PITTSBURGH -- Harvard University researchers have calculated that more than 2,000 United States veterans died in the last year because they lacked access to health care.

However, an estimated $22 million in government dollars remains available for the nation's 2 million veterans, and author Joseph McCarthy is hoping to help those eligible get coverage.

"I wanted to get the word out through a guidebook that can help them get their hand around the process. Most of the information is scattered and not available readily. information on the Internet, for example, isn't available to a lot of our seniors," said McCarthy, author of "Checks for Vets."

McCarthy's book takes veterans through the process of how to claim the $22 billion in VA pension money.

"They can get money to help pay for assisted living and home care which can be the difference between them living a dignified life and kind of struggling at home," said McCarthy.

McCarthy said his book also informs veterans and their spouses about money they are entitled to, money many of them don't know exists.

"Once they get the pension, they can get medications for free for life and, again, most of them do not know about it. Nine out of 10 veterans I meet don't even know this pension exists," said McCarthy.

---

• Your County: More County News Headlines
• RSS: Add Us To Your iGoogle Or My Yahoo Page

---