Families in Kentucky may need help with medical bills for a number of reasons. Perhaps they do not have health insurance or perhaps they have significant medical expenses not covered by their insurance plans. Numerous programs help Kentucky families afford the medical care they need. You’ll need to provide proof of all family income when you apply for assistance.
Medicaid
Medicaid provides help with medical bills for some families in Kentucky that have very low incomes and no health insurance. Kentucky Medicaid covers things like inpatient and outpatient medical care, medical tests, prescription medications and mental health care. Apply for Medicaid for your family at the Department for Community Services office nearest you. Generally you must attend a face-to-face interview with a caseworker but if you cannot go to the Department for Community Services office for any reason, a caseworker may be able to visit you at your home.
Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program
The Kentucky Children’s Health Insurance Program pays medical bills for some children whose families earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. It covers things like inpatient and outpatient medical care, medical tests, prescription medications, mental health care, dental care, eye exams and eyeglasses. You can download an application online or apply at any Department for Community Services office.
Hill-Burton Act
The Hill-Burton Act requires some health care facilities that previously received federal money for construction or modernization to offer free or low cost health care to some patients. Facilities are not required to provide free or low cost care to all patients in need; they must simply provide a certain amount of free or low cost care each year. Obligated facilities in Kentucky include the Redwood Rehabilitation Center in Fort Mitchell and the Whitesburg Medical Clinic in Whitesburg. Contact those facilities for more information or to request services under the Hill-Burton Act.
Sliding Scales
Numerous clinics in Kentucky provide medical care on a sliding scale, meaning fees are based on your family’s income. Such clinics include North Fork Valley Community Health Center in Hazard, the Jane Buchanan Medical Clinic in Hindman, Juniper Health in Jackson and the Cumberland Family Medical Center in Burkesville. See Resources for a list of community health centers in Kentucky that serve families with low incomes. Contact the clinic in question to find out how to apply for services on a sliding scale; eligibility criteria vary from clinic to clinic.
Sources:
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services. http://chfs.ky.gov/dms/services.htm . Medicaid Programs and Services.
Kentucky.gov. http://kidshealth.ky.gov/en/kchip/covered.htm . What Is Covered by KCHIP?
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/hillburton/ . Hill-Burton Free and Reduced-Cost Health Care
