HEALTH CARE SUPPORT PROGRAM

Important Health Care Support Program Update

The Board of Directors is pleased to announce a one year extension of the Health Care Support Program. Family members not currently enrolled in the program may do so between November, 2007 and March of 2008. New enrollees’ benefits will commence during the month of enrollment, with an expiration date of December, 2008 or twelve months from enrollment, whichever occurs later.

Family members currently enrolled will have their benefits automatically extended for twelve months beyond their current expiration date. Those currently enrolled (as of October, 2007) may change options at any time between January 1, 2008 and the expiration date of their current plan. The option selected will stay in effect for twelve months and may not be changed during that period.

The Board of Directors of the Massachusetts 9/11 Fund is pleased to announce that in response to a need many families have expressed, we are rolling out a new program to help eligible families with some health care costs. The program, named the "Health Care Support Program", is now available.

What does the program cover?

Eligible families can choose from one of the following alternatives:

OPTION 1 - receive reimbursement for 50% of health and/or dental insurance premiums for a maximum of two years.
OPTION 2 - receive reimbursement for up to $2,500 annually for each of two years for out-of pocket deductibles, co-payments, or payments for professional health care services where your benefits have been exhausted. Costs submitted for reimbursement are not eligible for submittal to any other reimbursement program including LifeNet and all other 9/11-related funds and grants. If in doubt, contact Diane Nealon for any questions about eligibility for other health care support programs.

Program Length - Two Years

The program will run for 24 consecutive months and can be started any time from 1/1/2006 through and including 5/1/2006. You may select the start date when you request consideration for eligibility.
Each year you will select an option which will stay in force for twelve months once it is selected. You may change options only once thereafter - to affect the second year. Near the conclusion of month twelve, you can request a different option, which will go into effect on the first day of month 13 of the 24 month program.

Who is eligible?

The program's current requirement is that you satisfy all of the following criteria. These criteria are subject to change given appropriate federal and state regulation and legislation:

Relationship - You were impacted by the attacks of 9/11/01. "Impacted" is defined by one of the two following definitions:

You are related to an individual killed or injured in the September 11th terrorist attacks (relationship must be either as parent, spouse, child, sibling or domestic partner. This relationship does not had to have been one in which you were financially dependent upon the loved one who was killed or injured) or
You were present at one of the sites of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01 (whether as a victim or a rescue worker) and you suffered a direct injury or trauma as a result of those attacks

Residency - where you have lived for the last twelve months:

Current - you can provide documentation that you currently live in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Rhode Island

Income Qualification:

The limit on the annual taxable income for an individual to be eligible, documented by a copy of the 2005 federal tax return, is $94,200. For families, the limit is $188,400.

How do I request an eligibility determination?

Families requesting eligibility need to send the following documents. These can be provided by mail, or by email using scanned documents in PDF format.

a cover letter indicating

for persons related to a lost loved one(s)
- the name(s) of the individual(s) requesting eligibility, their relationship to the loved one(s), and the name of the loved one(s)

for people who were directly injured or traumatized as a result of being at one of the sites of the terrorist attacks on 9/11/01
- your name and the site of the terrorist attack at which you were injured or traumatized

a statement choosing which option you would like
- Option 1 - insurance premium reimbursement or
- Option 2 - out-of-pocket reimbursement

the start date you choose for your eligibility
- any date from 1/1/2006 through and including 5/1/2006) to begin

a completed copy of your 2005 tax return (covering 1/1/05-12/31/05). Please only send the 1040, 1040A or 1040EZ. We do not need any attachments or supplementary schedules. This will also serve as documentation of your current residency.

a copy of documentation establishing the state of your residency for the most immediate past twelve months.

for those persons related to a lost loved one, a copy of documentation supporting your relationship to your deceased loved one(s)

complete this document

If you believe any of the above documentation is already on file at the Fund, please let us know. Duplicates are NOT necessary. We will respond promptly to all families requesting a decision on their eligibility for this program.

Please direct your email correspondence to:

What is the process for submitting paid bills for reimbursement once I am told I am eligible for this program?

Eligible families submit copies of paid bills (no more frequently than once per month, please) for reimbursement consideration. The mailing address to use is the same as in the above section of this notice.

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