The WTC Health Program provides medical monitoring and treatment for emergency responders, recovery, and cleanup workers, and volunteers who helped after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the crash site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

 

The WTC Health Program also provides health evaluations and treatment for eligible people who were present in the dust or dust cloud on 9/11 or who worked, resided, or attended school, childcare, or adult daycare in the New York City disaster area for a period of time on 9/11 and/or during the following months.

 

In addition to providing medical monitoring and treatment the WTC Health Program also provides:

 

There are no out-of-pocket costs for members who:

 

Yes, you are already enrolled in the WTC Health Program if:

 

 

The WTC Health Program worked with the previous programs (MMTP and WTC Environmental Health Center Community Program) to enroll you into the new WTC Health Program. - You do not need to do anything unless you were notified that you need to re-enroll (see FAQs "I am a survivor who enrolled in the earlier WTC Environmental Health Center Community Program on or after January 1, 2011. What do I do?" and "I enrolled in the WTC Health Program after January 1, 2011. Why do I need to re-enroll?"). You will continue to receive quality medical benefits for WTC-related health conditions, including inpatient and outpatient treatment and medications, under the new WTC Health Program.

 

If you are not sure you are enrolled, call the WTC Health Program at 203-966-3911 or 855-709-0100.

 

Responders who enroll in the WTC Health Program receive annual medical monitoring. If you have a health condition(s) that is certified as a WTC-related health condition (i.e., an illness or health condition for which exposure to airborne toxins, other hazards, or other adverse conditions resulting from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that was substantially likely to be a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the illness or health condition), the WTC Health Program's healthcare providers will provide quality medical treatment for the WTC-related health condition.

 

Survivors who enroll will receive an initial health evaluation. The evaluation is to find out if you have a health condition eligible for coverage by the WTC Health Program. If you have a health condition that is considered WTC-related, the doctor will request that the WTC Health Program certify your condition(s) as eligible for treatment under the Program. If you have a health condition(s) that is certified as a WTC-related health condition as defined by the Zadroga Act (i.e., an illness or health condition for which exposure to airborne toxins, other hazards, or other adverse conditions resulting from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks was substantially likely to be a significant factor in aggravating, contributing to, or causing the illness or health condition), the WTC Health Program's healthcare providers will provide quality medical treatment for the WTC-related health condition. For more information, see FAQ "What happens if I get sick after my initial health evaluation?"

 

 

 

The main goal of this Program is to provide healthcare for eligible individuals with WTC-related health conditions. When you come in for an exam, you will be asked if the clinic can add your health information to the data which researchers are using to better understand health effects as a result of the 9/11 attacks.

 

However, you are not required to disclose your health information. If you choose not to sign the consent form, you will still be able to receive your monitoring exam, as well as treatment for certified WTC-related health conditions. If you do consent to let researchers see your health information, your name and contact information will not be given to them. Only your health information will be a part of the research record—not your identity.

 

 

 

 

 

The first step for receiving care is to apply to the program. Once you apply and have been determined to be eligible, and you have enrolled in the WTC Health Program, you will choose a clinic for responders and survivors for your initial appointment. At that appointment, and any subsequent appointments, a physician approved by the WTC Health Program will determine if you have any WTC-health related conditions.

 

Your WTC Health Program provider will make a determination based on a clinical evaluation of your specific exposure situation and the type of health condition you develop (the diagnosis). Then the WTC Health Program must approve (certify) the evaluation and diagnosis to permit you to receive treatment for the specific health condition through your Clinical Center of Excellence or the Nationwide Provider Network at no cost to you. The WTC Health Program's decision will be shared with you by the Clinical Center of Excellence or Nationwide Provider Network via a letter from the program.

 

 

 

 

Although you may continue to see your personal physician, if he or she is not affiliated with the WTC Health Program, any treatment or services you receive from him or her will not be reimbursed by the WTC Health Program.

 

In order for a WTC Health Program member to obtain coverage for treatment of any health condition on the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions, including any type of cancer on the List, the condition must first be certified by the WTC Health Program. All care for the WTC Health Program must be provided by a healthcare provider affiliated with the WTC Health Program. If your current provider is affiliated with the WTC Health Program, then you will be able to continue seeing your doctor. If your current provider is not affiliated, ask the provider to contact your Clinical Center of Excellence or the Nationwide Provider Network to see if it is possible to become a WTC Health Program provider.

 

 

 

Contact your Clinical Center of Excellence or your Nationwide Provider Network physician to schedule an appointment so that you can begin the cancer certification process as soon as possible. If you do not know which Clinical Center of Excellence you are with, please contact the CDC call center at 1-888-982-4748.

 

Please visit our How to Apply pages for responders and survivors for information about the application process. You can also contact our helpline at 203-966-3911 or 855-709-0100 for information on how to apply.

 

Yes. Everyone who is eligible for medical monitoring within the WTC Health Program is strongly encouraged to participate in regular monitoring exams for the following two reasons:

 

 

 

 

Only those health conditions on the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions will be covered by the program. Even if you think your health condition is not on the List, you should contact your Clinical Center of Excellence or your Nationwide Provider Network to inform your doctor about your health condition and find out if it is covered by the WTC Health Program.

 

If you find out that your health condition is not on the List, the WTC Health Program will not cover the costs of your treatment, drugs, or services. However, if needed, your doctor may work with you to help you identify a place to get your care.

 

In addition, the Administrator may propose the addition of other types of health conditions to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions if he determines that there is new scientific evidence of a relationship between WTC exposures and a specific type of health condition. If your health condition is added to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions in the future, the WTC Health Program will make every effort to inform you of this change. Any interested party may petition the Administrator to add health conditions to the List of WTC-Related Health Conditions.