The Fund for Medical Assistance (FMA)

The Fund for Medical Assistance (FMA) is a program of The Church Pension Fund (CPF) that provides financial assistance for medically necessary healthcare expenses to eligible clergy, lay employees, and their dependents in non-domestic dioceses.

Guidelines

• To be eligible, active clergy in good standing with the Church and lay employees must be employed by an eligible diocese of The Episcopal Church, or by an institution subject to the authority of that diocese ¹, and be regularly scheduled to work 1,500 hours or more per year. Retired clergy in good standing with the Church who have retired from employment with an eligible diocese and are receiving a pension benefit from CPF are also eligible.
• Eligible applicants’ spouses/domestic partners, surviving spouses, dependent children/surviving children, and stepchildren under the age of 30, disabled children 30 years of age or older, provided the disability occurred prior to attaining age 25, and dependent parents and parents-in-law who reside with the applicant are also eligible for reimbursement.
• Financial assistance is intended for the relief of expenses incurred for medically necessary services, and transportation and other ancillary costs related to the medically necessary service, only after the applicant or the applicant’s family member has utilized his/her health insurance or government-sponsored (public) healthcare program and any other available financial resources.
• Each applicant must complete an FMA Application for Financial Assistance and return a signed copy to the bishop. The bishop should complete the bishop’s section of the form, sign it, and return the completed form to the address provided on the form.
• The applicant must complete the initial section of the appropriate Medical Information Form, sign the release, and have the healthcare provider complete the form. The completed Medical Information Form should be returned to the address provided on the form.
• The amount of funds available for use each year by each eligible diocese is calculated based on the number of eligible clergy working in that diocese. Diocesan bishops will be notified of the annual allocation of FMA funds. If a diocese exhausts its annual allocation of FMA funds, they are encouraged to submit applications, as CPF, in its sole discretion, may approve grants that exceed a diocese’s annual allocation.
• The FMA is currently in effect through December 31, 2027.

¹Effective January 1, 2025, the territories and non-domestic dioceses eligible to participate in the FMA are the Dioceses of Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador Central, Ecuador Litoral, Haiti, Honduras, Micronesia, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Venezuela, and the (British) Virgin Islands. Clergy working in the Convocation of Europe are also eligible.

Role of the Bishop

Diocesan bishops play a central role in identifying persons who may need assistance from the FMA. While the bishop is the chief pastor for the diocese, and diocesan resources should be the first source of aid for clergy and lay employees, the FMA can supplement the bishop’s ability to give aid when a true medical need arises.

Application Process

• Information about the FMA, as well as all forms, may be obtained from Administrative Assistance in CPF’s Client Services Department by calling 1-855-215-5990 (dial #2 for Spanish), or by emailing aassist@cpg.org.
• All requests must be initiated through the office of the canonical or residential bishop or the ecclesiastical authority. The forms are mailed from the bishop’s office to the applicant.
• The bishop and applicant should first have explored the possibility of assistance from the applicant’s health insurance or government-sponsored (public) healthcare program, the local diocese, the applicant’s resources, and the surrounding community. After these avenues have been considered, the bishop initiates the grant request process by contacting CPF.
• Application and medical forms are then sent to the applicant.
• The applicant completes the application and medical form, returns the application to the bishop, and forwards the medical form to the appropriate healthcare provider.
• The bishop must certify that the applicant meets the guidelines to receive these funds, that the medical expenses are not covered by public or private insurance, and that no alternative resources are available to pay for the medical expenses.
• CPF will review the application form and decide, in its sole and absolute discretion, whether to approve the request. Requesting financial assistance does not in any way imply or guarantee approval, and approval of one application does not imply or guarantee approval of future applications. CPF’s decision with respect to a request is final.
• CPF communicates its decision to the bishop and the bishop, in turn, communicates the decision to the applicant.
• If financial assistance is approved, a wire transfer is issued to the diocesan office for the benefit of the applicant.

Contact

Client Services Department

Administrative Assistance
Telephone: 1 855-215-5990, dial #2 for Spanish
Email: admin-assist@cpg.org