Starting From $0
Help with healthcare.
No coverage, a scary bill, or medicine that costs too much.
What to do today
- Community health centers see you NOW, sliding-scale to $0, insured or not.
- Apply for Medicaid any time — job loss is a qualifying moment, and coverage can reach back to recent bills in many states.
- Ask every hospital bill for 'financial assistance' — nonprofit hospitals are required to have a policy.
Programs worth checking
You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.
Community health centers
OfficialMedical, dental and mental-health care priced on a sliding scale down to $0, insurance or not. Federally funded, in most communities.
Who may qualify: Everyone; fees scale with income.
Medicaid
OfficialFree or very-low-cost health coverage. In many states, coverage can be retroactive up to three months before you applied.
Who may qualify: Income-based; expanded in most states. Apply any time of year — job loss and income drops are exactly when to (re)apply. You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.
CHIP (children's coverage)
OfficialLow-cost health coverage for children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but can't afford private insurance.
Who may qualify: Children (and pregnant people in some states) under state limits. You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.
Healthcare.gov marketplace
OfficialHealth plans with income-based subsidies. Losing a job or coverage opens a special enrollment period outside the annual window.
Who may qualify: US residents without affordable employer coverage. You may qualify depending on income, household size, disability status, age, location, and other factors. Programs and rules change by state and year — the official link is the authority.
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
OfficialCall or text 988 for free, confidential mental-health crisis support, 24/7. Money crises are health crises too.
Who may qualify: Everyone.