Unlock Affordable Healthcare: Discover Free and Discounted Resources to Lower Your Costs
With the cost of medical care rapidly increasing, it’s no wonder that many Americans are stressed about the rising prices of Healthcare. Healthcare costs in the US are well in excess of 4 trillion annually and equal about $13,000 per person (Peter G Peterson Foundation). Given the high prices patients are being charged to access healthcare, Tricky Bills has identified free and lower cost healthcare options that are designed to help lower patient costs.
Below we’ve aggregated a list of available programs, services, service groups, Not for Profit, and government agencies that should be contacted for additional information to receive additional financial assistance. The links below are available to access searchable databases for individual state and city locations. In order to identify resources in your area, be prepared to call the local organizations and healthcare providers. Be sure to check for updates on official government websites, as resources and programs may change over time.
State Medicaid Programs: Medicaid is a government program that provides free or low-cost health coverage to eligible low-income individuals and families. Each state administers its own Medicaid program, so you can start by visiting your state's Medicaid website. You can find a list of state Medicaid websites here: Medicaid State Websites.
Community Health Centers: FQHCs (Federally Qualified Health Centers) and community health centers provide affordable healthcare services on a sliding fee scale. HRSA (Health Resources and Services Administration) has a search tool to find a nearby qualified health center: Find a Health Center.
State Health Departments: Your state's health department website provides information on various available resources, including state-funded healthcare programs and clinics. Search for your state's health department website using an online search engine.
Local Free Clinics: Some cites have free clinics that offer a range of healthcare services. You can search for local free clinics using FreeClinics.com.
Prescription Assistance Programs: If you need coverage or financial help with the cost of prescription medications, there are prescription assistance programs that can provide discounts or free medications. One such program is NeedyMeds (https://www.needymeds.org/), which offers information on patient assistance programs.
Health Insurance Marketplaces: If you're not eligible for Medicaid and need affordable health insurance, you can explore the health insurance marketplace in your state. https://www.healthcare.gov/ provides a marketplace where you can compare and purchase health insurance plans, and it offers information on subsidies for low-income individuals.
Non-profit organizations also offer healthcare assistance and support to individuals and families in need. These organizations can provide a range of services including financial assistance, access to medical care, prescription assistance, and more.
Below are well-known non-profit organizations that offer healthcare assistance:
NeedyMeds: NeedyMeds (https://www.needymeds.org/) is a comprehensive resource that provides information on patient assistance programs, which offer assistance with prescription medications, co-payments, and other healthcare costs.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA): PPA (https://www.pparx.org/) connects patients with pharmaceutical company programs that provide free or low-cost medications.
Patient Access Network Foundation: PAN Foundation (https://panfoundation.org/) offers financial assistance to underinsured individuals with chronic or life-threatening illnesses to help cover out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
RxAssist: (https://www.rxassist.org/) is a comprehensive resource for finding patient assistance programs to help with the cost of prescription medications.
The HealthWell Foundation: (https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/) provides financial assistance to individuals who are underinsured and facing high out-of-pocket medical expenses.
CancerCare: (https://www.cancercare.org/) offers financial assistance and support to individuals and families affected by cancer, including help with transportation and co-pays.
American Kidney Fund: (https://www.kidneyfund.org/) provides financial assistance to individuals with kidney disease for health-related expenses, including dialysis and medication costs.
National Patient Travel Center: (https://nationalpatienttravelcenter.org/) This organization helps patients and their families with arranging long-distance medical travel for necessary healthcare services.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD): (https://rarediseases.org/) offers financial assistance and information for individuals with rare diseases and their families.
The Assistance Fund: (https://tafcares.org/) provides financial support to patients with various chronic conditions to help cover medication and treatment costs.
Good Days: (https://www.mygooddays.org/) offers financial assistance to individuals with chronic diseases and conditions to help with medical and treatment-related expenses.
Chronic Disease Fund: (https://cdfund.org/) assists individuals with certain chronic illnesses by providing financial support for necessary medications and treatments.