The Maritime Workers Emergency Medical Fund
Application For Funds
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for assistance the applicant must be associated with maritime transportation services in Texas Gulf Coast or adjacent counties and have experienced a catastrophic illness or injury resulting in severe financial hardship.
ILA members are provided with high quality health care at no cost as well as a weekly stipend through the union and so are not eligible for assistance through the Maritime Workers Emergency Medical Fund.
Examples of Maritime Transportation Services
Examples include, but are not limited to port authorities, shipping companies, steamship agents, ocean freight forwarders and custom house brokers, stevedoring companies, container freight stations, export packing and trucking companies engaged in transportation to or from ports.
Catastrophic Illness or Injury Definition
CATASTROPHIC ILLNESS or INJURY is defined as a health condition resulting in (a) a serious residual disability or (b) a life-threatening condition, either of which may require:
- extensive medical treatment,
- prolonged hospitalization,
- extended recovery or rehabilitation, or,
- life-long dependent nursing care.
Such health condition would result in severe financial hardship by interrupting an individual’s prior ability to function independently and incapacitating the individual from continuing or returning to his/her former employment.
Characteristics of catastrophic illness or injury include:
- Severity: Catastrophic injuries are extremely serious and cause profound disabilities, not simply minor ailments.
- Long-Term Impact: These injuries or illnesses typically have lasting effects, potentially permanent, on a person’s physical health, including chronic pain, loss of mobility, and cognitive function.
- Disruption of Daily Life: Catastrophic conditions can significantly affect an individual’s ability to work, perform daily tasks and maintain independence.
- Need for Extensive Care: Individuals often require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
Examples of catastrophic illness or injury would include (but not limited to) cancer, heart attack, stroke, broken limbs (requiring wiring, screws, pins or plates), surgically removed organs or limbs, blindness, loss of hearing or voice, cardiovascular or pulmonary operations.
SEVERE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP during a catastrophic medical illness or injury refers to a situation where, due to an unexpected health crisis, an individual faces a significant struggle to provide essential living necessities for himself/herself or for dependents.
Characteristics of a severe financial hardship might include:
- Medical expense emergencies: Unexpected medical bills that are not covered by insurance (either government or private) which significantly exceed or deplete available cash or savings.
- Job loss, leave of absence, or reduced income: Losing a job, temporary leave, or experiencing a substantial decrease in income due to medical events.
Note that to complete the application you must upload supporting documents!