WTC Health Program Coverage & Eligibility

When you become a member of the WTC Health Program, you are a part of the many people who are recognized to have been downtown or went back despite the false promise by the EPA that the air was safe to breathe. While Health Program members come from all backgrounds and cultures, they share one important thing: they were all present in the Exposure Zone during the days and months after 9/11. Tens of thousands of these individuals now all have a serious and often debilitating 9/11-related illness, such as cancer, GERD, asthma, or PTSD.

What is the Exposure Zone? The Exposure Zone includes the section of Downtown Brooklyn known as Brooklyn Heights. It also includes all of Lower Manhattan that is south of Houston Street. If you present in this area on 9/11 or lived, worked, or went to school in this area in the year that followed 9/11, you most likely qualify for benefits through the WTC Health Programs.

The WTC Health Program serves four different types of members, including:

FDNY responders. Members of the Fire Department of New York City that participated in at least one day in the recovery and rescue efforts can obtain membership in the WTC Health Program.
General responders. Any worker or volunteer who provided services and support during 9/11 and the aftermath. This includes construction workers who worked in cleanup or demolition, as well as police officers who set the perimeter or was otherwise present in the downtown area or worked at Fresh Kills. It also includes volunteers who helped remove debris or offered support, such as the Bucket Brigade, observed meals, provided medical care, or otherwise aided or assisted the first responders. Volunteers and others from outside of New York, the National Guard, members of churches or other faith groups are also part of this group.
NYC survivors. Any person who was present during 9/11 and subsequent months may receive healthcare services and support from the WTC Health Program. This includes students, office and other area workers, employees, business owners, and residents. Even children who attended daycare in the Exposure Zone qualify for a lifetime of free medical monitoring and healthcare for 9/11-related illnesses and cancers.
Pentagon/Shanksville, PA responders. Any responder, recovery, or cleanup worker, as well as volunteers in the area of the Pentagon or near Shanksville, PA may qualify for WTC Health Program benefits.

Since 2011, over 100,000 people have enrolled in the WTC Health Program. Of those 78,534 are responders and 25,484 are survivors. Why are there so few survivors registered? Many survivors do not realize that they qualify for benefits and compensation. They mistakenly believe that the program is just for those first responders, such as FDNY and NYPD officers. However, the WTC Health Program is there to serve ALL survivors — the hundreds of thousands of people who lived and worked downtown on and after 9/11.

To determine if you may qualify for health benefits and medical monitoring, it is important to speak to one of our experienced 9/11 attorneys at Hansen & Rosasco, LLP. Do not worry about depleting funds from first responders. These programs are now 100% funded, so you can get the benefits you deserve without worry.

WTC Health Program Covered Conditions

The World Trade Center Health Program identified the main types of illnesses, cancers, and medical conditions caused by 9/11. This list is constantly changing and expanding as more illnesses become identified.

What medical conditions and illnesses qualify for coverage?

Acute Traumatic Injury

Complex sprain
Burn
Head trauma
Eye injury
Fracture
Tendon tear
Other similar acute traumatic injuries

Aerodigestive Disorders

Gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD)
Chronic laryngitis
Chronic nasopharyngitis
Sleep apnea exacerbated by or related to another condition in the list of aerodigestive disorders
Chronic respiratory disorder due to fumes/vapors
Chronic rhinosinusitis
Interstitial lung diseases
Asthma
Chronic cough syndrome
Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome (RADS)
Upper airway hyperreactivity
New onset chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
WTC-exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Cancers

Childhood Cancers
Digestive System
Blood and Lymphoid Tissue
Female Reproductive Organs
Female Breast
Head and Neck
Eye and Orbit
Respiratory System
Soft Tissue
Skin (Melanoma and non-Melanoma)
Urinary System
Rare Cancers
Thyroid
Mesothelioma

Mental Health Conditions

Acute stress disorder
Anxiety disorder (not otherwise specified)
Adjustment disorder
Dysthymic disorder
Depression (not otherwise specified)li>
Generalized anxiety disorder
Panic disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Major depressive disorder
Substance abuse

Musculoskeletal Disorders

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Back pain

Even if you do not see your illness or respiratory condition listed, speak to our 9/11 law firm immediately. Many other types of illnesses and conditions still qualify for benefits. The WTC Health Program also covers pre-existing illnesses that progressed or worsened because of 9/11.

Where Can I Get 9/11 WTC Health Program Medical Treatment

There are seven Clinical Centers of Excellence (CCEs) in the New York metropolitan area. Many of these clinics have multiple locations throughout New York and New Jersey, including locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County and Piscataway, NJ. For responders living outside this NYC/NJ area, the “Nationwide Provider Network” has physicians across the country that are able to provide care.

WTCHP for New York City Responders Includes:

An individual, including current and former Federal employees, who worked or volunteered onsite in rescue, recovery, demolition, debris cleanup or related support services in Lower Manhattan (south of Canal St.), the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, or the barge loading piers;

A member of the Police Department of New York City (active or retired) or a member of the Port Authority Police of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (active or retired) who participated onsite in rescue, recovery, debris cleanup, or related services in Lower Manhattan (south of Canal St.), including Ground Zero, the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, or the barge loading piers;

An employee of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City involved in the examination and handling of human remains from the World Trade Center attacks, or other morgue worker who performed similar post-September 11 functions for such Office staff;

A worker in the Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation Tunnel;

A vehicle-maintenance worker who was exposed to debris from the former World Trade Center site while retrieving, driving, cleaning, repairing, and maintaining vehicles contaminated by airborne toxins from the September 11th terrorist attacks.

A member of the Fire Department of New York City (fire or emergency personnel, active or retired) who participated at least one day in the rescue and recovery effort at any of the former World Trade Center sites (including Ground Zero, the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, and the New York City Chief Medical Examiner’s Office), or;

A surviving immediate family member of a member of the Fire Department of New York City (whether fire or emergency personnel, active or retired) who was killed at the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2001, if the family member received any treatment for a WTC-related mental health condition on or before September 1, 2008.

WTCHP for New York City Survivors Includes:

A person who was present in the NYC “Exposure Zone” in the dust or dust cloud on September 11, 2001;

A person who worked, lived, or attended school, child care, or adult day care in the NYC “Crash Site Area” for at least four days during the four-month period beginning September 11, 2001, and ending on January 10, 2002, or at least 30 days during the 11 months beginning September 11, 2001 and ending on July 31, 2002;
Any person who worked as a cleanup worker or performed maintenance work in the NYC “Disaster Area” during the four months starting September 11, 2001, and ending on January 10, 2002;

A person who had a lease for a residence or bought a residence in the NYC “Exposure Zone” and who lived in that residence during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on May 30, 2002;

A person whose place of employment – At any time during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on May 30, 2002, was in the “New York City Disaster Area”

WTCHP for Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania Responders
Includes any of the following who took part in the rescue, recovery, demolition, debris cleanup, or other related services after the terrorist-related air crashes on September 11, 2001, at the Pentagon in Arlington, VA, or the passenger-jet crash site in Shanksville, PA.

Fire department employees (fire and emergency personnel, active or retired)

Police department employees (active or retired)

Recovery or cleanup workers and contractors

Volunteers (including members of the Red Cross)

If you have questions about the Zadroga Act or enrolling in the WTC Health Program, please call us today at 855-416-7256 or fill out a contact form here.

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ELIGIBILITY & COVERAGE