UnitedHealthcare Donates More Than $25,000 to Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fisher House

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UnitedHealthcare has donated more than $25,000 to Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fisher House to assist the families of wounded U.S. military members. The donation will help fund the Fisher House “Sponsor A Family” program.

“These Fisher Houses have provided thousands of nights of lodging during a critical time for these families. With UnitedHealthcare’s generosity, we will be able to ensure there is never a charge for their lodging. It removes that financial burden and lets the families focus on healing”

Fisher House provides a wide range of services and support to the families of wounded U.S. military. The donation supports one year’s worth of lodging and support costs for all families staying at the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Fisher House.

“These Fisher Houses have provided thousands of nights of lodging during a critical time for these families. With UnitedHealthcare’s generosity, we will be able to ensure there is never a charge for their lodging. It removes that financial burden and lets the families focus on healing,” said David Coker, Fisher House Foundation president.

“UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to support Fisher House and make a difference in the lives of our nation’s service members, veterans and their families,” said Lori McDougal, CEO of UnitedHealth Military & Veterans.

UnitedHealthcare’s support of the Fisher House Foundation is a result of the company’s participation in CBS EcoMedia Inc.’s WellnessAd program.

About Fisher House Foundation
Fisher House Foundation is best known for the network of comfort homes built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. The Fisher Houses are 5,000 to 16,800 square-foot homes, donated to the military and Department of Veterans Affairs, where families can stay while a loved one is receiving treatment. Additionally, the Foundation ensures that families of service men and women wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan are not burdened with unnecessary expense during a time of crisis. Located in close proximity to the medical center or hospital it serves, each Fisher House consists of between 8 and 21 suites, with private bedrooms and baths. Families share a common kitchen, laundry facilities, spacious dining room and an inviting living room with a library and toys for children. Fisher House Foundation ensures that there is no fee to stay in a Fisher House. Since inception, the program has saved military and veteran families an estimated $192 million in out of pocket costs for lodging and transportation. Fisher House Foundation operates the Hero Miles Program, using donated frequent flyer miles to bring family members to the bedside of injured service members. To date, Hero Miles has provided over 26,000 airline tickets to our military and their families. The Foundation also manages a grant program that supports other military charities and scholarship funds for military children, spouses and children of fallen and disabled veterans.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare serves more than 38 million people and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

Beginning in April 2013, UnitedHealthcare will be the managed care contractor for TRICARE West, serving 2.9 million service members, retirees and their families in the western United States.