Financial Assistance
Financial assistance programs offer people free or discounted options to help pay bills.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA)
This healthcare reform was enacted in 2010 to make health insurance more accessible. People can now purchase affordable health plans through their state's health insurance marketplace, even with limited finances or preexisting conditions.
Find affordable health care and compare plans at Healthcare.gov
The ACA also mandates hospitals provide patients with financial assistance and emergency care.
Hospital are Required to have:
Written financial assistance & emergency care policies
Specific information posted and easily accessible regarding:
Eligibility criteria for financial assistance and whether the care is free or discounted
How to apply
How charged amounts are calculated
Example: hospitals may offer a sliding fee schedule that considers a patient's family size and annual income. The higher your income, the more you'll pay. The lower your income, the less you'll pay.
Other Options for
Uninsured and Underinsured Patients
Assistance from:
Ask Medical care providers about their payment plans and for monthly payments you can afford
Look for other state programs
Non-profit organizations and churches
Advocacy groups
A GoFundMe Page - a crowdfunding platform using the power of the Internet to raise money
Warning! Do not use credit cards to pay off medical debt.
Use of retirement funds is also discouraged. Seek professional advise.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program - LIHEAP or HEAP
A federally funded grant program run by the states
Designed to help income-eligible customers pay home heating bills and cooling bills, and in some cases, water bills
Eligible heating sources include electricity, natural gas, oil, coal, propane, wood, wood pellets, kerosene, or corn.
HEAP eligibility is based on income, household size, and responsibility for paying for heat. A household's gross income must be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level for its size.
It does not need to be paid back
Reapply annually
-Or call the Energy Assistance Hotline at 1-866-674-6327
Energy Affordability Program (EAP)
A state-level program that offers a monthly discount on electric and/or gas and other benefits, depending on your particular utility's program.
All large electric and natural gas utilities offer the EAP discount to households that receive a HEAP benefit.
