Mary Jane Lahr, mother-in-law of Nazareth Police Detective Alan Koch, who is being deployed to Iraq in the next two weeks, has published a letter-to-the-editor in both the Express-Times (read it here) and the Morning Call (read it here).
I previously wrote about this situation (read it here) earlier in the week. The post has had several comments and one clarification. In summary, on Friday, June 6, at the end of the work day, Detective Koch was handed a letter that informed him his benefits would end on June 30, unless he wanted to purchase them in full (I'd guess based on my own family plan this would be about $1600 per month). Det. Koch is to leave for a one year tour in Iraq in the next two weeks. He previously was called to service and employed by the Nazareth Police Department, and his benefits remained in place for him and his family while he served. He does have the ability to switch to another plan through the military, so he won't be left without benefits, but it won't be the same coverage and they may have to switch doctors depending on who accepts the new plan.
As I see it the change coupled with the timing are the big issue. Since the Borough did it before, the expectation would be that they would do it again. The late notice must have been painful and biting for the family. I went through a benefits change and we had to leave the pediatrician we've trusted for the past 10 years and go to someone new as a result. It is not fun.
I referenced a community in MA that not only keeps benefits in place, but they provide other services and benefits including a five day paid 'vacation' to spend time with the family for the five workdays prior to deployment (read about it here).
While we all make choices every day, some choices are made to serve our country and community and these are hard choices. It is unimaginable for me to be away from my family for one year, let alone away from them in a war zone. To keep benefits in place for one year might cost some money, but it would be a great way to say thank you.
9 comments:
I find Nazareth Borough Council's decision to suspend Alan Koch's benefits a slap in the face. For a man to devote 12 years of service to his community, and have them treat him like this is pathetic. Like Alan, I am a National Guardsman, and like Alan, I am a police officer who has deployed to combat. On top of all the issues he has to deal with while being overseas, Council just added another stressor. Anyone that has dealt with the VA benefits knows nothing comes quickly, and the DEERS program lacks on many fronts. I cannot tell you how happy I am I chose to resign from Nazareth, because it is obvious I would now be in the same situation as Alan. When Bruce Ruch passed away, it became open season on what was perceived as "Bruce's Boys", and I am proud to say I was one. Now Borough Council and the new "Chief" has apparently declared war on the remaining officers until they have their kind of police officer. The kind that gets sued, the kind that was on disability from another department, and rookies that have no ties to the Borough. As a borough resident, fellow soldier, brother in blue, and a friend of Alan, your decision disgusts me. Reverse your decision and do the right thing for once.
I agree that Nazareth Borough is not being very nice. However, Mrs. Koch should get in touch with the VA Admin office asap. VA benefits will allow her to continue to use her own doctor, if she notes that their doctors are too far away, pose a burden to the family, etc. She needs to speak with other army families to get the support she needs - it is available, if she learns how to access it.
Every day the governmental units of this nation toss money down one rat hole after another. Here the Borough of Nazareth had the opportunity to do the right thing and they came up short. Shame on them.
Please know all the facts, and all the sides and then make your judgement. Your opinion might change. But maybe not,... some people choose to see things the way they want to to best fit their own personal agenda.
ok anonymous....what are all the facts and sides we are supposed to know before passing judgement?
All we know is what we have heard so far.....and it is a disgrace for Nazareth.
NAZARETH BORO MADE A REAL ERROR IN JUDGEMENT!!
CITIZENS SHOULD INVESTIGATE WHY THE NEW CHIEF WANTS A TOTALLY NEW CREW!!
PHILADELPHIA IS KNOWN FOR CORRUPTION!! HOPE NAZARETH ISN'T FOLLOWING
THIS BAD EXAMPLE.
I KNOW THE CITIZENS OF NAZARETH ARE QUALITY PATRIOTS THAT WON'T ALLOW GOV'T CORRUPTION.
Although there are other options for insurance if they have to, wouldn't it be nice if Alan, Jill and their children could spend the next 10 days bonding and having fun, instead of worrying about making arrangments for alternate insurance or figure out how to pay for the current coverage. thanks for the advance notice, like no one knew earlier that June 6. If changing doctors seems like no big deal, well it is, especially if you have a long standing relationship with the provider or you hve a serious illness. I have had cancer twice and I would not feel comfortable with anyone but my oncologist who has treated me for 22 years. It can be upsetting to children to have to change doctors, not to mention also know their father is going off to Iraq. I find it ironic that it was paid before this new chief came to town and funny how it was also after this chief came to town that so many officers left in a short amount of time. maybe with the money they are saving cutting Alan's benefits the chief and council can give themselves another raise to add to the money they get paid to make stupid decisions like this one
I am being deployed with Alan and I have contacted Alan and Jill to give them information from the USERRA Act and from PA State Article 51 governing municipality workers. Borough is legal in stopping his life insurance and asking him to pay for his health insurance, but they are wrong in stopping his health coverage July 1st. USERRA makes it clear that they must keep it for 30 days from the date of his activation on his orders then ask him to pick it up at their rate. I have talked with one of the Councilman Kopach and gave him the information, also passing along that they are causing undue burden on him this late in the game. He would have less than one week to get his family enrolled in Tricare, putting the family on Tricare Remote which would mean they would have to get a primary doctor from probably Ft. Dix, then the family would have to find doctors in our area that would accept Tricare, plus if they do, they would still need referrals every time Jill or the kids would have to see a doctor. I work for the City of Easton and we have 3 employees being deployed and the City has agreed to keep our families covered. Talk about Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve, Nazareth should take a lesson from Easton and do the right thing.
Hey, it's just another low blow dealt to a police dept veteran by the borough council. That shouldn't surprise anyone, since they hired a "chief" from "filthy-delphia" instead of one of their own. If the mayor, who by the way has conveniently forgotten where he came from, would have some b-lls, he would step up to the plate for Alan. He should be setting a good example for the fine men and women of Nazareth that have served our country and also elected him to his position of mayor. But, I guess it's only typical of the so called "leaders" of Nazareth- only the bottom of the barrel and underhanded tactics will do.
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