Pay Medical Bills Through Grant Money

Medical treatments are billed by hospitals and medical providers, usually to be paid within 1 month from the billing date. If you find that you are unable to pay medical bills or they are past due, you may want to look into governmental and charity organizations that can help. It is important to learn to reduce medical bills as much as possible before seeking grants. You must also learn to spot grant scams and apply for the correct grants. This article will tell you how to apply to pay medical bills through grant money and how to apply for low-cost health insurance programs.

Steps

Strategizing in Advance

  1. Research low-cost providers. If you know about a treatment or needed checkup ahead of time, you may be able to find an office or clinic that provides reduced-cost care. For example, many cities have psychiatry or counseling centers, gynecological offices and emergency care centers that provide affordable appointments.
    • Do an Internet search under "community clinics and health centers" with the name of your city to find low cost or free healthcare service providers.
    • It is important to make your appointment early for many of these low-cost providers. They book up quickly and you may need to wait weeks or months to receive care.
  2. Talk to the hospital or medical provider about reducing your bills. It is a good idea to talk to the hospital just after you receive care and before you are billed. Many hospitals offer grants and/or financial assistance to uninsured or under insured patients who cannot afford their medical bills.[1]
  3. Negotiate a payment plan with the provider. Whether or not you have received financial assistance, the payment plan helps you avoid interest accrual on your bills and the possibility that it will be sent to a collection agency. For large bills, you may be able to pay over a period of years.[1]
    • Even if you are able to get grants from other methods, it can take months or years to acquire the funding. A low monthly payment may allow you to support yourself or your family and avoid your bill going into collections as you look for other financial support.

Researching Sources of Financial Assistance

  1. Talk to your church or synagogue. If you are a member, many churches use their collection funds or charity events to help those who are sick and in need of money for treatment. Write a letter or seek counsel from other church members in order to approach the need for assistance.
  2. Research non-profit organizations that support people with your illness. Cancer, diabetes, HIV, heart and many other diseases have organizations that give aid to people suffering from a specific disease. Contact organizations in your state and then on a national level.
    • Examples of non-profit associations include The American Cancer Society, Gilda's Club (cancer), The National Heart Association, AIDS Action Foundation, and The American Diabetes Association.[2]
    • It is a good idea to read the literature produced by the organization and abide by their rules of requesting aid.
    • If you plan to write a letter requesting aid, ask a friend or family member to check it. Provide any copies of medical bills and medical records if they are requested. Talk directly to the organization before providing any personal information.
  3. Go to Benefits.gov to look for government assistance. Fill out the online form that asks you what type of benefits you are looking for, your home state, your age, family size, income and other applicable information. The site will provide you with a list of state and national agencies that may be able to offer you medical financial assistance.[3]
  4. Apply for government grants, if you qualify. Go online to governmentgrants.us to find out what programs are available for your situation. You will need to fill out a long application with personal information, medical records and possibly a written statement. Ask for a contact name and number so that you can check on your application.[4]

Signing Up for Insurance

  1. Call your state Medicaid agency. If your income falls below a certain state threshold or if you have significant income loss due to a medical problem, you may qualify for Medicaid benefits. Find your local Health and Human Services department or go to Medicaid.gov.[5]
  2. Investigate Children's Health Insurance programs. Most states offer a low-cost children's health insurance program to provide coverage for children and families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but who can't afford private coverage. Your state Medicaid agency can also provide this information.[5]
  3. Obtain insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Also known as Obamacare, you can obtain low-cost health insurance through your state or the federal government. Unless your income is below a certain level, you will be penalized on your income taxes if you do not have some type of health insurance. Go online to obamacare.org to find out about all healthcare insurance plans available in your state.[6]
  4. Determine if you qualify for Medicare. If you are a U.S. citizen, age 65 or older, have end stage renal disease (ESRD), or you have received Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) for 24 months, you would qualify for Medicare. You may also want to purchase supplemental insurance for prescriptions and other health services not covered under Medicare.[7]


Tips

  • Some large companies also provide grants or other financial assistance to people with large medical bills. Check your company's charity or human resources department to see if they provide these programs.
  • Getting a grant is an intensive time taking process. Apply for the grant with enough time, as there is no way for the process to be sped up. Waiting for the last minute will result in non payment of the medical bill and an accrual of interest.
  • Don't ignore mortgage or rent payments or credit card bills in order to pay your medical bills. Late medical bill payments will generally not affect your credit score, but it's a good idea to pay a little amount each month for medical bills.
  • Don't put large medical bills on a credit card. You will end up paying a lot of interest and it may reduce your chances of qualifying for Medicaid.

Warnings

  • Do not fill out an online form for government grants unless it is from a website that ends in .gov.
  • Medical insurance does not cover everything and this is the point where a medical grant becomes necessary. Genuine grants are provided after thorough verification. Make sure you do not fall for any scams that ask you for money, to receive a grant.
  • Beware that most advertised "money for nothing" grants are scams. Assume an offer that sounds too good to be true is a scam. Never give money or personal information to an agency claiming to offer you free grant money for medical bills.

Things You'll Need

  • Hospital billing department
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Letter or official application
  • State Health and Human Services number
  • Low-cost providers

Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/guide/probdebt.htm
  2. ↑ https://careacttarget.org/library/aids-action-foundation
  3. ↑ http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-finder#benefits&qc=cat_1
  4. ↑ https://www.governmentgrants.us/bills_assistance.php
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.medicaid.gov/
  6. ↑ http://www.obamacareusa.org/get-quotes/?CID=24911&SRC=ousa_google&bw_state=0&bw_type=ACA+Health+Plans&bw_brand=0&Sub_ID=affordable%20care%20act&bw_keyword=affordable%20care%20act&google_network=g&creativeid=82930827024&position=1t2&matchtype=e&mobile=
  7. ↑ https://www.medicare.gov/
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