problem of controlling spending. Navy Relief
interviewers can and will help these persons to
develop a realistic budget and counsel them on
how they can cope with their financial troubles.
However, it is up to these individuals to learn to
live within their means. Navy Relief assistance
for those who persist in overspending is limited.
Frequently, financial assistance is requested
of the Society to help with initial expenses of
establishing a new home incident to permanent
transfer. Navy Relief can provide individuals
entitled to full BAQ with assistance for such
items as the security deposit and advance rent
payment on housing which they can afford on a
continuing basis. Also, when advantageous in
getting affordable housing, personnel who are
entitled to Government movement of household
effects may be provided assistance for the pur-
chase of basic furniture.
MEDICAL CARE.In areas where military
medical facilities are overloaded, dependents
must rely on CHAMPUS, and sometimes this
cost-sharing program
involves considerable
expense for the service member. Navy Relief can
provide financial assistance for the patients
share of CHAMPUS and items such as hearing
aids and orthopedic shoes, which are not
covered by CHAMPUS or state programs.
The Society is not able to finance medical
care for persons suffering from illnesses of
indefinite duration, but it can assist for a
temporary period while arrangements are being
made for permanent care by health activities.
DENTAL CARE.Routine dental care for
dependents is a normal expense of daily living.
However, corrective dentistry can involve very
sizeable costs. Navy Relief assistance may be
furnished in such cases to help the individual
regain a serviceable dental capability.
F U N E R A L E X P E N S E S . F i n a n c i a l
assistance may be provided to assist with the
expenses of a modest funeral for dependents.
The Society currently uses 0.00 as a planning
figure for the basic costs of such a funeral.
Assistance with the funeral expenses of
nondependent relatives is restricted to the father
or mother of the service member or spouse.
EMERGENCY TRANSPORTATION.
The following transportation assistance may be
provided:
Navy Relief can provide transportation
assistance in the event of serious illness or death
of the immediate family of service members or
their spouses. A mother, father, spouse, son,
daughter, brother, sister, or individual standing
in loco parentis are considered to be members
of the immediate family. In loco parentis
simply means a person who has reared the serv-
ice member or spouse and acted as a parent in
all respects except for the formalities of legal
adoption. Navy Relief assistance does not cover
transportation outside the United States since
the military services provide for any overseas
portion of emergency travel aboard military air-
craft.
Also, in recognition of the particularly
close relationship of most individuals with their
grandparents, Navy Relief may provide trans-
portation within the United States for a service
member or spouse in the event of critical illness
or death of a grandparent. For this purpose,
critical illness is defined as involving a medically
established risk of death.
On the recommendation of the attending
physician, Navy Relief may provide assistance to
enable the parents to go to the bedside of a
critically ill service member.
If a command has found it necessary to
advance assistance from its Welfare and Recrea-
tion Fund for such emergency transportation
because an individual is unable to visit a Navy
Relief Society office, the Society will ensure
that the command is reimbursed. Procedures are
set forth in SECNAVINST 5760.14A.
OTHER TRANSPORTATION ASSIST-
ANCE.The following transportation may be
provided:
Assistance may be provided for the
transportation of patients issued convalescent
leave orders.
Occasions arise when a service family is
unable to provide necessary medical care for a
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