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For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's military
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Disabled vets can compete at Paralympics
Question: I am a disabled veteran and would like to participate in the Paralympics. How can I go about entering?
Answer: Disabled veteran athletes can now set their sights even higher and become eligible to compete in some of the nation's premiere athletic venues under an agreement between the U.S. Olympic Committee and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Under the terms of the agreement, signed in November, participants in VA's National Veterans Wheelchair Games and the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic will now be able to qualify for positions on the U.S. Paralympic Team and the U.S. Paralympic National Team.
The VA Winter Sports Clinic is co-sponsored by VA and the Disabled American Veterans. It is an annual rehabilitation program open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal cord injuries or diseases, visual impairments, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations or other disabilities, who receive care at any VA health care facility.
The VA's Wheelchair Games are presented by VA and Paralyzed Veterans of America, and are open to all U.S. military veterans who use wheelchairs for sports competition after having suffered spinal cord injuries, certain neurological conditions, amputations or other mobility impairments.
For more information contact the VA Office of Public Affairs, (202) 273-4814, (719) 866-4531 or (719) 866-2039, U.S. Paralympics.
Q: What are my pharmacy co-payment options?
A: Payment is encouraged, but not required, when you pick up your medications at the VA pharmacy. If you are unable to pay at that time, an account will be established for you and you will be billed monthly.
Prescriptions dispensed after hours, on weekends and holidays, or in emergency situations will be billed to your account. You can pay by check, money order or credit card.
Please do not send in requests for prescription refills with your payment. If you do, your prescription refill will be delayed.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran, call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049 or visit the VA Web site at
www.va.gov/hawaii or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin, can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.