RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesPERSONAL FINANCE Single mom turns to 7 On Your Side for help with son's healthcare coverage as he fights cancer By Nina Pineda Friday, August 21, 2026 10:44PM Nina Pineda has more. JERSEY CITY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A New Jersey mom has been fighting for six months to get her son health insurance coverage as he battles cancer.
When he couldn't get approved, she asked 7 On Your Side to diagnose the problem.
It was an unexpected diagnosis for Wanda Roberson's youngest, Tareen.
"You never think it's going to be your child," she said. "But it was devastating the way we found out he was sick."
Doctors told Tareen he had leukemia in 2024. Ever since, all his medication, doctors appointments and chemotherapy treatments used to be covered under his dad's insurance.
"So when their father retired, the insurance went with him, so they have no insurance," she said.
Roberson applied for NJ Family Care, the health insurance program through New Jersey providing Garden State residents who quality with affordable health insurance.
She said she sent in the paper work and kept getting told it was pending. That was back in November of 2025.
"Seven months I've been dealing with this, and they would send paperwork in the meantime, because the hospital bills were piling up as well," she said.
The family had to rely on temporary Medicaid and charity to afford Tareen's ongoing care.
"I don't understand...he's a cancer patient...we're not faking a disease, we're not scamming anybody so what's the problem?" Roberson said.
After months of waiting for approval, the single mother was told to restart the entire application process - leaving her to pay for Tareen's expensive treatment out of pocket.
With nowhere else to turn, the Jersey City mom sent an SOS to 7 On Your Side.
"I watch you all the time, I watch you all the time, and I see how you get things done," she said.
7 On Your Side contacted the New Jersey Department of Health Services and by the end of the week, Roberson received good news.
She soon learned all of her son's treatment costs from doctor visits to drugs would be retroactively covered in full.
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