Help for Low Income Families With Medical Bills

Many low income families have heads of household who are unemployed or underemployed. They may not have health insurance. Even if they do have insurance, they may have difficulty paying co-pays or deductibles. They may struggle even to pay for basic medical care such as routine vaccinations for their children or visits to doctors for simple illnesses, but low income families with members that suffer from serious illnesses or chronic health conditions have more difficulty paying their medical bills.

Medicaid

• A state administered program jointly funded by the state and federal governments, Medicaid pays for a variety of health care services for families with low incomes. Eligibility criteria vary somewhat from state to state. Apply for Medicaid at the welfare office in the county in which you live. You'll need to provide proof of all household income as well as other documentation when you apply. In some cases, Medicaid will pay past medical bills if you were eligible but had not yet applied at the time you incurred the bills.

Sliding Scales

• Many counties have clinics that provide medical care on a sliding scale; they determine your fees based on your family size and family income. Some medical clinics, dental clinics and mental health clinics offer sliding scales. Contact the health department or mental health board in the county in which you live to ask about clinics with sliding scales in your area. You'll need to provide proof of all household income.

Payment Plans

• Some health care providers will offer payment plans if you just ask. In some cases, if you offer to pay for services in full in cash, they will give you a reduced fee. Sometimes they will not, but it never hurts to ask.

Grants

• Many foundations offer grants for low income families that struggle to pay medical bills. For instance, the Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund helps families with members that suffer from cancer. The American Kidney Fund helps families with members suffering from renal disease. The United Healthcare Children's Fund helps families with children that suffer from severe or chronic illnesses. To apply for grants to help with medical bills, you will probably need to provide proof of all family income as well as information about any health insurance policies you hold and documentation from health care providers about your diagnoses and the type of expenses with which you need financial help.