Harris Health’s Financial Assistance Program: Your Gateway to Affordable Healthcare.
No one should forgo healthcare because they can’t afford it. Harris Health System offers everyone in Harris County high-quality medical care through its Financial Assistance Program. The Financial Assistance Program is not insurance, rather it’s a program that allows participants to access preventive and acute care at Harris Health for a minimal copay. It’s free and easy to apply and eligible participants are approved in as little as two weeks.
“Our mission is to improve our community’s health by delivering high-quality care to the residents of Harris County,” says Pollie Martinez, vice president, Patient Access, Harris Health.
Annually, approximately 224,000 Harris County residents apply for financial assistance to receive services from Harris Health through discounted rates or reduced costs compared to other health plans accepted in the system.
“The program includes care at more than 30 freestanding health centers, clinics and specialty facilities throughout Harris County, as well as our two hospitals, Ben Taub and Lyndon B. Johnson,” explains Veronica Patricio, director of operations, Patient Eligibility, Harris Health. “The goal is to ensure every resident of Harris County has access to affordable care.”
If you’re having trouble paying for medical treatment, or you have been ignoring a medical problem for fear of the expense, now is the time to apply for Harris Health’s assistance program. Martinez and Patricio share some common questions and answers about the program to help educate the public.
What is the Financial Assistance
Program (FAP) and how does it work?
The Financial Assistance Program (FAP) helps Harris County residents pay for preventive and acute healthcare including prescription medications.
Participants apply for the program either online or via mail. Once approved, they can receive services across Harris Health’s network of hospitals, health centers, clinics and specialty facilities for either no co-pay or a nominal co-pay. If a person cannot afford a co-pay, the payment may be waived and the patient is not billed.
“No one is ever denied care based on their ability to pay,” Patricio reiterates.
Who is eligible for FAP?
The Financial Assistance Program is a program for Harris County residents who meet certain qualifications, and that make incomes below 150% of the federal poverty index guidelines. To see if someone qualifies under this income guideline, Harris Health has an online FAP eligibility calculator to determine eligibility.
How do I apply?
Applying online via a smartphone, tablet or desktop is the quickest and easiest way. The site is available in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Those applying will be asked to submit documents using camera images or file uploads to confirm eligibility.
“Applying online is the best way,” Patricio says. “The online application process is very user-friendly.”
Don’t have Wi-Fi or a smartphone? You can mail in your application and supporting documents or drop them off at one of Harris Health’s authorized drop box locations.
The application is free and never requires a payment to apply.
“Anybody who is asked to pay for the completion of an application, should not pay. Instead, please report these individuals or services to Harris
Health’s Compliance Hotline,” Martinez says. The number is 844-565-0621.
What happens next?
Harris Health sends applicants a packet in the mail notifying them of their eligibility and financial co-pay, sometimes as soon as within two weeks. If approved for the program, the packet will include a list of copays and facilities. Plus, the packet provides a phone number to begin scheduling medical appointments.
Once approved, a patient’s FAP status is good for one year with reconfirmation of FAP status done annually. Harris Health will send reminders including text messages to make the process as easy as possible, beginning 45 days from renewal dates.
“We give patients plenty of opportunities to renew,” Martinez assures. “Renewing is easier, too, because patients only need to provide proof of income eligibility rather than all the documents initially required.”
How much does it cost?
The program provides high-quality medical and healthcare services for a nominal cost. If a patient can’t afford the co-pay, services are still rendered. No one is denied services based on the ability to pay.
What kind of services does FAP cover?
FAP applies to all comprehensive healthcare, from preventive like annual physical exams, vaccinations, and cancer screenings, to acute care for treatment of broken bones, chronic disease care for diabetes and kidney dialysis. It also applies to prescription medications like insulin or blood pressure medicines.
“FAP follows the Medicaid schedule of benefits,” Martinez says. “If it’s something that Medicaid would typically pay for, then in most cases, it’s provided through our financial assistance program.”
Do I need a “Gold Card” or “insurance card”?
FAP is not insurance coverage, and no card is needed to receive Harris Health services. In fact, there is no such thing as a ‘Gold Card’ program at Harris Health. The financial assistance program was previously called Gold Card because of a gold-colored plastic identification card given to Harris Health patients. Harris Health stopped issuing identification cards years ago. It now uses biometric palm scanning devices to help with identification of patients. After establishing a patient’s identity in the biometric system, a patient’s identity is easily confirmed by the palm scanning.
How does the program identify me?
Once approved, program participants enter Harris Health’s EPIC electronic medical system. A photo ID or other approved identification method is required to receive services. This includes the use of biometric palm scanning to confirm identification. Once a patient has been treated at any Harris Health facility, the biometric ID system will connect them to their corresponding medical records. The biometric palm scanning is for Harris Health use only. No documents or identification records are shared with any agency outside of Harris Health.
Filling out the application correctly and completely is hugely important.
Do you have other quick tips?
Filling out the application correctly and completely is hugely important. Make sure all information is entered accurately and correctly.
A quick way to check eligibility and what documents might be needed to apply is to visit HarrisHealth.org and click “Am I Eligible” in the upper right-hand corner.
When applying, Harris Health automatically checks to see if the applicant is eligible for Medicaid or qualifies for grants or other social service programs.
“Applying for the Financial Assistance Program is like applying for various programs in one application,” Patricio says. “We encourage everyone to apply.”
“Everyone deserves quality healthcare,” Martinez adds. “Let us help you get it.”
For more information on the Harris Health’s Financial Assistance Program and the services at Harris Health, visit harrishealth.org