an appointment and stick around (for days and days if you have to) until he keeps it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Contact senators and congress critters

oh and the press

[cynatnite]

17. Start with the hospital chaplin...

They can usually cut through a lot of red tape. Also, I would get on the phone with the post commander at the base. Talk to someone in the command structure at the base. Stuff like this usually doesn't take long to filter to the top.

Your congressman or senator is a good option as well.

[_dynamicdems]

18. You might also find some advice and resources here:

This is a progressive support site for returning veterans founded by Bobby Muller and John Terzano. You might want to put up a blog post there and ask if anyone knows who to contact.


http://www.veteransforamerica.org

[Ioo]

19. I would call Congressman and seantor ASAP!!!

Republican or Democrat!

[yellowdogmi]

21. Most commands has an omsbudsman to take care of this

kind of concern. Other wise I would try to speak with the command sargent major. That would be the senior enlisted person in the command and they have a responsibility to take care of situations like this. The young marine should know how to contact this person. I am sure that the situation will be rectified once his command is made aware of the concerns. That may be wishful thinking but I was always supported very well by my senior enlisted members during my service. Good luck.