Now click here and bug your congress people.
We will not let CMKAA H.R. 2288 die in committee. Failure is just not an option. Seriously. Do you think that a soldier who is deploying and has children on the autism spectrum should have the added stress that if something should happen and that soldier ends up medically discharged, their kids will lose autism services the way our health insurance currently has them set up? It’s also what keeps the spouse at home awake at night along with the usual deployment stress. Repeat after me, retirement (of any kind) = no autism services.
Why are military kids different? Because they have a parent willing to die in service to this country. Can you say the same for yourself? Can you take the time to click on your computer and support that family who chose service?
Do you think the military and its health insurance is wonderful? Please, feel free to see your local recruiter and join the ranks of the rest of us military families. I can tell you there are good people and not so good people in our system. Everything I have found for our boys I have dug for and asked about. Not one person has been forthcoming about any of it. And no, we don’t have case managers here.
For the military folks, yes, we know about EFMP and ECHO. We know that EFMP in theory is supposed to keep the family together and only move you to where you can get services for your children. In the best case scenario, you all move together, but you still have to start at the bottom of all of the wait lists to get back into therapies. In some cases, that’s 6 months. That’s 6 mos for your child to regress, despite your best efforts to keep up therapies at home. This can also mean the soldier moves without the family and becomes a geographic bachelor while the family stays behind. We all know the saying, “The needs of the Army/Navy/Marines/Air Force/Coast Guard…”
The ONLY military kids who are receiving any autism services are those of active duty members. Our reserve components and retirees are excluded even though they pay for Tricare coverage like we do. Yes, that’s right, the soldiers pay to have their family members covered. It’s only free for the soldiers.
About Amanda
I love you.
Hooah!
Rachel @MrsSGMKenyon´s last [type] ..OMG. If TRICARE Was Working, I’d Shut Up Already.
The feeling is mutual.
Exactly and amen to it all. Your families deserve better. I called my congressman after getting a very non-committal letter. I’ll be calling again today. You are not fighting this fight alone.
Alysia´s last [type] ..Wonder (the encore)
Thank you! Every bit counts.
You all definitely deserve better than that and at the very least, peace of mind that your children will be provided for.
Kathleen´s last [type] ..Giving Back This Holiday Season – Are you in Need?
Everyone’s children with autism deserve services. We’ve got this bill in committee. I think it’s a first step for the whole.
Um this REALLY bugs me. Someone giving up (potentially) everything and risking their life for the country SURELY deserves better then this.. and so does their family. But if you decided to not be a military family, live on government medicaid and be unproductive members of society, the government will cover every single service you could need or want.. FREE! Backwards?!
Bobbie´s last [type] ..Post: Enjoy Some Holiday Discounts & A Cheer Tree Mosaic From Sears
Even getting medicaid can be hard. Our boys qualify under a medical waiver, but the paperwork is daunting, and after navigating the military red tape, I haven’t wanted to tackle it. Not only that, but most active duty families move roughly every 3 years, and some areas have wait lists at least that long, so the kids never get supplemental services from them. There’s no portability when the military family moves within the medicaid system, so it’s even more important that at least our military health insurance (that we pay for) takes care of the services our kids need.
You and Rachel and all the mamas are amazing. Love seeing you in action!
Brenda (mamabegood)´s last [type] ..Shocking News: Autism Has Not Ruined My Life
Thank you! I have been following this bill and supporting it along the way.
-Angela
Thank you for supporting the bill!
I read about this bill last year – I wrote letters but never got any response; I will be writing again. Carl Levin is on the Armed Services Committee, I would think he would be a good one to bug! Keep fighting, sister.
Jen @ TheUnProcessed Kitchen´s last [type] ..Vegetarian Potato Quiche
Thank you Jen. All support is greatly appreciated.