MCB Health Benefits Program

An illness or injury can disrupt more than your health — it can interrupt your ability to work and pay your bills. The MCB Health Benefits Program provides short-term income replacement to eligible blind and visually impaired Missourians when a health-related work interruption causes a loss of income.

This program pays $45 per week (up to $450 per fiscal year) beginning on the 8th day of a covered illness or injury — giving you a financial cushion while you recover.

Who Is Eligible?

MCB Members Full benefit

All MCB members — both blind and sighted — are eligible to apply and receive the full benefit amount as set by the Health Benefits Committee.

This includes all legally blind Missouri citizens and any sighted person who holds MCB membership.

Join MCB
Non-Members Legally blind residents — 50% benefit

Legally blind Missouri residents who are not MCB members may still apply. Non-members receive 50% of the member benefit amount.

Non-members must submit a visual status statement from a licensed ophthalmologist or Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) verifying their legal blindness status.

Tip: Joining MCB before applying doubles your Health Benefits payment. Membership is affordable and open to all. Join MCB →

Benefit Amounts & Payment Rules

$45

Per Week

Standard weekly benefit for eligible members

10

Weeks Maximum

Per MCB fiscal year per person

$450

Per Fiscal Year

Maximum total benefit per person, per year

Day 8

Benefits Begin

8th day after onset of covered illness or injury

How Benefits Are Calculated

  • Full weeks: $45 per week for complete weeks of covered illness or injury.
  • Partial periods: If the covered period is less than 10 full weeks, benefits are computed at $6.43 per day.
  • Non-member rate: Legally blind non-members receive 50% of the above amounts ($22.50/week or ~$3.21/day).
  • Payment timing: Benefits are paid at the conclusion of the illness or upon reaching 10 covered weeks — whichever comes first. Benefits are never paid in advance.

Claims Spanning Two Fiscal Years

If your illness or injury spans two MCB fiscal years, the $450 maximum still applies to each year separately. The Health Benefits Committee will assess how to divide the benefit across fiscal years. Any remaining balance in the new fiscal year must be requested by a separate claim submitted during that new year.

Payment Summary

Weekly Rate (Members)
$45.00 / week
Daily Rate (Members)
$6.43 / day (partial periods)
Weekly Rate (Non-Members)
$22.50 / week (50% of member rate)
Waiting Period
7 days — benefits begin on Day 8
Annual Maximum
10 weeks / $450 per fiscal year
When Paid
At conclusion of illness or 10 weeks — never in advance

How to Apply for Health Benefits

  1. Obtain the application form

    Use the online form below, or contact the MCB office to request a paper application:

  2. Complete the application fully

    Fill out every section of the application. Incomplete applications may delay or prevent review. You must sign the application. Your physician must also complete their section with the dates of your illness or injury.

  3. Gather supporting documents

    See the Required Documents section below for the full list. All required documents must be included with your application.

  4. Submit within 90 days

    Submit your completed application and all supporting documents to the MCB office within 90 days of the last date on your physician's statement. Mail or email to:

    Missouri Council of the Blind — Health Benefits
    5453 Chippewa Street, St. Louis, MO 63109
    aa@moblind.org

What Happens After You Apply

The Health Benefits Committee — three MCB Council members appointed by the President — reviews all applications and determines eligibility within 30 days of receipt. If approved, your benefit is paid at the conclusion of your covered illness or at 10 weeks, whichever comes first.

Application Denied? Your Right to Appeal

If a complete, timely application is denied, you may submit a written appeal to the MCB Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Health Benefits Committee Chair will notify you in writing of the Board's decision.

Submit Your Application To

Mail or email your completed application and all supporting documents to the MCB office. The office will forward your application to the Health Benefits Committee Chair for review.

Missouri Council of the Blind

Health Benefits Program

Applications must be submitted within 90 days of the last date on your physician's statement. The committee reviews within 30 days of receipt.

Required Documents

Your application must include the following documents. Incomplete submissions may delay review.

Physician's Statement

All applicants

Completed on the application form itself by your treating physician. Must include the dates of onset and expected duration of your illness or injury.

Visual Status Statement

Non-members only

A statement from a licensed ophthalmologist or Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) confirming your legal blindness status. MCB members do not need this document.

Release of Information Form

All applicants

Required by HIPAA. Must include your physician's name, address, and phone number — printed or typed (not handwritten). This allows MCB to verify your medical information with your physician.

Applicant Signature

All applicants

You must personally sign the application. Unsigned applications will not be processed.

90-Day Deadline: Your application and all supporting documents must be submitted within 90 days of the last date on your physician's statement. Late applications cannot be accepted. If you have questions, call the MCB office at (314) 832-7172.

Apply Online

Use this form to begin your Health Benefits application. We will send you the official application form and guide you through the supporting document requirements. You can also request the form by phone or email using the contact information in the How to Apply section above.

Approximate date your illness or injury began (as it will appear on your physician's statement).
Your physician must complete the physician's statement section of the official application form.
Briefly describe how the illness or injury has restricted your ability to work and caused a loss of income.

Required fields.

We respond within two business days.

Frequently Asked Questions

All legally blind citizens of Missouri and all sighted MCB members are eligible for the full benefit. Non-members who are legally blind may also apply but receive 50% of the member benefit amount. Non-members can join MCB at moblind.org/membership/join/ to unlock the full benefit.

The program pays $45 per week beginning on the 8th day after the onset of your covered illness or injury. The maximum benefit is 10 weeks ($450) per MCB fiscal year. For periods shorter than 10 full weeks, benefits are computed at $6.43 per day. Payment is made at the conclusion of your illness or upon reaching 10 covered weeks — never in advance.

All applicants must submit: (1) a physician's statement completed on the application form, including dates of illness or injury; (2) a signed release of information form with the physician's name, address, and phone number printed or typed (required by HIPAA). Non-members who are legally blind must also include a visual status statement from a licensed ophthalmologist or the Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB). The entire application must be submitted within 90 days of the last date on the physician's statement.

The $450 per year maximum applies to each fiscal year separately. The Health Benefits Committee will assess how to divide the benefit across the two fiscal years. Any remaining balance in the new fiscal year must be requested by filing a separate claim in that new year.

If a complete and timely application is denied, you may submit a written appeal to the MCB Board of Directors at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Health Benefits Committee Chair will notify you in writing of the Board's decision.

Yes — sighted MCB members are fully eligible for the Health Benefits Program at the standard member benefit rate. Legal blindness is required only for non-members applying at the reduced (50%) rate.

More MCB Programs

MCB offers a range of programs to support blind and visually impaired Missourians at every stage of life.

Special Services

Emergency financial assistance for unexpected hardships — utilities, housing, and essential needs.

Learn More

Adaptive Technology Grants

Up to 50% reimbursement on screen readers, magnifiers, Braille displays, and more.

Learn More

White Cane Program

Free white canes for legally blind Missouri residents.

Learn More

Join MCB

Membership unlocks the full Health Benefits rate and access to all MCB programs.

Learn More

Ready to Apply or Have Questions?

Start your application online, call our office, or email us. The MCB Health Benefits Committee is here to help eligible blind Missourians maintain financial stability during a health-related work interruption.

Apply Online Now Call (314) 832-7172 Join MCB