Monday, October 20th, 2008

With the dramatic events of the last week, most people and their families and businesses are struggling to cope with a weakening economy and plunging financial markets. This crisis hits all of us, but it’s especially difficult for those who serve overseas and their families; they’re already saddled with a host of financial, family and personal issues associated with a deployment halfway around the world. This week’s exclusive column in our Military/PTSD Transition Center focuses on the need to treat those who suffer from TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and PTSD when they return to the States. We have to find a way to adequately address these significant healthcare issues in a tough economy. Thankfully, Give an Hour’s Dr. Barbara Romberg is leading an effort to provide free and low-cost treatment for veterans who suffer from these debilitating conditions. Please visit Give an Hour today, and learn about this important new initiative at Veterans Advantage.

This week, we are providing special coverage to another financial need during tough economic times – insurance and health care. Through Veterans Advantage, you’re covered with $55,000 in special travel and accident insurance, when you activate your participation in our group policy in Members Only. This insurance coverage is a benefit of membership – there’s no additional fee. Lastly, remember to use our drug discount program for your prescription drugs; it provides discounts up to 65% (15-20% off on average) on hundreds of medications and is accepted at over 50,000 pharmacies across America.

As you know, we are dedicated to partnering with companies that want to thank and honor those who serve with discounts on their goods and services. We will be announcing a group of exciting new partners in the coming weeks – just in time for the holidays! Stay tuned.

Tags: Financial Crisis, Insurance, Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Veterans Advantage benefits, Veterans Benefits
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Friday, October 3rd, 2008

I was excited to see the U.S.S. Intrepid pull into its familiar home, at New York’s Pier 86, after a two-year refurbishment program, a spectacular upgrade for the legendary aircraft carrier. We at Veterans Advantage have traced much of our eight-year history through the Intrepid Museum, with one of our board members once serving as the museum’s CEO. And we have held several major Veterans events on the ship, including one right after 9/11.

Among five retired World War II aircraft carriers serving today as museums, none has a record to match Intrepid’s. Launched in 1943, it fought in six major Pacific campaigns, losing 270 crew members — mostly to Japanese kamikazes. It also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars and was twice a recovery ship for NASA astronauts before being decommissioned in 1974. Alongside it will also be a British Airways Concorde supersonic jet, a tribute to high speed air travel.

We send best wishes to the Intrepid Museum’s CEO Bill White, a friend of Veterans Advantage, as he relaunches this fabled carrier and leads the Intrepid Museum with purpose and enthusiasm.

White also heads the Fisher-created Intrepid Foundation, whose projects range from education to the Fallen Heroes Fund, supporting families of war dead and wounded. Its latest project is a new state-of-the-art treatment center for traumatic brain injuries at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C.

And, finally of course, rest in peace WWII Navy Veteran Paul Newman.

Tags: HeroVet, Intrepid, paul newman
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