Official Site of The State of New Jersey
When your child’s medical bills are too big to handle, we can help.
The Fund is a financial assistance program for New Jersey Families with potentially catastrophic medical expenses due to a child’s illness or condition.
If a family has expenses due to a child’s illness that were incurred in the past 7 years and prior to the child’s 22nd birthday, and the expenses:
- Exceed 10% of the family’s income that year, plus 15% of any income over $100,000; and
- Are not covered by insurance, other State or Federal programs, or other sources such as fundraising;
We can help.
Call the Fund at 1-800-335-FUND (3863) for more information.
In the CICRF program, “catastrophic” refers to the size of the bills and expenses compared to a family’s income in a single 12-month period, not the severity of a child’s illness or condition.
- In any prior consecutive 12-month time period in the seven years (84 months) prior to the date the application for assistance is postmarked and mailed, faxed, or electronically delivered to the State Office, eligible expenses must exceed 10% of the family's income, plus 15% of any excess income over $100,000
- The child must have been 21 years or younger when the medical expenses were incurred.
- The family must have lived in New Jersey for 3 months immediately prior to the date of application.
- The Fund will only reimburse incurred medical expenses that are not covered by any other source.
The following incurred expenses will be considered and may be eligible for payment/reimbursement if found reasonable. The categories include, 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
A Financial Safety Net
This single parent of a teenager was faced with extraordinary medical debt when insurance denied coverage for her son's hearing aid. The hearing aid significantly improved his ability to participate in all aspects of daily life but the out-of-pocket cost was over $6,000 to the family. His mother was overjoyed to learn that the Commission had approved an award to reimburse her for the extraordinary cost of the hearing aid saying that the Fund had given her son "the gift of sound."
- Use this tool to see if you might be eligible: {Estimated Eligibility Calculator}
- Apply Online
New Jersey recognized that families of all incomes may be faced with high uncovered medical expenses for their children. Families with or without insurance are vulnerable to extraordinary 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.
