Catastrophic Illness Fund Full Length

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund

What does the Fund do: Provides reimbursement of expenses not covered by insurance, state or federal programs or other sources to New Jersey families whose children have a catastrophic illness or condition.

What is a Catastrophic Illness or Condition:

  • catastrophic refers to the expenses, not the severity of the illness or condition
  • condition may be acute or chronic

Key Fact: The family must generally pay the expenses first and then The Fund reimburses the expenses.

Eligibility:

  • Child must be under 22 at time medical expenses were incurred
  • Eligible expenses must exceed 10% of family’s gross income, plus 15% of any excess income over $100,000 in any prior 12 month consecutive period.
  • can be a calendar year or any 12 month period but must begin at the beginning of a month.
  • No deadline or statute of limitations to submit for past expenses
  • May reapply every 12 months
  • You cannot combine children’s expenses. Each child’s expenses must be applied for separately and satisfy the eligibility rules.
  • Limit per application of $100,000

Types of expenses that may be reimbursed

  • Doctor appointments
  • Medicine
  • Therapies - including occupation, speech, physical and ABA therapy.
  • There may be reimbursement caps on speech and ABA therapy.
  • Must be a reasonable rate for the therapy
  • Therapist must be licensed (must be licensed or certified)
  • Hospitalizations - applicant must have first applied to NJ Charity Care
  • Durable medical equipment- Examples include eyeglasses, walkers, wheelchairs and many other items
  • Medical Supplies - Examples include gloves, diapers, wipes, chucks and catheters.
  • Home modifications- Examples include bathroom accessibility, ramp, widening of doorways
    • Other changes to house to improve accessibility may be reimbursed. If in doubt, submit.
    • Limit of $25,000 per year for home modification
  • Transportation to appointments, including mileage, tolls and parking
  • Lab Costs
  • Hotel for out of state medical visits (no food)
  • Home health care (must be licensed or certified)
  • Long term care
  • Modified vehicle - Up to $7,500 for the vehicle purchase price is reimbursable.
  • The full cost of the modification is also reimbursable.
  • The $7,500 vehicle reimbursement is once per lifetime but modifications/conversions can be reimbursed after a period of 10 or more years.
  • Funeral Expenses

Types of expenses that will not be reimbursed

  • Insurance premiums may only be considered for eligibility. i.e. will not reimburse but will consider an expense to get you over the hump of 10%
  • Modifications on vacation homes or rentals
  • Food - there may be an exception if child is fed via G-tube
  • Educational expenses
  • Vision therapy
  • Treatments not approved by the FDA
  • Expenses related to education
  • Modifications to rentals or vacation homes

Other relevant rules

  • May not combine multiple children’s expenses
  • Total application each year cannot exceed $100,000
  • Insurance premiums may be counted as an expense to help with eligibility but will not be reimburse
  • Some categories have reimbursement limits
How to apply:

Online: njcatastrophicfund.dhs.state.nj.us/cicrf/

(Will need to mail in supporting documentation)

Call 1-800-335-FUND (3863) for information

Documents to submit with application

  • Tax form and/or pay
  • Divorced applicants
    • Copy of divorce decree
    • Child support documents
    • Custody agreements
  • Proof of medical bills and expenses
  • Copy of child’s insurance card (front/back)
  • Proof of payments (credit card/canceled check/bank statements)
  • Explanation of Benefits (both sides)
  • Proof of any fundraising. The Fund will not reimburse the portion of the expense that is covered by any fundraising.
  • Child’s birth certificate
  • Proof parents are permanent, legal residents of NJ -birth certificate/passport/green card

Special Needs Trusts

If the child has money in a special needs trust that would allow for the money to be used to pay for the expense, then that money must be used.

TimeFrame

Applicants should receive an email within 2 weeks and get a call to verify receipt and do a review. There may be a request for additional documentation. It can take several months to review.

Once a decision is reached, applicants will receive a letter shortly. Checks are generally issued soon after receipt of the letter.