9/11 World Trade Center Health Program

In This Section

The WTC Health Program was created by the Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act to provide free health care for first responders, recovery workers, and volunteers affected by the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

The WTC Health Program replaces the Mount Sinai WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program. If you were enrolled in the Mount Sinai Program, you do not have to re-enroll.

Benefits of Enrolling in the Program

The WTC Health Program provides rescue and recovery workers, including fire fighters with:

  • A free annual medical monitoring exam to detect any WTC-related health conditions. All diagnostic tests and procedures are free and there are no out of pocket costs for this exam.
  • Free treatment for any WTC-related health condition or cancer. The Program covers expenses for approved prescription medications, hospitalizations, and outpatient producers for treatment of a WTC-related condition.
  • Nationwide Provide Network: The WTC Health Program has a network of providers throughout the U.S. so you can be seen at a location close to your home. You do not have to travel to New York to participate in the Program. If you live outside the New York City metropolitan area, the Nationwide Provide Network will help you find a location close to where you live.

If you responded to the World Trade Centers, Shanksville, PA or the Pentagon view the Eligibility section to see if you qualify.

Eligibility

Why you should enroll in the WTC Health Program

Help your fellow fire fighter.

  • Information learned by screening both sick and healthy workers will lead to better preparation for future disasters and improved understanding of effective and safe disaster response.
  • Data will help us understand the health effects of unique environmental exposures and how to best protect workers against these hazards.

Learn more about your health status.

  • You can enroll in the Program even if you currently don’t have any health problems as long as you either responded or assisted with clean up efforts.
  • The medical screening may detect health conditions that you are not aware of and that may be corrected or slowed with early treatment.
  • Monitoring your health status over time can help your doctor identify any concerning trends.

Take advantage of resources that are available to you

  • Many healthy fire fighters choose not to enroll in the Program because they do not want to take away resources that would otherwise go to sick fire fighters. This is a common misconception.
  • The Zadroga Act created the WTC Health Program to provide long term health care for ALL exposed fire fighters from the WTC, Pentagon, and Shanksville disaster sites.
  • Participating in the Program does not take away resources from others. Increased enrollment in the Program shows that this Program is needed and valuable. Low enrollment in the Program gives the impression that it is not needed.

Eligibility

There are four eligibility categories. Pick the category that best describes what you did during the 9/11 disasters.

  • FDNY Responder– a member of the Fire Department of New York City (whether fire or emergency personnel, active, or retired) who participated at least one day in the rescue and recovery effort at any of the former World Trade Center sites. View detailed description
  • General Responder– a worker or volunteer who provided rescue, recovery, demolition, debris removal, and related support services in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, but was not affiliated with the Fire Department of New York. View detailed description
  • NYC Survivor– a person who was present in the New York City disaster area or in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center as a result of their work; residence; or attendance at school, child care, or adult day care. View detailed description
  • Pentagon/Shanksville, PA Responders– For emergency responders, recovery and cleanup workers, and volunteers who were directly involved in the response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Pentagon in Arlington, VA and the Flight 93 crash near Shanksville, PA. View detailed description

9/11 Victims Compensation Fund

The WTC Health Program is not a compensation program, they provide medical monitoring and treatment to eligible members. Enrollment in the WTC Health Program does not automatically enroll members in a compensation program. Eligible members must apply for compensation programs separately.

What is the Victims Compensation Fund?

The September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (“VCF”) was created to provide compensation for any individual (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who suffered physical harm or was killed as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks or the debris removal efforts that took place in the immediate aftermath of those crashes. The original VCF operated from 2001-2004.

On January 2, 2011, President Obama signed into law the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010 (Zadroga Act). Title II of the Zadroga Act reactivated the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund from October 2011 through October 2016.

On December 18, 2015, President Obama signed into law a bill reauthorizing the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010. This included the reauthorization of the VCF. The law extended the VCF through December 18, 2020.

On July 29, 2019, President Trump signed into law The Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. The VCF Permanent Authorization Act extends the VCF’s claim filing deadline from December 18, 2020, to October 1, 2090, and appropriates such funds as may be necessary to pay all approved claims.

For more information on the Fund, if you qualify and how to file a claim, please click here.

The VCF has developed a factsheet to clarify some common misconceptions about how it operates, who is eligible, how registration deadlines apply, how claims move through the system, and how compensation is determined.

Contact Information

WTC Health Program

Website 

Help Line: 1-888-982-4748 (Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

E-mail: [email protected] (Please allow up to two business days for replies.)

Mailing address:
World Trade Center Health Program
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
395 E Street, S.W. Suite 9200
Washington, DC 20201

Victim Compensation Fund

Website 

Phone: