Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Montana program

Help with costs insurance leaves behind (Children's Special Health Services)

Montana can help with costs insurance leaves behind (Children’s Special Health Services).

What it is

Montana can help with costs insurance leaves behind (Children’s Special Health Services).

Some treatment costs remain even with insurance. Children’s Special Health Services considers help within its budget. Passing the income screen alone does not promise an award.

Eligibility rules
  • The 2026 ceiling is 300% of poverty.
  • The line is 300% of poverty: about $6,830 a month for three people and $8,250 for four, judged on yearly income.
  • Children must be Montana residents under age 22 and meet the program’s medical criteria. Leukemia can fit the chronic-condition framework, but diagnosis alone does not establish an award. The income screen is annual; dividing it by 12 gives only an estimate.
What you get
  • Up to $2,000 annually toward approved costs.
What it covers
  • Approved help can fill gaps for treatment and equipment.
  • The program can consider approved medical and enabling costs, including some transportation. Your child’s condition and finances must meet its rules. Insurance and other resources are used first, and out-of-state services have extra conditions. The program confirms any family payment in the written award, alongside the approved costs.
If you decide to apply
  1. Your social worker can help you talk with Children’s Special Health Services about the financial assistance application.
  2. Bring income proof and bills, and ask the oncology team to complete the medical section.

Children’s Special Health Services: 1-800-762-9891 or CSHS@mt.gov. · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • Complete applications are reviewed within 30 days.
Good to know

The program expects families to use Healthy Montana Kids or Medicaid when eligible. Its own funds are limited.

Other details
  • The oncology team fills in the medical section of the application.
Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could this fund help with costs our insurance leaves behind? Which expenses and family payments would apply, and could you help us ask for assistance if our child fits?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand whether help is available for costs left after health coverage.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Send the application with the income proof and the provider section completed.

Your social worker

The oncology team completes the medical-provider section of the form.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
Children's Special Health Services, within its own resources.
Ask the agency
“My child is in cancer treatment and we travel a long way for it. Can the financial assistance programme help with those costs, and what does Section 3 need from our team?”

How to apply

First step: Your social worker can help you talk with Children’s Special Health Services about the financial assistance application.

  1. Your social worker can help you talk with Children’s Special Health Services about the financial assistance application.
  2. If you decide to pursue this option, your social worker can help review the medical section, requested costs and other payment sources.
  3. If you decide to pursue this option, your social worker can help review the medical section, requested costs and other payment sources.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Call the programme and ask for the financial assistance application. A medical provider has to complete one section.

What to gather

  • Proof of household income
  • The bills or costs you want covered
  • The completed medical-provider section

How long: Complete applications are reviewed within 30 days.

What a yes looks like

An approval up to $2,000 for named costs in the year.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Over the income line, or the costs are outside the programme. Ask what is covered before you reapply.

Watch out

  • It is capped at $2,000 a year and depends on the programme’s own resources.
  • A medical provider has to complete a section, so ask the team while you are at the hospital.
  • The website says Section 2 and the current form says Section 3; follow the form.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Up to $2,000 a year, for a family at or under $99,000 a year for four, reviewed within 30 days.

  • $2,000/year — Maximum assistance a year
  • $64,920/year — Household of 2, annual income ceiling (300% of poverty)
  • $81,960/year — Household of 3, annual income ceiling
  • $99,000/year — Household of 4, annual income ceiling
  • $116,040/year — Household of 5, annual income ceiling
  • $133,080/year — Household of 6, annual income ceiling
  • $30 — Days to review a complete application

Covers: Help with treatment costs and equipment insurance does not pay · Enabling costs, which the older policy describes as including transportation

What it costs the family: The program confirms any family payment and uncovered balance in its written award.

The eligibility facts, as published

Income
at or under 300% of the poverty level on the 2026 table
Insurance
uninsured or underinsured children can ask; Healthy Montana Kids must be used where possible
Process
the application has a medical-provider section (Section 3 on the current form)

The trap: The program expects eligible families to use Healthy Montana Kids or Medicaid. Your social worker can help compare those routes. The current application’s medical section is Section3 even though the website refers to Section2.

Where I read this

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