Did you know that medical grants can help you pay for your costly medical bills? More than ever the world is focused on staying healthy, as well as how to pay for the mounting cost of medical bills. If you have been impacted by mounting medical bills, many programs, as well as organizations, can help you pay your health care costs.
Many of them are grants that never need to be repaid. Most of these types of grants are issued by the state and federal government. As with most governmental programs, there are specific applications and qualifications. If you have been struggling with medical bills, use this quick reference guide to see if you can get your medical costs covered.
Tip: Avoid Medical Grant Scams
When looking for local, state, or federal agencies to assist with your medical care, make sure you read all the fine print. Check the reviews. Many unscrupulous people scam those who are already in a vulnerable state. As a rule of thumb never pay somebody to give you information about a medical grant, or medical charity group.
Applications should always be free to submit, and never give out information such as your social security number or bank account numbers. The legitimate programs move you through an established pattern of pre-qualification, then the application and then the final submission. Often you are assigned a case worker who helps you through the entire process. Avoid those sites where any personal information is required, or a fee is charged. Most medical grants allow you to receive more than one at a time. This is called stacking. Make sure each grant you apply for allows this, however. Some do not.
Most medical grants issued at the local level pay out quicker than those offered through the state or federal government. The best strategy is to combine all of those together so that you have money coming in throughout the year. This is often referred to as a portfolio of medical grants.
Grants for medical bills cover many healthcare costs. Certain grants cover specific items, such as just your prescription medications. Other grants to help pay medical bills focus solely on copayments, or premium payments. Still others cover your deductibles or medical equipment. Often, medical grants to pay medical bills are issued to those who need money to fill in the gap for the costs not covered by your insurance. There are also medical grants for patients who do not have medical insurance at all.
If the cost of your prescription medications is not covered by your insurance, or if you have zero insurance, the United Way as well as certain pharmaceutical companies can help. Often these companies offer grants to help with your prescription medications. One such company is AstraZeneca and Abbott. Each company or nonprofit has an application you fill out on their website. Make sure you have the following information gathered before you do:
- Income.
- Insurance coverage (if any).
- Current list of debts.
Aunt Bertha is an online warehouse where there are grants to help with medical bills. They connect those in need with services. They do not run a credit check. This nonprofit organization offers free or low cost services.
Medical debt relief grants are available through a number of nonprofit groups. PAN is an organization that helps those suffering from life threatening or chronic illnesses. There is an eligibility wizard for you to see if you qualify. If you do meet their criteria you can obtain grants to help with medical bills.
Health insurance grants are possible through this organization. It provides help for patients who have no insurance, or whose insurance is very limited. They get their money from medical grants, and then pass these funds along to those who meet their criteria for aid. The clinics listed through this organization offer free or low-cost services to those who cannot afford healthcare, or whose healthcare plans are not covering costs.
If you need a medical grant to assist with expensive co-payments, HealthWell can help. They also cover health insurance premiums, and in many instances the cost for treatment of children. They are one of the biggest organizations funding medical grants. Last year they funded over $600 million in grants to those who were eligible.
If you need medical grants for your medical needs, consider various community action agencies in your area. Often this money is available for more than just copayments or deductibles. Often, they cover vision, rehab costs, or dental.
Depending on where you live in the country this money can also be used to defray the cost of a nursing home, even if it is short term. Many action agencies specialize in one type of chronic illness, such as renal failure, or cancer. For example, Cancer Care, Inc. is an action agency that focuses on those who have insurmountable costs associated with their cancer treatments. This often covers the cost of transportation or in home nursing care.
If you have a child whose medical bills have become impossible to pay, the chances of receiving assistance is greater. In most instances, even if you do not qualify because of income, your child potentially can.
As a rule, children are approved a majority of the time. Certain specific associations focused on childhood illness include the Joshua Harr Shane Foundation, the Alyssa V Phillips Foundation (cerebral palsy), Aubrey Rose Foundation (medical expenses), Different Needz Foundation (special needs & developmental disabilities), and Gwendolyn Strong Foundation (Spinal Muscular Atrophy). In similar fashion, United Healthcare Children’s Foundation aids families whose insurance, or lack of insurance, does not cover the cost of treatment. It offers medical gap money to cover what health benefits do not pay for.
