RECA applications are now open for Missourians

ST. LOUIS - Residents from the St. Louis area who are living with health complications due to nuclear contamination can now apply for financial relief. 

Under the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) that was passed last month, affected residents will have the chance to get some money back.  

To apply, residents will need to fill out a document available online, then print it and mail it in. In addition, residents will also need to provide proof of residence and medical records that show a diagnosis of one of the eligible diseases. 

According to the Department of Justice, the eligible diseases are leukemia (other than chronic lymphocytic leukemia), multiple myeloma, lymphomas (other than Hodgkin’s disease), and primary cancers of the thyroid, male or female breast, esophagus, stomach, pharynx, small intestine, pancreas, bile ducts, gall bladder, salivary gland, urinary bladder, brain, colon, ovary, liver (except if cirrhosis or Hepatitis B is indicated), or lung.

An online claim filing portal is in development and is expected to open in December, creating another option for residents to get what they’re owed.  

The DOJ also says that eligible applicants can expect payment for radiation-linked medical expenses to come out to anywhere between $25,000 and $30,000. They also note that in the instance that a qualifying individual is deceased at the time of filing, RECA can provide $25,000 to a surviving spouse or split among children. 

The zip codes that qualify for application are: 63031, 63033, 63034, 63042, 63045, 63074, 63114, 63135, 63138, 63044, 63121, 63140, 63145, 63147, 63102, 63304, 63134, 63043, 63341, 63368, and 63367.

The application portal will remain open until December 31, 2027.

For detailed information on what RECA is and what it includes, check out our previous coverage by clicking here.