Health insurance in America is expensive, which leaves millions without coverage. Those who don’t have health insurance and end up needing medical care may get large bills that they simply cannot pay. Paying the large bills would end up meaning they have to give up something like housing or transportation. The good news is that they can still keep their basic needs met and get help paying the bill through programs that offer grants for seniors with no health insurance.
For starters, the vast majority of seniors in America should have health insurance. This is because the federal government provides seniors with medical coverage once they reach the age of 65. It is provided through a program called Medicare, which is open to all people in the country who are at least 65 and are citizens or legal non-citizens. The program will help pay for most of the medical bills that seniors receive, including if they go to the hospital, doctor, or specialist or if they need prescription drugs. However, it doesn’t pay for the whole bill.
Medicare pays around 80% of someone’s bill, which means that if the bill is large, the person will be left with a hefty amount to pay. If a senior is in the hospital for a week, the bill could be $50,000 or more. This means that if Medicare paid 80% of the bill, the senior would still have to pay $10,000. Many seniors would struggle to pay that amount, which is why they should turn to grants.
Grants to Help with Medical Bills
If a senior doesn’t have any health insurance it at all, then it may be because they don’t qualify. Perhaps they are not a legal citizen, which would mean they would get stuck with the whole bill, and that could be challenging to pay on a fixed income. Regardless of the situation, it is important to know where to turn to get some grants for seniors with no health insurance.
Here are places you can contact to inquire about applying for a grant to help pay for the medical bill:
211 – You can call this number to get referrals to local programs that may provide grants to help with paying medical bills. The number is for a free referral service offered by the United Way organization. You can let them know your situation and what type of help you need, and they will look through their database to find programs that can help. The service is free to use and open to everyone in the country. To get more information about the referral service, click here.
Catholic Charities – This organization has locations around the country and is faith-based, although you don’t have to be religious to get assistance. They help people in a variety of ways, including to pay for bills. Seniors without health insurance can contact them to see if they can help with paying the bill for them. To get more information and find a location in your area, click here.
Dollar For – This organization helps people pay for their medical bills. Their program helps you get the bill forgiven by the hospital. They prepare the application on your behalf and send it to the hospital to see if the bill can be forgiven. Contact them to see if your situation qualifies and if you can get assistance paying your medical bills. To get more information and apply online, click here.
PAN Foundation – This organization helps people pay for their medical bills. They provide grants to help seniors and others who need assistance. They have helped many people pay for their medical bills, much of which has been done by people donating money to the organization to support their mission. To get more information and apply, click here.
Needy Meds – This organization helps people to pay for their medical bills and to have lower ones to begin with. They help seniors save money on prescription drugs, obtain them for free, and more. They also have access to information about free clinics, patient payment assistance programs, rebates on bills, and more. The service is free to use and open to everyone who needs assistance. To get more information, click here.
Health Department – There are health department offices around the country. Contact your local health department to inquire about getting grants for seniors without health insurance. They may be able to help you directly or provide you with referrals to programs in the community from which you can get assistance. The health department also provides a range of services for free or at a very low cost to those in the community.
Additional Options
It is always a good idea to contact the churches in your area to see if they have programs in place that would help pay for medical bills for seniors without health insurance. Many churches have a variety of programs that will help those in the community who are financially challenged. You don’t have to be a member of the church to qualify for assistance, as they typically help everyone in the community who needs it.
Be sure to also contact the medical office where the bill is from and discuss it with them. Let them know you don’t have insurance and will not be able to pay it without receiving assistance. They may be able to refer you to programs that they have in-house or that they know in your community that will help with paying the bill. Some places, such as hospitals that receive money from property taxes in the community, have programs in place that will help pay for the bills of those who have a low income and don’t have insurance. They are also often willing to reduce the amount you owe if you don’t have insurance.
Finally, if you can’t find assistance paying the bill, check with your state’s laws to see what the statute of limitations is on the medical facility collecting it.