NMFA, Express Scripts Team Up to Support Military Families during Pandemic
ALEXANDRIA, VA — The National Military Family Association (NMFA) and Express Scripts, TRICARE’s pharmacy home delivery provider, are teaming up to make sure America’s military families have the support they need when they need it most.
While 2020 has brought challenges for all Americans, military families have faced unique hardships. Military spouses — who already faced a 24% unemployment rate before the pandemic — are struggling to find work in greater numbers. Under increased economic stress, more military families are turning to food banks in order to put food on the table. Other families with military moves upended by COVID-19 are living out of suitcases, unsure of what’s next.
To meet the growing needs military families face, NMFA has pivoted its programming to ensure that every military family is strong, resilient, and thriving.
At the start of the pandemic, NMFA launched the premier information hub about coronavirus policies and procedures for military families, connecting them to the information they need and informing advocacy work to affect change on their behalf. In the months since, NMFA has strengthened its scholarship programming to provide specific support to Frontline Families with one spouse working in a healthcare profession to fight COVID-19 at home while their service member defends our nation abroad, launched a child care fee assistance relief program for military families juggling work and children at home through the pandemic, and taken its Operation Purple® camp and retreat programming virtual.
With the help of a $50,000 matching gift from Express Scripts, NMFA will be able to provide even more support to military families going forward.
“Since the onset of the pandemic, NMFA has committed to providing military families with the information and support they need to survive and even thrive in these tough times,” said Ashish Vazirani, Executive Director and CEO of the National Military Family Association. “NMFA and Express Scripts share a commitment to support the health and wellbeing of military families. Together, we are providing military families with the meaningful assistance they need and deserve.”
Tom Jenkins, senior director-DoD programs at Express Scripts and Retired Lt. Commander, U. S. Navy stated, “Express Scripts is honored to work with NMFA and be a part of this critical mission. Our military men and women are dedicated to keeping our nation safe and secure every day and it’s our job to ensure they are getting the assistance they need, especially during this crisis.”
To learn more about what NMFA and Express Scripts are doing to serve military families through the pandemic and beyond, please visit www.militaryfamily.org and https://militaryrx.express-scripts.com/
About NMFA
The National Military Family Association is the leading nonprofit dedicated to serving the families who stand behind the uniform. Since 1969, NMFA has worked to strengthen and protect millions of families through its advocacy and programs. They provide spouse scholarships, camps for military kids, and retreats for families reconnecting after deployment and for the families of the wounded, ill, or injured. NMFA serves the families of the currently serving, veteran, retired, wounded or fallen members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Commissioned Corps of the USPHS and NOAA, and Space Force. To get involved or to learn more, visit www.MilitaryFamily.org.
About Express Scripts
Express Scripts, a Cigna company, is one of the nation’s leading providers of prescription drug coverage. We have proudly managed the TRICARE pharmacy program since 2003, and now serve more than 9 million active duty service members, military retirees and their families. To learn more, please visit express-scripts.com/corporate.
