VA Denies Air Ambulance for WWII Veteran in Harrow, Ont.
In a challenging turn of events, the family of 100-year-old World War II veteran, William (Bill) Shea, is facing a battle to transport him from his current hospitalisation in Chilliwack, B.C., to a hospital in the Windsor-area due to his health condition.
Maureen Rudowicz, Mr. Shea's daughter, has been relentlessly seeking assistance for her father's case. She initially submitted a claim to Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) seeking coverage for an air ambulance, but the request was denied.
After persistent calls, VAC initially agreed to cover the cost of the air ambulance. However, the decision was later reversed, leaving the family in a difficult position. Hospital officials have stated that Mr. Shea cannot take a commercial flight due to his immobility, making an air ambulance the only viable option.
The cost of an air ambulance ranges from $59,800 to $72,000 for a nonstop flight, a significant expense that the family is finding hard to cover. In light of this, Maureen Rudowicz has been in communication with provincial and federal representatives, including an official with Essex MP Chris Lewis' office, to seek assistance for her father's case.
Mr. Shea, a Windsor native, served as a tail gunner in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II after joining the Canadian military at the age of 15 in 1941. After his military service, he served as a Windsor police officer. This past March, Essex Conservative MPP Anthony Leardi presented Mr. Shea with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
Doctors have advised that it would not be possible for Maureen Rudowicz to bring her father home due to his mobility issues. Mr. Shea has been diagnosed with a bladder infection, pneumonia in one lung, and problems with his kidneys.
The denial letter regarding the coverage for Mr. Shea's air ambulance was sent to his home address in Harrow, Ont. In Canada, Maureen Rudowicz's application for financial assistance for the rescue elevator transport of her father was rejected by the local Health Authority. She can request an internal review of the decision or appeal through the provincial health services tribunal.
Maureen Rudowicz is frustrated with the repeated denials from VAC regarding the coverage for her father's air ambulance transport. As the family navigates this challenging situation, they continue to seek support and solutions to ensure Mr. Shea receives the care he needs in a hospital closer to his family.
