Grant helps family afford hearing aids after Hurricane Ian devastation
Marina’s story
Walking down the beach holding her dad’s hand, 11-year-old Marina loves this moment. With her toes in the sand, breathing in the ocean breeze, this is one of her favorite places.
“She’s outgoing, friendly and artistic,” said Marina’s mom, Jenny, watching her daughter draw in the sand. “She’s everybody’s best friend.”
A peaceful day at Fort Myers Beach is also a good reminder of the waves their family has endured the last few years — Marina, born with a partial cleft palate, struggles with hearing issues and has gone through several surgeries.
“Nobody wants to see their kids struggle, but Marina, being who she is, never complains,” Jenny said.
Then in September 2022, Hurricane Ian came ashore in Ft. Myers, Florida, flooding their home with 15 feet of water and causing them to lose almost everything.
“It felt like the whole world was crashing down on us,” Jenny said
Kevin and Jenny, who were also supporting Marina’s brother with therapies for autism, had to find a way to purchase hearing aids for Marina.
“The stress of hoping everything was going to be fine, and then finding out that we needed to get hearing aids for Marina, and insurance was not going to cover them. We had no idea what to expect,” Kevin said.
With help from the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF), Marina’s family qualified for a grant to help cover the cost of her hearing aids.
“UnitedHealthcare came through as the beacon and helped us,” Kevin said. “The shining light that started our comeback, allowing our daughter to hear, was amazing. A beautiful thing.”
Since 2005, UHCCF has awarded more than 40,000 grants valued at over $80 million. The funding pays for children’s medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by a commercial health insurance plan.
After receiving the hearing aids, Marina’s parents took her to the beach, and it was a whole new experience for her. Marina told her mother, “I didn’t realize the waves made noise.”
“You just don’t realize what someone else hears or feels,” Jenny said.
Marina is thriving with her new hearing aids. Her grades have improved in school, and she loves playing her piano in her bedroom.
“I would’ve never been able to play music if I took my hearing aids out,” Marina said. “I want to be a music influencer when I grow up."
“She’s doing everything a kid should be doing, and there’s no limit to what she can do,” Kevin said. “It’s changed our lives for the better.”
Is your child eligible?
- Grant recipients must be 16 years old or younger at the time of application
- Must meet eligible income requirements
- Must be children under the care of a licensed medical professional with services rendered within the United States
- Primary coverage for a child must be by a commercial health plan, either through an employer or individually purchased. Secondary insurance through Medicaid or CHIP is permissible.
- Children do not need to be insured by UnitedHealthcare.
Do you know a family who could benefit from a children’s medical grant? The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation is currently accepting applications. Visit UHCCF.org for more information on how to apply.
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