Apply for a grant

Age

The child must be 16 years of age or younger at the time of the application.

Income requirements

A family must not exceed the following maximum eligible Adjusted Gross Income, as documented on line 11 of the current year’s federal tax return (IRS Tax Form 1040).  If filing status is “married filing separately” we do require both tax returns and the combined income can not exceed the limit

• Family Size of 2 – $65,000 or less
• Family Size of 3 – $100,000 or less
• Family Size of 4 – $135,000 or less
• Family Size of 5 or more – $170,000 or less

U.S. citizenship

The child must have a Social Security number issued by the Social Security Administration. TIN numbers are not accepted.

Medically insured

The child must have primary insurance coverage by a commercial health plan, either through an employer or individually purchased. Secondary insurance through Medicaid or CHIP is acceptable.

Under the care of a medical professional

The child’s care, medical services, treatments and/or therapies MUST be administered by a licensed medical professional. Treatments, equipment or services included in the application must be prescribed by a Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) or Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) for hearing conditions. Medical services and/or purchased equipment MUST be administered or purchased in the United States (excluding the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories).

Timing of service(s)

Don’t wait – apply right away! Grants are available for medical costs incurred within 90 days of the time UHCCF determines the application to be complete. Grants are good for one year following the month in which they are approved.

Some costs are not eligible for UHCCF grant funding.

Dental care and orthodontic exclusions

Dental and orthodontics are not covered under UHCCF grant funding unless they are related to a serious medical condition, such as cleft palate, cancer, etc. Examples of dental exclusions include:

• Annual cleanings
• Fillings
• X-rays
• Braces
• Invisalign
• Check-ups
• Anesthesia

Educational exclusions

• School tutoring
• Testing for learning disabilities
• Tuition for school or camp (including day camps for therapies)
• Educational programs
• Electronic devices (computers, laptops, iPads or tablets
• Smartphones not specifically designed for medical or clinical treatment purposes

Home and vehicle exclusions

• Home improvements or modifications
• Service dogs or other animals
• Vehicle purchases
• Vehicle modifications, such as lift kits, may be considered for grant funding.

Prescription drug exclusions

• Drugs not approved by the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
• Drugs not purchased in the United States
• Homeopathic supplements
• Over-the-counter medications or products
• Vitamins or supplements
• Medications not filled at a pharmacy or prescribed by a licensed professional

Procedure and treatment exclusions

• Biofeedback/biomedical consultations and Neurofeedback
• Clinical trials and investigational or experimental treatments
• Heavy metal toxicity testing or chelation therapy, unless there is a proven medical indication of lead, copper, or iron toxicity
• Hyperbaric oxygen treatment
• Herbal testing
• Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)

Reproduction exclusions

• Egg retrieval
• Infertility
• Pregnancy and birth
• Sperm banking

Therapy exclusions

• Listening therapy
• Vision therapy
• Hippotherapy or equine therapy
• Music therapy
• Play therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• MeRT (Magnetic Resonance Therapy)
• Social skills therapy
• Therapy program fees

Other therapies must be performed by a licensed medical professional to be considered for grant funding. UHCCF is happy to consider children aged 3-6 for a one-time grant to help cover the cost of ABA therapy. We are unable to approve grant funding for ABA therapy for children younger than 3 or older than 6. We’re also unable to provide more than one ABA therapy grant per child.

Travel and lodging exclusions

• Gas
• Flights
• Food
• Mileage
• Hotel/motel stays

Miscellaneous exclusions

• Autopsy
• Burial or funeral costs
• Camera/video surveillance equipment
• Alert bracelets and GPS trackers
• Food, unless it’s related to a medical condition
• Pools or whirlpools
• Memberships
• Subscriptions
• Program fees
• Well-child visits
• Routine care
• Vaccinations
• Concierge services of any kind

For approved grants, the grant start date is 90 days prior to the date the application is deemed complete. If the service or treatment you are seeking a grant for happened more than 90 days prior to the application being complete, it will not be considered. The grant expiration date will be one year after Board approval, unless funds are exhausted prior to that expiration date. Payment requests for medical costs on dates of service outside of this date range will NOT be considered.

The amount awarded to an individual within a 12-month period is limited to $5,000. Awards to any one individual are limited to a lifetime maximum of $10,000.

Grant recipients who are awarded less than $5,000 may reapply for another grant once the current grant funds have been completely exhausted.

Reimbursement to the family with adequate documentation showing the health care professional has been paid, or direct payment to the medical professional is available.

Applications not approved by the Regional Board must wait 12 months before reapplying, unless the medical condition and requested items have significantly changed from the original request.

Continuous commercial health insurance coverage is required for the entire duration of the application, approval and grant process. Loss of commercial health insurance coverage will result in the closure of the grant, and any remaining grant funds will revert to UHCCF.

You must provide a copy of the explanation of benefits (EOB) from your primary medical insurance carrier, which includes the details of how they have processed the charges for the requested dates of service, including the patient responsibility amount. If you choose to go to an out of network provider or a provider that does not accept insurance, you will be responsible for submitting to your insurance for an EOB to be obtained.

UHCCF currently has three Regional boards that meet once a month to review grant applications. Once you have finished your application, submitted all necessary documentation and your information has been screened, the Regional board will review it at their next meeting.