Resources / Filing Your Claim / Enroll in WTCHP
How to Enroll in the WTC Health Program
Key Takeaways
Enrolling in the WTC Health Program requires submitting the correct application form for your membership type: FDNY responder, general responder, survivor, or Pentagon and Shanksville responder. Applications are reviewed by the program's contractor, screened by the FBI against the terrorist watch list, and decided by the WTC Health Program. Once approved, you are assigned to a Clinical Center of Excellence, local NYC survivor clinic, or the Nationwide Provider Network. Responders receive annual monitoring exams from enrollment. Survivors receive one initial health evaluation unless certified. Enrollment is free. If denied, you have the right to appeal within the timeframe stated in your denial letter.
Which Application to Use
Four distinct application forms exist, each specific to a membership group. Submitting the wrong form delays processing. Select the form that matches how you qualify. All applications are available at cdc.gov/wtc or by calling 1-888-982-4748.
FDNY Responders
For FDNY members and surviving immediate family members of the 343 FDNY responders who died on September 11, 2001.
General Responders
For all other NYC-area responders, including construction workers, cleanup contractors, volunteers, vehicle maintenance workers, PATH tunnel workers, and others.
Survivors
For residents, workers, students, and others who were present in the NYC disaster area during the covered period.
Pentagon and Shanksville Responders
For responders at those sites, including members of the uniformed services, DoD employees, and certain DoD contractors added under the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act.
What You Will Need
Documentation requirements vary by membership type. Gathering documentation before you apply helps avoid delays. Incomplete applications are placed in Suspend status and returned to the applicant for additional information. In general, expect to provide:
- Proof of identity
- Documentation of presence at a covered site during the applicable covered period — employment records, payroll records, union records, work orders, residence records, school records, or other records establishing where you were and when
- For responders: documentation of work activities performed at the site
- For survivors: documentation of residence, employment, or school attendance in the covered area
Each application form includes specific documentation guidance for that membership type. Review the instructions on the application before submitting.
The Enrollment Process
Submit the Application
Submit online at oasis.cdc.gov, or mail or fax the completed form to the address on the application along with the necessary supporting documentation.
Contractor Review
The Health Program Support contractor reviews the application for completeness, requests any missing documentation, and enters the application into the system. The contractor may contact you for additional information before forwarding the application to the Program for a final decision.
FBI Screening
All applicants are screened against the FBI terrorist watch list before enrollment is approved. This is a statutory requirement under the Zadroga Act and 42 C.F.R. §88.6.
Program Administrator Determination
The WTC Health Program makes one of two enrollment decisions: Enroll or Deny. If the application is incomplete or lacks sufficient documentation, it is placed in Suspend status and returned for additional information. A Suspend status is not a denial — the application can be amended and resubmitted.
Notification
All applicants receive written notification of their enrollment decision. If approved, the letter confirms enrollment and provides your CCE or NPN assignment. If denied, the letter explains the reason for denial and your right to appeal.
CCE or NPN Assignment
Members in the New York metropolitan area are assigned to a Clinical Center of Excellence or a local survivor clinic. FDNY members are assigned to the FDNY CCE. General responders in the NYC area may select their preferred CCE; if no selection is made within the timeframe stated in the notification letter, the program makes the assignment automatically. Members outside the NYC area are assigned to the Nationwide Provider Network.
If Your Application Is Denied
A denial is not necessarily final. You have two options.
Appeal
You have the right to appeal an enrollment denial within the timeframe stated in your denial letter. The appeal must be submitted in writing, identify you, describe the decision being appealed, and explain why you believe it is incorrect. The appeal may include new information not previously considered. The WTC Health Program will appoint an independent Federal Official to review the appeal.
An appeal can challenge how the program applied the eligibility criteria to your specific circumstances. It cannot challenge the eligibility criteria themselves, which are established by law and can only be changed by an act of Congress.
Reapply
A denied applicant may reapply at any time with new or additional documentation, regardless of whether an appeal has been filed. If the new information is qualifying, the initial decision is reopened.
After Enrollment
Responders
From enrollment, all responders receive annual monitoring exams whether or not they have a certified condition. Your CCE or NPN provider will contact you to schedule your first appointment. No certification is required to access monitoring.
Survivors
Survivors receive one initial health evaluation at no cost. The program recommends scheduling it when you have symptoms you believe may be WTC-related, so it can be directed toward a specific certification question. This evaluation is covered once. Cancer screenings are available to all enrolled members for six months regardless of certification status.
Once a Condition Is Certified
For both responders and survivors, once a condition is certified by the WTC Health Program, full treatment coverage begins at no cost. WTC Health Program certification also activates your ability to file a claim for VCF financial compensation.
The application process is not as straightforward as it may seem. Getting it right requires documentation that many people do not know they need until their application is suspended. An attorney familiar with the enrollment process can identify what you need before you apply and make sure your application moves through without unnecessary delay.
Common Questions
Yes. Applications can be submitted online at oasis.cdc.gov. Hard copy applications can be requested by phone or found on the WTC Health Program website if needed.
Suspend status means the application is incomplete or lacks sufficient documentation to support a final decision. The contractor will contact you to request additional information. A Suspend status is not a denial. Providing the requested documentation allows the application to move forward.
Yes. A denied applicant may reapply at any time if new or additional documentation is available. You can also appeal the denial within the timeframe stated in your denial letter. Both options are available simultaneously — appealing does not prevent you from reapplying.
Likely yes. Responders enrolled in the FDNY program or the WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program before July 1, 2011, and survivors enrolled in the WTC Environmental Health Center Community Program before January 2, 2011, were automatically enrolled in the WTC Health Program upon its inception following terrorist watch list screening. If you are uncertain, call 1-888-982-4748 to confirm your status.
The WTC Health Program enrolls each member as one type only. If your work activity meets responder criteria, you will typically be enrolled as a responder. Responder status carries broader monitoring benefits, including annual exams from enrollment without needing a certified condition. An attorney or the WTC Health Program can help you determine which membership type best captures your situation.
June 2026 · Based on WTCHP Admin Manual and WTCHP Member Handbook 2025
Get a free case review.
Our attorneys can help you determine your membership type, gather documentation, and make sure your application is complete before you submit. All consultations are confidential.