Hansen & Rosasco, LLP

Five hundred thousand people were exposed to the toxic dust cloud released in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and many now suffer from a 9/11-related health condition. The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) was created to provide medical monitoring and treatment to individuals in the 9/11 community. The first step to receiving care through the WTCHP is getting your condition certified. This certification confirms that your medical condition is linked to 9/11 exposure. Certified WTC Health Program members are eligible for no-cost treatment and health monitoring through the WTCHP, and may file a claim for financial compensation through the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF).

While the WTCHP and the VCF are separate programs with different rules and application processes, they are connected in the sense that you must first receive certification from the WTCHP before filing a claim with the VCF. Here's what you need to know to get the certification process started.

At age 57, University of Colorado head football coach and NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders recently revealed that he was diagnosed with bladder cancer that resulted in having his bladder removed. Fortunately, the cancer was caught early during routine testing, and Sanders is now recovering and considered cancer-free.

Pancreatic cancer has proven one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with low survival rates and limited treatment options. However, a wave of innovative clinical trials is now offering new possibilities for pancreatic cancer patients, including those affected by 9/11-related exposures. Advances in targeted therapies, precision medicine, and immunotherapy are changing the world of pancreatic cancer care. For individuals diagnosed after being exposed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, these advances bring with them hope for more positive outcomes and better treatment options for individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) provides financial compensation to individuals suffering from certified 9/11-related health conditions. While many people are aware that the VCF offers compensation for lost income and benefits, and for pain and suffering, many may not realize that they may also be eligible to claim out-of-pocket medical expenses. If you've paid for medications, treatments, specialist visits, or assistive devices related to a certified 9/11 illness, you may be entitled to reimbursement. Here, we explore the types of expenses covered, the eligibility requirements for claiming these expenses, the documentation you’ll need, and how an experienced VCF lawyer can help you get the maximum award amount for your individual circumstances.

In the weeks after the September 11th attacks, thousands of truck drivers played a critical yet often overlooked role in the removal of debris and other cleanup efforts. Many of these drivers spent weeks or even months transporting materials from Ground Zero to the Fresh Kills Landfill, breathing in toxic dust, often without adequate protection.

If you were a 9/11 truck driver, you may be eligible for financial compensation through the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and health monitoring and treatment through the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). 

In determining if a breathing or digestive disorder is related to the exposure to the 9/11 dust and fumes the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) generally require that the victim claimant be treated and diagnosed with the condition within five years of their 9/11 exposure (a “maximum time interval”). There are exceptions to this five-year rule (also called a minimum latency period), including exacerbated or new-onset COPD and all types of interstitial lung disease (ILDs). 

Determining if a particular breathing or digestive condition is 9/11-related under the rules of the WTC Health Program and VCF is often tricky, so it’s strongly suggested that a potential 9/11 claimant get guidance and advice. Satisfying the maximum time interval and the other 9/11 program rules is essential if you want to qualify for lifetime medical treatment through the WTCHP or financial compensation through the VCF.

While the WTCHP has offered life-saving treatment, enrolling in the program and accessing care can present unique challenges. Here, we’ll explore the practicalities of seeking healthcare with the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), including who qualifies, what to expect, and tips for a smooth experience with the WTCHP.

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) defines the 9/11 NYC “Exposure Zone” as all of Lower Manhattan south of Canal Street/Clinton Street. For responders, the NYC Exposure Zone also includes additional locations where 9/11-related debris was handled, such as debris removal routes from Manhattan to the Fresh Kills landfill, as well as sites where contaminated vehicles or equipment were used or cleaned.

The World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP) calls this area the Disaster Area, a larger area that includes all of Lower Manhattan south of Houston Street and several blocks of Brooklyn Heights. 

Both the VCF and WTCHP also recognize the Pentagon and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site as part of the overall 9/11 Exposure Zone.

The Exposure Zone is so large that it is estimated that up to 500,000 people were exposed to the 9/11 toxins. Making matters worse, the toxins contaminated the Exposure Zone for many months, though the end of July 2002, exposing hundreds of thousands of people– residents, workers, students, and visitors– to serious cancers and other health risks. 

Chinatown is located in the heart of the 9/11 crash site disaster area. Its residents, workers, students, and visitors were all heavily exposed to the 9/11 dust and fumes, not just on 9/11, but also through the end of 2001 and into the middle of 2002. As a result of this toxic exposure, just by being present in Chinatown in 2001 and 2002, thousands of these residents, workers, and visitors have been diagnosed with a 9/11 related cancer and, in many cases, died from the complications of a 9/11 cancer or breathing condition. 

Filing a successful claim with the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) and the World Trade Center Health Program can be complicated.  While the hundreds of pages of laws, regulations, rules and policies, and procedures are complex, completing a successful application with the WTC Health Program leads to the benefit of lifetime (until 2090) 9/11 health care. In addition, once approved by the WTC Health Program and a 9/11-related cancer or other condition is certified as eligible for treatment, you have met the first step required to file a claim for compensation with the VCF, with an award that ranges from $5,000 to $4,000,000. Navigating the sometimes grueling sets of rules that govern these programs is, in most cases, worth the oftentimes difficult process given the peace of mind of having lifetime 9/11-related health coverage and an award of tax-free compensation. It does, however, help to get help. 

Let’s break down what filing a VCF claim involves, what the potential benefits and drawbacks are of filing a claim, and why, for most eligible individuals, filing is absolutely worth it, as it can be essential to securing your financial future and well-being.