NYC 9/11 Benefit

MHA of NYC administers the NYC 9/11 Benefit Program for Mental Health & Substance Use Services, funded by the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.

The NYC 9/11 Benefit Program for Mental Health and Substance Use Services provides New York City residents in all five boroughs with financial assistance for outpatient mental health and substance use services. The benefit works by reimbursing individuals, or their providers, for the costs of mental health treatment and medications.  It's easy to apply, there are no income or citizenship requirements, and reimbursement is retroactive to January 2, 2007.

To learn more about the NYC 9/11 Benefit Program visit: www.nyc.gov/9-11mentalhealth or call 1-877-SEP-11MH (1-877-737-1164)

Eligibility

Two groups of NYC residents are eligible for the program. Group A includes individuals or family members of those who:

• Lost a family member, were seriously injured, or lived below Canal Street
• Worked in the WTC area or at the Pentagon - whether or not they were at work that day. Or were evacuated from the WTC area or the Pentagon
• Attended a school near the WTC, or are the parent of a child who attended nearby
• Were a rescue, recovery, or reconstruction worker assigned to a "restricted site"
• Were an emergency dispatcher on 9/11 or worked in the morgues serving the attacks sites
• Worked south of Canal Street or at Ronald Reagan Airport, and before January 11, 2002 lost their job or earned less than 70% of their pre-9/11 income
• Have a family member, or shared a home with someone, who meets the criteria above, and

• Reside in NYC

Group B includes NYC residents who are not in Group A but who have psychological symptoms that are likely related to the attacks. Individuals in this category will be screened, and their treating providers will be asked to submit a letter affirming that their conditions are likely related to the events of 9/11.

Services Covered

The NYC 9/11 Benefit Program reserves the right to modify covered services at any time. Covered services include:

• Outpatient mental health and substance-use services: The benefit program covers out-of-pocket costs associated with outpatient treatment. There is no dollar cap on reimbursement for members of Group A. For members of Group B, reimbursement is limited to $3,000 over the lifetime of the benefit.

• Medication and laboratory work related to mental health and substance-use treatment: Additionally, the benefit covers reimbursement for medication and/or laboratory work up to $1,500 over the lifetime of the benefit.

• Psychological evaluations and testing: The benefit covers up to eight hours of evaluation and testing for children age 21 and under.

The benefit program does not cover the following:

• Inpatient services
• Art therapy and other expressive therapies
• Emergency-room visits and related services
• Missed appointments
• Acupuncture
• Non-related mental health/substance use medications

Eligible Providers

To receive reimbursement, you must receive services from a provider who is licensed/certified in New York State, or who works under the supervision of a New York State-licensed provider in the same field of practice.

Services delivered by the following licensed or certified professionals are covered under the NYC 9/11 Benefit Program:

• Certified alcoholism or substance-use counselors
• Licensed psychoanalysts (state license holders only; national certification is not sufficient)
• Marriage and family counselors
• Mental health counselors
• Nurse practitioners
• Physicians

• Psychologists
• Social workers

Important Dates

• April 2008:  Enrollment began
• January 2, 2007:  Coverage began (retroactively)
• July 7, 2010: The the last day to begin enrollment. This means that you must call and begin the enrollment process by this date.

• January 7, 2011:  Coverage ends
• March 31, 2011:  Last day to submit claims

To learn more about the NYC 9/11 Benefit Program, visit: www.nyc.gov/9-11mentalhealth or 1-877-SEP-11MH (1-877-737-1164)