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Many thanks to Sharon on MySpace friend's list for this information on July 20, 2008!
Polio Survivors Fund
How can you help Polio survivors?
The Post-Polio Institute and the International Centre for Post-Polio Education and Research are dedicated to caring for and educating the world’s 20 million polio survivors. Patients from across North America and around the world-from South America, Europe, the Middle East and even mainland China-have come to The Post-Polio Institute for treatment because so few resources exist for polio survivors, and because there is no comprehensive treatment center like The Institute.
In the past, Englewood Hospital and Medical Center has reduced fees or written off the cost of treatment for needy patients, especially for those coming from overseas. However, with hundreds of polio survivors visiting The Post-Polio Institute each day via the Internet (www. postpolioinfo. com), and with the remarkable response to Dr. Richard Bruno’s new book, The Polio Paradox, increasing numbers of patients with limited financial resources are now asking for treatment at The Institute.
Unfortunately, The Medical Center cannot underwrite the cost of treating all of these patients. Therefore, we have established The Polio Survivors Fund to provide financial support to those who could not otherwise afford treatment at The Institute.
POLIO SURVIVORS FUND
Eligibility Criteria
POLIO SURVIVORS FUND financial eligibility criteria are based on the New Jersey Medicaid criteria for individuals with permanent disabilities and the Medicaid Buy-In criteria.
Income Guidelines:
Social Security Disability Benefits/Railroad Retirement System Benefits received by the individual are not limited;
Earned income cannot exceed the federal poverty level which is currently $739/month for a disabled individual and $995/month for a couple; AND Unearned income (pensions, interest, private disability/retirement benefits, etc.) cannot exceed the federal poverty level which is currently $739/month for a disabled individual and $995/month for a couple This means an individual can earn up to $17,736.00 per year ($1,478.00 per month) in addition to Social Security Disability Benefits/Railroad
Retirement System Benefits.
Total maximum yearly income from all sources (including Social Security Disability Benefits/Railroad Retirement System Benefits) should not exceed $24,000.00 ($2,000.00 per month) for an individual.
Resource Guidelines:
Assets must be $4,000 or less for an individual, $6,000 for a married couple. This does NOT include the value of a vehicle used for medical and/or work transportation or the home in which the individual/couple lives. Also excluded from the asset calculation are funds in a working spouse's IRA/401K account.
Information:
Please send your most recent IRS 1404 form, passbook or latest bank, brokerage account and checkbook statements.
Coverage:
POLIO SURVIVORS FUND will pay in full for evaluation and treatment for eligible polio survivors at the Medicare rate for those without medical insurance and for those with medical insurance that does not provide out of network benefits.
For those with medical insurance who have not met their yearly deductible, POLIO SURVIVORS FUND will pay up to the amount of the deductible. For those who cannot afford co-payments, the POLIO SURVIVORS FUND will pay applicable co-payments.
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