American Military VETERANS•VETS Resources • Organizations • Contacts for U.S. Military Veterans Living in Costa Rica

UPDATED MAY 2014

I've started this page to mainstream resources that can help U.S. military Veterans living in Costa Rica
Marine's • Navy • Army • Green Berets

On this page we have info on:
•   SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS BRINGING VETS TOGETHER

Marine Corps League • American Legion • Guanacaste Veterans Association • American Legion - Auxiliary (for spouses) • VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars

•   Help for Retired U.S. Military Veterans having Problems Getting Your Medications into Costa Rica from Express Scripts

•   TriCare for Life • Champus - Military Retired Vets or people on VA Disability

•   DYING in Costa Rica - Resources to help American•U.S. Citizens that Die•Pass Away in Costa Rica including Help for Vets that Die in Costa Rica like How to Get Cremation at 1/2 PRICE and How to Have ALL Your Expenses Taken Care of with Disposing of your body [by donating it to the medical school for science])
•   AA • NA • 12-Step Support

•   FREE Audio Book Lending Library

•   VETS HAPPY TO HELP!!!

•   Article on Services for U.S. Veterans in Costa Rica

•   FEDERAL BENEFITS Unit for issues with Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Civil Service [OPM] and Railroad Retirement Board

•   BUSINESSES OFFERING SUPPORT • DISCOUNTS TO U.S. VETERANS LIVING IN COSTA RICA
(like Free Hearing Aids • Free Hearing Exam • Discounts on Hearing Aids)

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SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS BRINGING VETS TOGETHER

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE - Costa Rica

sites.google.com/site/MarineCorpsLeagueCostaRica

(their GREAT site!!!)

The Marine Corps League of Costa Rica needs a FEW GOOD MEN (and women) -

Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen.

PLUS

ALL Honorably Discharged U.S. MILITARY VETERANS are eligible to join as Associate Members

This is an opportunity for U.S. Marines to associate with other Marines to preserve the traditions and promote the interests of the United States Marine Corps.

Their goal is to offer camaraderie to Marines and Naval FMF Corpsman living in Costa Rica, and to give back to their adopted country.  A lot of focus on what they do (year around) is helping orphaned children and poor children.

MEETINGS:

2nd Saturday of each month at 11am-12pm/noon+

(they usually have about 30 people attending their hour long meetings and most stay for the no-host lunch afterwards which is a tasty bbq ribs casada and drink for just 5,000-c.  Wives and guests are welcome since they’re ALL “family”.

Sometimes they ask for contributions towards various causes at the meeting so bring some extra $$ to share (Vicki is adding this not - not the Marine's!).

They even have members in the U.S. that help support their efforts)

LOTS MORE DETAILS at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/11/MarineCorpsLeagueCR.html

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American Legion - Post 12 - Golfito 
MEETINGS:
1st Tuesday of the month - 4-5pm

WHERE: 
Golfito - Banana Bay Marina

CONTACT:
Patrick O’Connell - GoVets12@yahoo.com • 8-919-8947
- OR -
in the Central Valley the contact is my bud - the WONDERFUL Mel Goldberg - 8-870-6756 (no email)!!!

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AMERICAN LEGION - POST 10

AmLegionCR10.com

Costa Rica's first American Legion post, Post 10 in Escazú, was chartered in 1957 and has a very active membership numbering 100+.

Veterans of a uniformed service of the United States or other countries and guests are cordially invited to attend.  Any former member whose membership may have lapsed is encouraged to rejoin.

MEETINGS:
1st Wednesday of each month at 12pm/noon SHARP
Following the meeting, everyone is encouraged to stick around to socialize and get to know their fellow Post members and partake of the "optional" lunch of a typical casado with a choice of chicken, pork chop, beef or fish.  The cost is 3,000 colones and includes a natural beverage.  Local non premium beer (Imperial, Pilsen, etc.) is also available at 1,200 colones.

WHERE:
Escazu at the Bello Horizonte Country Club

CONTACT: 
Claudio Pacheco - 8-876-1394 • commander@AmLegionCR10.com  •  Pacheco.Claudio@gmail.com

P.O. Box:  APDO 4307-1000, San Jose 101(01 - Costa Rica

(John Moran passed away in September 2013)  

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Guanacaste Veterans Association
GuanacasteVets.com  •  facebook.com/GuanacasteVeteransAssociation

WHAT:
MONTHLY MEETING
WHEN:
3rd Saturday of the month - 11am followed by lunch
WHERE:
PLAYAS DEL COCO - Coconutz Restaurant - Main street
WHO'S INVITED:
ALL Veterans & their Family & Friends.
 LUNCH SPECIALS AND DRINKS AT HAPPY HOUR PRICES.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:
Memorial Day Potluck
(wrote them but no one responded)

CONTACTS:
ROSEANNA BOYER
EVENTS COORDINATOR

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American Legion - Auxiliary
(for the Spouses of military people)

MEETINGS:
2nd Saturday of the month - 1-2pm

WHERE: 
Moravia

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES:
Christmas Party with Bingo and lots of prizes and Santa. MCL members and their families are invited.


CONTACT: 
Doris Murillo - 2-240-2947

(I have called Doris 6 times over the year and left messages and no return call so I can't give you more details than what was passed on to me)

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VFW - VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS - Post 11207

All service members that who served OVERSEAS are welcome to join for comradeship.

MEETINGS

WHEN:
1st Tuesday of the month - 12pm/noon
No host lunch in the Club Colonial Casino Dining Room
and then at
1:30pm the Meeting starts up on the 2nd floor

WHERE:
San Jose - Colonial Casino

CONTACT: 
Commander Carlo Benedetto - 2-234-7018  •  8-315-6382  •  Carlo1933@gmail.com

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RESOURCES

RETIRED U.S. MILITARY VETERANS ONLY

 HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING YOUR MEDICATIONS
from
Express Scripts

FYI - they can NOT ship from the U.S. now!!

Call Mel Goldberg  -  8-870-6756
and he'll try to help hook you up!!!

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HOLIDAY • CEREMONIES • GATHERINGS:

U.S. VETERANS DAY & REMEMBRANCE DAY (British - Canadian - Trinity/Tobago) SERVICE•CEREMONY
WHEN:
Sunday - November 9 - 5-7:30pm
WHERE:
Escazu - Guachipelin.

DETAILS at:  LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/10/VeteransRemembranceDayInCR.html


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 DYING in Costa Rica - Resources to help American•U.S. Citizens that Die•Pass Away in Costa Rica
Including Help for Vets that Die in Costa Rica like
•  What to Do
•  How to Get Cremation at 1/2 PRICE
•  How to Have ALL Your Expenses Taken Care of with Disposing of your body [by donating it to the medical school for science]) and more
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/11/AmericansDyingInCR.html



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TriCare for Life • Champus - Military Retired Vets or people on VA Disability

HOSPITAL METROPOLITANO

HospitalMetropolitano.co.cr

Hospital Metropolitano provides integral medical care for Veterans and retirees of the United States Armed Forces through TriCare Overseas (for Standard and Tricare for Life - TFL - aka Champus VA), Foreign Medical Program (FMP), Blue Cross Blue Shield and Cigna International.
(vets on disability that have a Disability letter from the VA and they'll treat you for whatever is covered on the Disability Letter). 
 Other veterans NOT on TriCare or the Foreign Medical Program will get some discount on all services.

(I hear REALLY POSITIVE things about this new hospital/clinic!!!)

CONTACT:  

When you call the hospital to get started, ask specifically for the
Veterans Office - Oficina de Veteranos

International Insurance Coordinator
Aida Granados  -  2-521-6565 Ext. 22434 • 2-222-4411
8-839-8519 or 2-226-5355

(Ofelia Ramirez is no longer working there)

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NOTE ABOUT TRICARE
If you live abroad, you might want to switch to the 
TriCare Overseas Plan 
TriCare-OverSeas.com
 BUT - you MUST pay UP FRONT (and I believe you still need to get whatever PRE-APPROVED) and THEN get reimbursed by TriCare (which can take around 45 days from the time we submitted the bills online to the time you receive your check).
TriCare pays 75% until you reach deductible of $3,000 and 
100% after you meet your deductible.
 It's a good deal as long as you don't mind paying up front.
Last I heard Hospital Biblica was NOT doing anything special with TriCare.


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PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES • STORIES WITH TRI-CARE IN COSTA RICA

Dolores' Experience
CostaRicaBargains.blogspot.com/2014/05/Tricare.html

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Disabled American Veterans Medical Care in Costa Rica
facebook.com/www.CentroMedicoDelSur.co.crCentroMedicoDelSur.co.cr
Dr. Oscar Cambronero - 8-811-9345
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AA • NA • 12 STEP SUPPORT in Costa Rica
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/01/12-step-aa-na-meetings-alcohol-drug_12.html

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AUDIO BOOK LENDING LIBRARY 
In Hospital Metropoliano in San Jose? If you’d like, one of the Marine Corps League members will come visit you along with their Marine Corps chaplain (Jerry Thomas) and you can borrow some of these Audio Books and a cd player while you’re there.  Members can borrow these for FREE for up to a month!!  This service is good for ALL Vets (ALL branches of the various services. 
(have any Audio CD's you no longer need?  Donate them to these guys!!  They're not currently taking any cassettes as they do not have a cassette player so if you have one to donate, PLEASE pass it on!!
(fyi - Hospital Metropoliano is THE hospital for vets as they’re the only one that works with TriCare and Champus)
Details at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2013/11/MarineCorpsLeagueCR.html

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VETS HAPPY TO HELP!!!

VETS - Spouses - NEED HELP??
Looking for different types of SUPPORT??
THE MAN - Mr Connected -

*MEL GOLDBERG

He’s THE MAN!!  He’s there for American Citizens (ESPECIALLY VETS) living in, thinking of moving to Costa Rica?  He’s your voice of sanity in this potentially INSANE world!! 

Has a Vet Passed Away?
Mel can attend the funeral (and try to get some cronies together to attend) and present the official Burial Flag 

He is ESPECIALLY helpful when someone has DIED in Costa Rica as:

•  he is connected and can assist you with dealing with the U.S. Embassy and all things associated with the death, funeral homes, burial, cremation, etc. (he speaks Spanish)

•  he has the contact to get a BIG discount on cremation or a smaller discount on burials

•  he has access to the Arlington Cemetery style tombstone and

•  Military Issued Burial Flags  (he usually has some on reserve for people that provide the proof of service listed below.  You'll need to apply for it and show them some sort of proof they were in the military and have passed away:
DD214 or Separation of Service or Discharge Papers and Report of Death certificate.  Hou HAVE to make an appointment or show up and wait) 

•  He's happy to attend the funeral in uniform and gather some other vets - as well as present the official Burial Flag

•  He’s even been known to scatter ashes at sea - in uniform - sometimes with some other guys! (I did NOT say this since it's of course "illegal"!!!  Please especially contribute something for his time especially for this because of the distance - as well as gas for him and gas for the boat)

Mel’s a VOLUNTEER with American Legion Post 12 of Golfito, Marine Corp League of Costa Rica and a Warden with the U.S. Embassy

(he seems to be their UN-Official Go-To Civilian Guy!!). 

Mel does all the does out of the goodness of his heart and his pocket (so PLEASE, GIVE BACK to him on SOME level if he helps you.  He's such a sweetie and MENCH!!)

8-870-6756

Mel does NOT do email - ONLY phone BUT, he does have a friend that on OCCASION will pass a message onto him but make sure to write in the SUBJECT box - "FOR MEL GOLDBERG" and email it to - carsese@yahoo.com

(tell him Vicki Connected you!!!)

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ARE YOU A VET THAT WOULD LIKE TO HELP OTHER U.S. VETERANS LIVING IN COSTA RICA?

Would you like to be a resource that other vets can contact directly to connect with - to be put on my blog entry on Vet's Resources, send me:

•  Name (first name & last initial is ok if you don't want to make your last name public):
•  Branch of Service and Rank if you feel that's important:
•  Status (if one is disabled, maybe other disabled vets would like to connect & you could be supportive of each other):
•  Where you live in CR:
•  Contact info you'd like to give - email, phone # in CR, do you have Skype or a U.S. phone #? (though you might want to wait till you've communicated via email first to make sure you DO want to verbally communicate with them):
•  What assistance can you provide (a friendly voice, meet for coffee, a face at one of the meetings, go with them to a doctors appointment, help drive them, show them around, share info on your experience moving to/living in CR, someone to share war stories with - whatever!!):
•  Other info you'd like to add:

If you are charging for your services, I would appreciate it if you showed YOUR Appreciation for getting to be on this article (which I will be sharing in at least 30 Message Boards, Forums, Facebook Groups and MANY places reaching U.S. Veterans living in Costa Rica).  See the LEFT column of my blog for how to do that.

Email me all your DETAILS to: 
LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

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FEDERAL BENEFITS Unit 
for issues with
Social Security, Veterans Affairs, Civil Service [OPM] and Railroad Retirement Board
at the
U.S. Embassy in Pavas/San Jose, Costa Rica


DETAILS at:
LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2014/01/USFederalBenefitsUnitCR.html

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GREAT article on Services for U.S. Veterans in Costa Rica

http://blog.TheRealCostaRica.com/2010/08/21/us-veterans-in-costa-rica

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BUSINESSES OFFERING SUPPORT • DISCOUNTS TO U.S. VETERANS LIVING IN COSTA RICA

FREE HEARING AIDS
for Vets that have suffered a
SERVICE RELATED DISABILITY.

FREE HEARING EXAM
for ALL VETS

DISCOUNTS ON HEARING AIDS
or ALL VETS

by an
English-Speaking HEARING CONSULTANT

Widex Hearing Aids and Instruments from Denmark - 

the worlds leading provider of hearing aids -

provides professionally Hearing evaluation (in English if you need that) at
Clinica Dinamarca off Paseo Colón or at Hospital CIMA.

• Lowest prices

• Natural sound

• No more background noise, feedback or echoing

• American hearing consultant from D.C. and Atlanta

To coordinate your appointment contact:

Allan Weinberg  -  allan9000@gmail.com  •  8-891-8989

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Do you know of any other resources that can help U.S. Veterans living in Costa Rica?
Offer them discounts or some sort of assistance?

 Email me DETAILS at
LivingLifeInCostaRica@gmail.com

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LivingLifeInCostaRica.blogspot.com/2012/07/VeteransResources.html

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