skip to main contentskip to main navigation
 
State of New Jersey Deapartment of Human Services title graphic  
 
Catastrphic Illness In Children Relief Fund Commission

(Back To Catastrophic Illness Graphics Version Home Page)

What is the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund?
What is a "Catastrophic Illness"?
How did the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program Begin?
What Expenses are Considered Eligible for the Fund?
Who is Eligible for the Fund?
Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program.
How Does A Family Apply to the Fund?

What is the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund?
The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund is a financial assistance program for New Jersey Families whose children have an illness or condition otherwise uncovered by insurance, State or Federal programs, or other source, such as fundraising. The Fund is intended to assist in preserving a family's ability to cope with the responsibilities which accompany a child's significant health problems.


A Financial Safety Net:  An Example...

The parents were insured at the time their son was born four months prematurely, but their insurance carrier only allowed partial coverage. Weighing one pound, twelve ounces at birth, he spent one hundred days in the hospital before he was well enough to go home. The family was left with more than $39,000 in outstanding medical bills and worked extra jobs in an attempt to cover their medical debts. The family was grateful to learn they were granted an award by the Commission to cover their child's expenses.

 


Although the Program maintains confidentiality of all applicants, some families were willing to help spread the word about the Fund's availability.

Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program

1-800-335-FUND (3863)
top of page

The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund is a financial assistance program for New Jersey Families whose children have an illness or condition otherwise uncovered by insurance, State or Federal programs, or other source, such as fundraising.

The Fund is intended to assist in preserving a family's ability to cope with the responsibilities which accompany a child's significant health problems.

There are no specific exclusions by diagnosis.

Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program

1-800-335-FUND (3863)
top of page

New Jersey recognized that families of all incomes maybe faced with high uncovered medical expenses for their children. Families with or without insurance are vulnerable to overwhelming medical bills.

The Fund is intended to assist in preserving the financial integrity of NJ families and their ability to cope with the responsibilities which accompany significant health problems in Children.

The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program was established through legislation in 1988 (P.L. 1987 C.370) to be a financial resource for NJ families overwhelmed with their child's medical bills.

The Fund is a dedicated, revolving non-lapsing trust fund. The Fund is collected from an annual assessment of $1.50 per employee levied on all employers who are subject to the New Jersey unemployment compensation law.

The legislation established the Commission to administer the Fund and to establish a program by which the public may have access to this resource.

Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program

1-800-335-FUND (3863)
top of page

The following incurred expenses will be considered and may be eligible for payment/reimbursement if found reasonable. This list includes, but are not limited to:

Specialized Pediatric Ambulatory Care

Addictions/Mental Health Services

Acute or Specialized hospital care, both in and outpatient

Physician care in all settings

Medical equipment or disposable medical supplies

Pharmaceuticals

Medically related home modifications and medical transportation

Home health care

Overwhelmed By Medical Bills -- A Family's Story

When their daughter was hospitalized for what turned out to be a ruptured appendix, the father had just changed jobs after a period of unemployment and was not yet covered by his new health policy. The youngster's ten day hospital stay, including three days in an intensive care unit, left this family responsible for more than $17,000 in medical bills. Although the parents struggled to make monthly payments on these bills, the medical bills skyrocketed beyond their means. The Commission approved an amount to cover their outstanding debt.

Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program

1-800-335-FUND (3863)
top of page

The child must be 21 years or younger when the medical expenses were incurred.

In a prior consecutive 12-month period, eligible expenses must exceed 10% of the family's first $100,000 of income, plus 15% of any income in excess of $100,000.

The family must have lived in NJ for three months immediately prior to the date of application.

Families can be overwhelmed with medical expenses due to:

Lack of insurance or no dependent coverage

Preexisting condition exclusion

Expenses exceed maximum benefit allowable

Co-pays and expenses uncovered by insurance
top of page

1-800-335-FUND (3863)

The Commission

P.L. 1987 C.370 established the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission to administer the Fund and to establish a program by which the public may have access to this financial resource. The Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission is established in, but not of, the NJ State Department of Human Services. The Commission consists of 11 members, 7 of who are appointed from the public and are non-salaried. A public member, elected by the Commission, is chairperson. The other four members are the Commissioners of Human Services, Health and Senior Services, Banking and Insurance, and the State Treasurer.

The Commission makes all final decisions on eligibility and the amount of assistance.

Since 1989, when the first awards were granted, more than 3,600 families have been assisted and more than $90 million has been approved for uncovered expenses.

Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program

1-800-335-FUND (3863)
top of page

Call the toll free Family Information Line, 1-800-335-FUND (3863), for information and an application.

The completed application is forwarded to the State Office of the Commission for screening and review. All applications to the Program are confidential.

The Commission will review the application and make the final determination on eligibility and the amount of assistance awarded.

Approved grant awards are disbursed directly to the providers to offset outstanding balances.

Families may be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses.

"Thank you very much for the reimbursement we received in January from the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund. The reimbursement really has helped significantly in our effort to recover from the financial disaster precipitated by our daughter's illness. In addition to our primary apprehension, the health of our daughter, we were concerned that we would lose our home and be struggling for years to pay off the significant medical bills which accumulated. Your staff was very helpful to us throughout the application process. Things are really looking up for our family. The reimbursement from the Fund has helped give us hope that we can get back on our feet financially. Most importantly, our daughter is doing much better. Thank you again for your help."

Recipient Family

 

Contact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Program

1-800-335-FUND (3863)

 

Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission

New Jersey Department of Human Services

P.O. Box 728

Trenton, NJ 08625- 0728

(609) 292-0600

E-Mail

Family Information Line: 1-800-335-3863

We Can Help
top of page

 
OPRA - Open Public Records Act NJ Home Logo
Department: DHS Home  |  DHS Services A to Z  |  Consumers & Clients - Individuals and Families  |  Important Resources  |  Divisions & Offices  |  Commissioner & Key Staff  |  Disaster & Emergency Help & Information  |  Press Releases, Public and Legislative Affairs, & Publications  |  Providers & Stakeholders: Contracts, Legal Notices, Licensing, MedComms  |  Get Involved with DHS!  |  Notice of Non-Discrimination  |  Taglines for Language Services
Statewide: NJHome  |  Services A to Z  |  Departments/Agencies  |  FAQs
 
Copyright © State of New Jersey, 1996 - 2008