Grants to cover kids offered

UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is offering families grants of up to $5,000 to help cover the costs of medical care for their children. Families do not need to be insured through UnitedHealthcare to take advantage of the financial assistance program.

Qualifying families can receive up to $5,000 per grant to help pay for their child’s health care treatments, services or equipment not covered, or not fully covered, by their commercial health plan.

Last year, the foundation awarded just 19 grants in Washington. Foundation officials are encouraging more families to apply for the medical grants this year.

“Unfortunately, thousands of children struggle every day for something many of us take for granted — our health,” said Claire Verity, Pacific Northwest CEO for UnitedHealthcare, in a news release. “That reality is the driving force behind UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation’s mission to help families in need access medical care that will improve their child’s health. Our medical grants have already helped thousands of children in need, and we are looking to help thousands’ more children.”

To be eligible, families must meet economic guidelines, live in the U.S. and have a commercial health plan. The child must be 16 years old or younger, and the grants are available for medical expenses incurred 60 days prior to the application date, as well as for ongoing and future medical needs.

To apply for a grant, visit the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation website, www.uhccf.org.

Families frequently use the grants to pay for treatments associated with medical conditions such as cancer, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, hearing loss, autism, cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Grants have been used for physical, occupational and speech therapy, counseling services, surgeries, prescriptions, wheelchairs, orthotics, eyeglasses and hearing aids, according to the foundation.

Since 2007, the foundation has awarded more than 13,000 grants valued at more than $35 million to families across the country.