USAA - ALLOW FULL MEMBERSHIP TO GOLD STAR FAMILIES
USAA - ALLOW FULL MEMBERSHIP TO GOLD STAR FAMILIES
The Issue
Dear Joe Robles, USAA CEO,
Currently, the only way a Gold Star Family Member can obtain full membership in USAA is to have been listed on the deceased members account (if they had an account) before they were killed in action, killed defending their country. If you do not know what a Gold Star Family is ....let me tell you. I am a Gold Star Family Member. I belong to a group called Gold Star Families - a group that no one wants to belong to. You had to lose your spouse, your mother, your father, your son, your daughter, your sister or your brother in combat. My father Gy Sgt Robert C Roper, USMC, was killed in Viet Nam, September 21, 1967. I was 5 years old. I am not "fully eligible" for USAA benefits, my eligibility was stolen by the Vietnamese. At the time, USAA was only available to commissioned officers. Now it is available to almost anyone to include Gay and Lesbian couples who are married and also Gay and Lesbian couples in states where their marriage is not legally recognized - but not available to Gold Star Families.
If my father was alive, he would have listed me on his account and I could have obtained insurance through USAA, but he never had the chance. Every Gold Star Family Member has earned this. Our loved ones have given every possible thing they can give to their country. If you can earn your eligibility as a service member by "staying alive", then why can't you earn membership for your family members by paying the Full Cost??? We found many complaints to USAA from Gold Star Families and you chose to do nothing about it....
Please remove the USAA commercials from Fox News Network and all other networks because they are misleading. You advertise in such a way to make the public think that USAA takes care of ALL military families - YOU DO NOT. These commercials imply that all military family members will benefit from USAA insurance. Gold Star Families who paid the ultimate price are DENIED. If USAA needs to advertise to increase its membership....then why do you EXCLUDE the most deserving military family members....GOLD STAR FAMILIES !!
We contacted Roger Huerta, CEO, Membership Relations Division, for help. It was through this process we learned that Gold Star Families were not currently allowed membership. We asked Roger Heurta why Gay and Lesbians received membership and Gold Star Family Members could not? Mr Heurta said his hands were tied - he could not help and would not help. He would not even give me a denial letter stating they have denied me full membership, and I am a "partial member". As you are aware, without "full membership" we cannot have access to insurance from USAA, we must use more expensive 3rd party vendors. Gold Star Families should be "first on the list" with USAA. This an embarrasment for your company.
We were advised that at each of your board meetings Mr Robles, that you have an empty seat for those soldiers who lost their lives. Really? Is this to make yourselves feel better? We were also advised that you recently hosted Gold Star Families at USAA. If you want to honor those who lost their lives, then take care of their families.
Lastly, Mr Robles, we were informed by Roger Huerta that you are scheduled to have an annual board meeting in August and Gold Star Families are NOT on the agenda. We were informed that USAA's Board of Directors is made up of mostly Former and Active Duty Service Members. What are each one of you thinking? We were informed by Roger Huerta that you only meet once a year. What are you waiting for? We were advised that you are scheduled to retire in 2015. On behalf of all Gold Star Families, Please take care of us now.
Send mail to: Joe Robles Jr., CEO, USAA, 9800 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 78288 or call 210-531-8722 and contact Roger Huerta, CEO, Member Relations Division - 9800 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 78288 call 210-456-1800 x 24512
Thank you all for your support of this important issue. If you have not already done so, please contact usaa at www.facebook.com/usaa and on twitter @usaa and including #usaa. Please repost this link on your facebook and twitter, or email friends you think might be interested in this issue
Cynthia Stamilio
Pennsylvania
The Issue
Dear Joe Robles, USAA CEO,
Currently, the only way a Gold Star Family Member can obtain full membership in USAA is to have been listed on the deceased members account (if they had an account) before they were killed in action, killed defending their country. If you do not know what a Gold Star Family is ....let me tell you. I am a Gold Star Family Member. I belong to a group called Gold Star Families - a group that no one wants to belong to. You had to lose your spouse, your mother, your father, your son, your daughter, your sister or your brother in combat. My father Gy Sgt Robert C Roper, USMC, was killed in Viet Nam, September 21, 1967. I was 5 years old. I am not "fully eligible" for USAA benefits, my eligibility was stolen by the Vietnamese. At the time, USAA was only available to commissioned officers. Now it is available to almost anyone to include Gay and Lesbian couples who are married and also Gay and Lesbian couples in states where their marriage is not legally recognized - but not available to Gold Star Families.
If my father was alive, he would have listed me on his account and I could have obtained insurance through USAA, but he never had the chance. Every Gold Star Family Member has earned this. Our loved ones have given every possible thing they can give to their country. If you can earn your eligibility as a service member by "staying alive", then why can't you earn membership for your family members by paying the Full Cost??? We found many complaints to USAA from Gold Star Families and you chose to do nothing about it....
Please remove the USAA commercials from Fox News Network and all other networks because they are misleading. You advertise in such a way to make the public think that USAA takes care of ALL military families - YOU DO NOT. These commercials imply that all military family members will benefit from USAA insurance. Gold Star Families who paid the ultimate price are DENIED. If USAA needs to advertise to increase its membership....then why do you EXCLUDE the most deserving military family members....GOLD STAR FAMILIES !!
We contacted Roger Huerta, CEO, Membership Relations Division, for help. It was through this process we learned that Gold Star Families were not currently allowed membership. We asked Roger Heurta why Gay and Lesbians received membership and Gold Star Family Members could not? Mr Heurta said his hands were tied - he could not help and would not help. He would not even give me a denial letter stating they have denied me full membership, and I am a "partial member". As you are aware, without "full membership" we cannot have access to insurance from USAA, we must use more expensive 3rd party vendors. Gold Star Families should be "first on the list" with USAA. This an embarrasment for your company.
We were advised that at each of your board meetings Mr Robles, that you have an empty seat for those soldiers who lost their lives. Really? Is this to make yourselves feel better? We were also advised that you recently hosted Gold Star Families at USAA. If you want to honor those who lost their lives, then take care of their families.
Lastly, Mr Robles, we were informed by Roger Huerta that you are scheduled to have an annual board meeting in August and Gold Star Families are NOT on the agenda. We were informed that USAA's Board of Directors is made up of mostly Former and Active Duty Service Members. What are each one of you thinking? We were informed by Roger Huerta that you only meet once a year. What are you waiting for? We were advised that you are scheduled to retire in 2015. On behalf of all Gold Star Families, Please take care of us now.
Send mail to: Joe Robles Jr., CEO, USAA, 9800 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 78288 or call 210-531-8722 and contact Roger Huerta, CEO, Member Relations Division - 9800 Fredericksburg Rd., San Antonio, TX 78288 call 210-456-1800 x 24512
Thank you all for your support of this important issue. If you have not already done so, please contact usaa at www.facebook.com/usaa and on twitter @usaa and including #usaa. Please repost this link on your facebook and twitter, or email friends you think might be interested in this issue
Cynthia Stamilio
Pennsylvania
Petition Closed
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The Decision Makers
Petition created on July 22, 2014