Health Benefit Program

This program provides financial assistance to employed legally blind citizens of Missouri and all employed members of Missouri Council of the Blind.

I. THE PURPOSE

The Missouri Council of the Blind has established a Health Benefits program to provide financial assistance to legally blind citizens of Missouri and all members of Missouri Council of the Blind.  
 
II. APPLYING FOR HEALTH BENEFITS
 
A. The Application

1. The application form may be obtained from the MCB office by phoning (314) 832-7172; or toll free (800) 342-5632; or emailing: moblind@moblind.org or by writing the Missouri Council of the Blind, 5453 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109.

2. The application must be fully completed with all requested information provided.

3. Other requested documents must accompany the application including: a physician's statement, a visual status statement (if needed) and a release of information form – fully completed.

4. Applicant must sign the application.

5. The application and supporting documents should be sent to the MCB office either using the mailing address listed above or email to moblind@moblind.org. The office will send the necessary documents to the Chair of the Health Benefits Committee.

6.The application must have all the dates for the illness or injury included, and the application must be submitted within 90 (ninety) days of the last date shown on the physician’s statement.
 
B. Supporting Documents

1. Physician's statement completed on application.

2. If you are not a member of the MCB, a signed statement of your legally blind status, from an ophthalmologist, or other reasonable authority such as Rehabilitation Services for the Blind, must accompany the application.

3. Due to the Health Information Privacy Act, you must sign and include the release of information form with your application. The release of information must include the physician’s name, address, and phone number (PRINTED or TYPED).
 
III. ELIGIBILITY
 
A. Who Is Eligible?
All legally blind citizens of Missouri as well as sighted members of MCB are eligible to apply for health benefits through this plan.
 
B. Who Is Ineligible?
Any individual determined by the Health Benefits Committee to have wrongly received benefits under this plan may be declared ineligible for any further participation in this plan and requested to return all overpaid benefits.
 
C. What If My Application Is Denied?
If the applicant has completed the application, provided the requested documents and has submitted the application in a timely manner but the claim is denied, the applicant may submit a written appeal to the MCB Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Committee Chair will notify in writing the applicant of the Board’s decision.
 
IV. BENEFITS
 
A. Maximum Benefit per Claim

A benefit in the amount of forty-five dollars per week shall be payable to an individual determined eligible for benefits by the Health Benefits Committee for a maximum of ten weeks commencing on the eighth day following:

1. An accident or illness resulting in substantially restricting the individual suffering from a loss of income.

2. Must be under the care of a duly licensed physician.

3. The maximum benefit is limited to ten weeks of benefits during Missouri Council of the Blind (MCB) fiscal year.

4. Claims presented per individual may not exceed a combined total of four-hundred and fifty dollars per fiscal year.  If a claim is presented with dates that cover two fiscal years, the maximum amount is still four-hundred and fifty dollars. The Committee will assess the division of coverage, and the balance must be requested by a separate claim during the new fiscal year.

a. If the claim (as in division of coverage) in the new fiscal year is less than four-hundred and fifty dollars, additional applications may be presented to make up the difference.

5. Benefits shall be paid at the conclusion of the illness or ten covered weeks, whichever comes first. But benefits are never to be paid ahead of those times.

6. Benefits will be computed at six dollars and forty-three cents per day if the time period is less than the maximum limit of ten weeks.
 
B. Members of the Missouri Council of the Blind shall receive the full benefits of the Health Benefits Program as set forth by the Health Benefits Committee.  Those who are not members of the Missouri Council of the Blind but are legally blind, shall receive 50% of the Health Benefits Program. To apply for membership in MCB you may go to: https://moblind.org/mcb-membership or call the MCB office at 314-832-7172 and request a membership application.
 
V. REVISION
The MCB Board shall have the authority to revise the Health Benefits Program as needed in order to maintain and protect the best interest of the Program and the Council. Revisions shall be effective as directed by the MCB Board.
 
VI. EXPENSES
All expenses associated with the administration of this program shall be paid from program funds.

The Health Benefits Committee shall make an annual report of the Fund to Convention at its next annual meeting. This report shall not contain the names of any individuals.
 
VII. THE COMMITTEE
The Health Benefits Committee shall consist of three members of the Council to be appointed by the President with concurrence of the MCB Board.
The Committee shall review all applications and make a determination of eligibility within not more than thirty days from receipt of application.
 
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Revised 1/27/2007
Revised 1/24/2011
Revised as approved by MCB Board 10/10/2013
Revised as approved by MCB Board 11/28/2015; changed font
Revised as approved by MCB Board 4/23/2016; change Chairperson to Chair
Revised as approved by MCB Board 8/15/2016; revised employment status
Revised as approved by MCB Board 8/30/2022; increased grant amount & removed employment required.