Frequently Asked Questions

If an individual was injured by a covered countermeasure and has died, the administrator of the estate of that individual may receive compensation, regardless of the cause of death. The estate may receive the deceased countermeasure recipient’s undisbursed payments for:

• Medical expenses (unreimbursed/out-of-pocket medical expenses that were reasonable and necessary to diagnose or treat the covered injury and to diagnose, treat, or prevent its health complications)
• Lost employment income

The CICP is the payer of last resort and can only reimburse or pay for medical services, items or lost employment income that are not covered by other third-party payers, such as health insurance.

If an injured countermeasure recipient dies and you wish to file for benefits on their behalf, you may submit a Request for Benefits (PDF - 316 KB).

If the injured countermeasure recipient submits a Request for Benefits and then dies, you may amend their Request Package to request the benefits that they would be eligible to receive.

Please see the next section for detailed instructions on how to file as the administrator of the estate of a deceased countermeasure recipient.

Learn more about the Types of Benefits available.

If you are an administrator of the estate of a deceased injured countermeasure recipient, you must submit the following:

1. A completed Request for Benefits Form (PDF - 316 KB) filed within one (1) year of the receipt of the covered countermeasure.
2. A death certificate for the deceased countermeasure recipient. If the death certificate is not available, then the administrator or executor of the estate must submit a letter providing the reasons why it is not available.
3. Documentation showing you are the administrator or executor of the estate of the deceased countermeasure recipient (e.g. Letter of Administration from a court).
4. If not previously submitted, the deceased injured countermeasure recipient’s complete medical records, including primary care visits, specialists, consultations, hospitalizations, as well as the immunization record in the case of vaccine injuries.
5. Any other documentation to show that the deceased person had received a covered countermeasure and sustained a covered injury.

You must submit medical records dating back one year prior to the receipt of the covered countermeasure until the time of death, so that the CICP can assess the deceased injured countermeasure recipient’s total health picture.

You must also complete an Authorization for Use or Disclosure of Health Information Form for each healthcare provider (e.g. doctor, specialist, hospital) the deceased injured countermeasure recipient saw during the time frame indicated above and request that they send the records to the CICP. You must also submit a duplicate copy of each Form to the CICP so that the Program knows which medical records to expect. If the healthcare provider(s) prefers that you request medical records using their own authorization form, the CICP will accept a copy of that form.

For security reasons, the CICP does not accept medical records sent by email.

The CICP will not begin a medical review until all records are received.

If an injured countermeasure recipient submits a complete Request for Benefits Package and then dies before eligibility is determined and you are the administrator of their estate, please contact the CICP at 301-443-9350 for guidance on amending a Request for Benefits.

The time it takes to process a Request for Benefits varies by case. When medical records are required to be submitted for a deceased injured countermeasure recipient, the case review can begin when the CICP receives all of the expected medical records. If the administrator of the estate is not required to submit medical records because the records have been previously submitted, the case review can begin when all new required documents are received. A delay in sending complete medical records or documents to the CICP will delay the processing of the case. Once all of the medical records and/or other documents are submitted, the case will be put in queue to be reviewed. Since a thorough, individualized review is required to determine eligibility, the time it takes for the CICP to process a Request for Benefits depends on the complexity of the case. The CICP will communicate with you periodically to provide updates on the status of the case or to request information that may be missing.

No. The CICP is not authorized to provide reimbursement for attorneys’ fees. You may elect to use an attorney; however, you would be responsible for any costs incurred from using one.

Learn more about the CICP Filing Process.

Yes. If a deceased injured countermeasure recipient received a vaccine or countermeasure covered under the CICP and also received vaccine covered under the VICP, but you are unsure which vaccine may have caused his/her injury, then you may file in either or both programs. Depending on the circumstances, you may not receive compensation from either or both programs.

The CICP covers several vaccines and countermeasures designated for use during pandemic, epidemic, and security threats. The National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) covers vaccines that are recommended for routine use.

Learn more about CICP Covered Countermeasures or the VICP.

If the original Request for Benefits is postmarked more than one (1) year after the deceased injured countermeasure recipient received a covered countermeasure, the survivor(s) will be ineligible for CICP benefits. In some cases, an immunization record is required to establish the date of the countermeasure administration.

If you miss the filing deadline, you may request reconsideration of the case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857

If the CICP determines that the case does not qualify for benefits, you may request reconsideration of your case. Requests for reconsideration must be received in writing within 60 days of the CICP’s determination of ineligibility, and mailed to:

Health Resources and Services Administration
Associate Administrator, Healthcare Systems Bureau
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 8W-25A
Rockville, MD 20857