Ithaca Health Fund

Thomas Hoebbel Photography

The Health Fund has been established to assist New Yorkers with the costs of health care and increase wellness in our communities. IHA General and Provider Members are eligible for grants or interest free loans through the Health Fund to help with specific health care expenses: these include preventative care, certain emergency procedures, and dental care. Through the Health Fund IHA also offers Community Grants for other organizations performing health related projects.

General or Provider membership in the Ithaca Health Alliance entitles you to request medical grants or loans for specified health problems. Please note that IHA general membership is available to residents of New York State only: persons who will affirm that they reside at the given NYS address for most of the calendar year.

We try to keep grant application simple. When members wish to request a grant through the Health Fund, they can direct their health care provider to mail a bill for services rendered to the Ithaca Health Alliance. Members can also mail us copies of bills directly. IHA staff and Finance Committee members then assess the bill(s) for grant eligibility, based on IHA grant categories, grant considerations (below) and the status of the member. The member, health care provider, and member's health insurance provider (if any) may be contacted for further information in the process of grant review. Grant payments are then prepared based upon the results of this process. Review of grants may take as much as one month to be completed.

Maximum total grants per member: $3,000 first year; $3,500 second and third years; $4,000 thereafter.

For more information see:

1. Current categories of member grants available through the Health Fund.
2. Interest free loans for dental procedures, eye care and for healthcare professionals.
3. IHA Community Grants small grants program for other organizations and groups conducting health related work.

Grants Made and Denied (updated quarterly):
Grants Made to Members
Grants Denied

Ithaca Health Alliance / Ithaca Health Fund Program grant considerations.

1. For IHA granting purposes, a broken bone shall be defined as an actual fracture or break, as distinguished from a contusion, dislocation or sprain, and must be verified as such by bill/s for services documenting the same. Emergency stitches shall be defined as those resulting from accidental or non-elective laceration or puncture. Ambulance rides shall include medical helicopter rides.
2. Photocopies of bills on proper letterhead are to be submitted with requests for grants, by either member or health provider. Approved grants will be paid to the health provider, or to the member. Members will sign a form authorizing the Ithaca Health Alliance to call health provider(s) to request information as required.
3. The maximum total amount of grants available to any member during the 1st year's membership shall be $3,000, during 2nd and 3rd year $3,500, during 4th and subsequent years $4,000. The maximum paid shall be the maximum grantable at date of injury or first treatment.
4. FUND IS PAYER OF LAST RESORT. Ithaca Health Alliance grants are not available for expenses paid by insurance or other third parties. However, order of payment of bills by insurers shall not preclude the Ithaca Health Alliance from awarding its own maximum in grants, within approved categories, when total of all bills for the injury exceeds the maximum payment by insurance.
5. Grants are made anywhere in the world, for any credentialed health provider whose scope of practise includes the services rendered.
6. For each grant, a member may ask IHA to prioritize grant amounts as the member prefers, e.g. to doctor or ambulance.
7. Monies reserved by the Ithaca Health alliance for fund activities shall retain a minimum balance, to be determined by the Ithaca Health Alliance board, below which no grants will be made. Granting resumes when the fund surpasses the minimum balance. This minimum balance is currently $40,000.
8. When members think they have an expense which qualifies for a grant, they may call and/or mail proof of expense to Ithaca Health Alliance, PO Box 362, Ithaca, NY 14851. The Health Alliance office may call health provider(s) to verify whether these expenses are insured. If so, grants are eligible for the remaining parts of expense, within grant limits. We may also call the member for clarification.
9. If grant payment is appropriate and approved by the Grants & Loans committee, the Ithaca Health Alliance seeks first to make par/full payment with any Ithaca HOURS available. Remainder of payments is to be made in U.S. dollars.
10. If a grant is denied by the Grants & Loans committee, then the member has the right to appeal to the general monthly meeting of the board. Any reevaluation of grant award would, if approved, be calculated from the original date of submission.
11. The maximum grant amount from the Fund for a specific type of injury/health expense will be set by the Board. Current granting categories and maxima are listed on the Ithaca Health Alliance website and available by request from the IHA office. Each grant category may have specific conditions for granting, including but not limited to minimum length of membership for eligibility, requirement of provider discount, or referral of credentialed provider for the health service received.
12. The Ithaca health fund is a project of The Ithaca Health Alliance, Inc. Board members alone are responsible for legal documents, and are indemnified and held harmless for claims against the fund.