The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit public charity, is trying to spread the word about grants they have available to help offset medical costs.

The grant is designed to help give financial assistance to those help pay for healthcare treatments, services or equipment that is not covered by the family’s commercial health insurance.

Kristen Roy, public relations spokesperson for UHCCF, said many citizens might not be aware that such a grant exists.

“We haven’t had a lot of applications from Alabama,” Roy said. “We are just really trying to increase the number of applications filed so we can help more families.”

There are exclusions, Roy said. The child must be under 16 years old, and the family must be insured by commercial health insurance. Applied behavioral analysis, hearing aids, speech, occupational and physical therapy are some of the most popular treatments that the grant is used for. Families with children suffering from autism, hearing loss, speech delay, cerebral palsy and Down Syndrome make up the bulk of grant recipients.

The average grant amount for 2009 was $3300, but families can receive up to $5000 if they qualify.

Roy said there is no deadline for when a family can apply. For more information on this grant, visit the UHCCF website by clicking HERE.