Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund · About this organization
What you get
Reimbursement for medical care, medicines, supplements, equipment, premiums, home or vehicle changes, medical travel, lodging, meals, incidentals, and funeral or burial costs. The fund decides the amount.
How to start
Gather itemized bills, payment proof, insurance decisions, medical documents, and family income records for the application.
Good to know
- Current staffing shortages may delay responses and review.
- Expense-to-income and payer-of-last-resort tests apply.
The details, as published
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
What help you may get
Bereavement And Memorial Support
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — bereavement and memorial support
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Eligible hospital, physician, laboratory, ambulance, and home-nursing costs
- Eligible out-of-state treatment travel
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Hospital-trip mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and incidentals
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Other eligible medically related expenses
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, and nutritional supplements
- Selected health-plan premiums
- Vehicle or home modifications
Does not cover
- Expenses covered by insurance, federal or state assistance, fundraising, or another source
- Expenses outside the published eligibility and documentation rules
- The commission determines reimbursement under the program’s published eligibility, expense-category, and sliding-scale rules; no universal award amount is published.
- The current official pages reviewed for this record do not publish a repeat-application rule.
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — household bills and cash assistance
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Eligible hospital, physician, laboratory, ambulance, and home-nursing costs
- Eligible out-of-state treatment travel
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Hospital-trip mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and incidentals
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Other eligible medically related expenses
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, and nutritional supplements
- Selected health-plan premiums
- Vehicle or home modifications
Does not cover
- Expenses covered by insurance, federal or state assistance, fundraising, or another source
- Expenses outside the published eligibility and documentation rules
- The commission determines reimbursement under the program’s published eligibility, expense-category, and sliding-scale rules; no universal award amount is published.
- The current official pages reviewed for this record do not publish a repeat-application rule.
Lodging Near Treatment
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — lodging near treatment
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Eligible hospital, physician, laboratory, ambulance, and home-nursing costs
- Eligible out-of-state treatment travel
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Hospital-trip mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and incidentals
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Other eligible medically related expenses
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, and nutritional supplements
- Selected health-plan premiums
- Vehicle or home modifications
Does not cover
- Expenses covered by insurance, federal or state assistance, fundraising, or another source
- Expenses outside the published eligibility and documentation rules
- The commission determines reimbursement under the program’s published eligibility, expense-category, and sliding-scale rules; no universal award amount is published.
- The current official pages reviewed for this record do not publish a repeat-application rule.
Meals And Food
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — meals and food
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Eligible hospital, physician, laboratory, ambulance, and home-nursing costs
- Eligible out-of-state treatment travel
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Hospital-trip mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and incidentals
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Other eligible medically related expenses
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, and nutritional supplements
- Selected health-plan premiums
- Vehicle or home modifications
Does not cover
- Expenses covered by insurance, federal or state assistance, fundraising, or another source
- Expenses outside the published eligibility and documentation rules
- The commission determines reimbursement under the program’s published eligibility, expense-category, and sliding-scale rules; no universal award amount is published.
- The current official pages reviewed for this record do not publish a repeat-application rule.
Medical And Insurance Costs
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — medical and insurance costs
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Eligible hospital, physician, laboratory, ambulance, and home-nursing costs
- Eligible out-of-state treatment travel
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Hospital-trip mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and incidentals
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Other eligible medically related expenses
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, and nutritional supplements
- Selected health-plan premiums
- Vehicle or home modifications
Does not cover
- Expenses covered by insurance, federal or state assistance, fundraising, or another source
- Expenses outside the published eligibility and documentation rules
- The commission determines reimbursement under the program’s published eligibility, expense-category, and sliding-scale rules; no universal award amount is published.
- The current official pages reviewed for this record do not publish a repeat-application rule.
Practical Items And Home Help
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — practical items and home help
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Eligible hospital, physician, laboratory, ambulance, and home-nursing costs
- Eligible out-of-state treatment travel
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Hospital-trip mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and incidentals
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Other eligible medically related expenses
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, and nutritional supplements
- Selected health-plan premiums
- Vehicle or home modifications
Does not cover
- Expenses covered by insurance, federal or state assistance, fundraising, or another source
- Expenses outside the published eligibility and documentation rules
- The commission determines reimbursement under the program’s published eligibility, expense-category, and sliding-scale rules; no universal award amount is published.
- The current official pages reviewed for this record do not publish a repeat-application rule.
Travel And Transportation
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund — travel and transportation
The Massachusetts Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund reimburses eligible families for medically related expenses for a Massachusetts-resident child or youth who was under 22 when the services occurred and whose costs are not covered by insurance or another source. Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22, and eligible costs must exceed 10% of annual family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of income above $100,000 during a CICRF-determined 12-month period. Families apply with income, expense, medical, and insurance documentation; reimbursement is variable under the program’s rules and commission decision, and the official site warns of current review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
Amount decided by the program
Can cover
- Eligible hospital, physician, laboratory, ambulance, and home-nursing costs
- Eligible out-of-state treatment travel
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Hospital-trip mileage, parking, meals, lodging, and incidentals
- Medical equipment and supplies
- Other eligible medically related expenses
- Prescriptions, over-the-counter medication, and nutritional supplements
- Selected health-plan premiums
- Vehicle or home modifications
Does not cover
- Expenses covered by insurance, federal or state assistance, fundraising, or another source
- Expenses outside the published eligibility and documentation rules
- The commission determines reimbursement under the program’s published eligibility, expense-category, and sliding-scale rules; no universal award amount is published.
- The current official pages reviewed for this record do not publish a repeat-application rule.
- The published monetary limit is shared across the listed benefit components.
Why this may help
Bereavement And Memorial Support: Funeral and burial expenses can be considered for reimbursement alongside costs during illness.
Meals And Food: Meals during medical travel are included with lodging and other trip expenses.
Practical Items And Home Help: Equipment and home or vehicle changes are included among the reimbursable costs.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. The fund covers Massachusetts-resident children and youth under age 22 with medically related costs from an illness, disability, or accident, so B-ALL expenses for a child age 0–18 are within the broad published health-condition and age rules.
Age
Age 0 to age 21, measured at treatment period.
- The child or youth must have been under age 22 when the medical services or expenses occurred.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- Medical records and physician or healthcare-provider letters may be required to support claimed expenses.
- The fund is the payer of last resort and does not reimburse expenses covered by private or public insurance or another source.
Financial need is required.
- Eligible medically related expenses must exceed 10% of family income up to $100,000 plus 15% of the portion of income above $100,000 in the same 12-month period.
- Family income from all sources during the same 12-month period as the claimed expenses
- Expenses must not be covered by insurance, government programs, fundraising, or another financial source.
- The commission determines final eligibility and payment.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: MA.
- The child or youth for whom reimbursement is requested must be a Massachusetts resident.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Caregiver, Parent Or Guardian
- Complete and submit the state application.
- Gather itemized bills, proof of payment, insurance explanations or denials, and medical support for each claimed expense.
- Gather proof of family income for the relevant 12-month period.
- Respond to any follow-up requests from fund staff.
- Review the age, residence, expense-to-income, payer-of-last-resort, and expense-category rules.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
- Additional category-specific documentation for equipment, home or vehicle modifications, travel, or other claimed costs
- Applicable medical records or physician and healthcare-provider letters
- Insurance explanations of benefits, denials, or appeal documents when applicable
- Itemized bills or invoices for claimed expenses
- Proof of family income, such as tax returns, W-2 forms, earning statements, employer letters, or benefit letters as applicable
- Proof the parent or guardian paid each claimed expense
- Rare emergency exceptions may be considered; families should not assume advance approval.
- The program generally reimburses eligible, documented expenses after commission review.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- The current official homepage and application resources were active on the research date.
- The current pages do not publish a separate funding-capacity status.
- The site warns of response and review delays caused by temporary staffing shortages.
- The state presents an active application route; no fixed seasonal dates are published.
- The official homepage warns of application-review delays caused by significant temporary staffing shortages.
- Not published; the official homepage warns of current delays.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Current staffing shortages may delay responses and review.
- Expense-to-income and payer-of-last-resort tests apply.
- Expenses and payments must fall within the 24 months before application and before age 22; CICRF then determines one or two 12-month eligibility periods.
- Families must document expenses, payment, medical need, income, and other coverage.
- Massachusetts residence and the under-22-at-service rule apply.
- Payment depends on commission review under the program rules.
- Does the commission currently use any award cap by expense category?
- How often may a family submit a new application?
- What is the current average review time during the staffing shortage?
- What portion of an eligible claim is likely to be reimbursed under current funding?
- Which application languages are available beyond English and Spanish?
- Which expense dates fall within the current lookback period?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Apply to CICRF · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Apply to CICRF · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Check Eligibility for CICRF · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Check Eligibility for CICRF · checked Aug 23, 2026
- What Expenses Are Covered by CICRF · checked Aug 24, 2026
- What Expenses Are Covered by CICRF · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund · checked Aug 24, 2026
- Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund · checked Aug 23, 2026
- What Is the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund · checked Aug 24, 2026
- What Is the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund · checked Aug 23, 2026