The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) encourages all parents or legal guardians of children with cerebral palsy (CP) needing financial help to apply for medical care grants.
UHCCF grants are meant to help families pay for medical expenses that are not partially or fully covered by their commercial insurance plans. Eligible children can receive up to $5,000 per grant, for a lifetime maximum of $10,000 per child.
The grants help finance treatments as well as physical, occupational and speech therapy; money can also be used for counseling, surgeries, prescriptions or wheelchairs, among other things.
In order for a family to qualify, the patient child must be a U.S. resident with a valid commercial health insurance plan, and cannot be older than 16 years old. Families must meet the UHCCF application criteria. Adjusted gross income for a family of three cannot exceed $75,000 (or $100,000 for a family of four, or $125,000 for a family of five).
Families can apply for past medical expenses incurred up to 60 days before the date of application, as well as for present and future expenses. Neither the children nor the families must be insured through UnitedHealthcare for eligibility.
Potential applicants should read all the required information before starting the online application process. All required documentation must be attached to the application before submitting it.
Since 2007, the Minneapolis-based UHCCF has awarded more than 13,000 grants to children and their families across the country worth a combined $35 million. The foundation hopes to award 20,000 grants by 2020, and is seeking ambassadors to help spread the word.
“Our mission to help children access and receive care that improves their quality of life is made possible by the kindness and generosity of people across the country,” Matt Peterson, president of UHCCF, said in a press release. “Thousands of families have already been helped by UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation grants, but we know many more families are in need. Through our ambassadors, we hope to raise awareness and help more children and families.”