Medical Bills Assistance Programs for Native Americans

Native Americans who have medical bills that they are having difficulty paying may be able to get financial assistance to help lift the burden. Medical bills are one of the most difficult things for people to keep up on paying, because they are often so large and take so much of your income. If you are a Native American who has medical bills that you are having trouble paying, the good news is that there are programs that may help you out. Review the programs below to see which ones you may qualify for and then contact them directly to apply for the assistance.

Medical Bills Assistance Programs for Native Americans

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) –

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is funded by the federal government and is available across the country. TANF provides people with a cash grant, which can be used for paying living expenses, including paying for medical bills. To be eligible, you have to meet the low income requirements. There is also a time limit on how many months in your adult life you can receive the grant. In addition to giving those who qualify the grant for up to 60 months, the program also offers one-time cash grants under special circumstances, such as for grandparents who took in their grandchildren. To apply for TANF, find your state office to see where you apply. Most states offer online applications. There are some tribal offices that offer TANF. There are at least 70 Tribal TANF programs that have been approved. Contact your local tribal office if you have one, to see if they offer they program.

Medicaid –

The federal program called Medicaid is available around the country. The program helps those who meet the eligibility requirements by paying for their medical bills. Some of the bills that Medicaid will help cover include doctor visits, hospital stays, dental care, and prescriptions. The Medicaid program is open to those who have low incomes, both individuals and pregnant women. Additionally, you have to be a resident of the state in which you are applying for Medicaid, and you need to be a citizen or legal permanent resident. To apply, contact your state office where the program is administered. Indian Health & Medicaid focuses on offering medical bill assistance program to Native Americans.

Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a nonprofit organization with chapters all around the country. They have numerous mission programs to help people in need, including ones that will provide people with cash assistance. The cash grants they provide can be used to help pay for medical bills. Additionally, they offer assistance programs to help with utility bills and give those in need free food. Getting assistance in those areas will help ease the burden of paying medical bills. To qualify, you have to meet the low income requirements. Contact a Salvation Army office in your area to see what type of medical bill assistance programs they may be able to help you with.

HealthWell Foundation

The HealthWell Foundation helps to reduce the financial burden of medical bills for those with chronic or life-altering diseases. They help to fill the gap when your insurance is not enough and you are left with medical bills. Their program helps to pay the medical bills for millions of people around the country. To qualify, you have to meet the income guidelines, be receiving treatment in the United States, be receiving treatment for a condition they help cover bills for, and you must have some type of insurance. For example, if you have Medicaid or another type of insurance and it doesn’t cover all of your medical bills, you may qualify for a grant from the HealthWell Foundation for assistance to pay for what your insurance doesn’t pay for. You can apply for the program online.

CancerCare

The CancerCare program helps provide medical bill assistance for Native Americans who have cancer. Not only do they help pay for the cancer-related costs, but they will assist you in finding other medical bill assistance programs that you may qualify for. Program eligibility includes meeting income guidelines, having a type of cancer that the program provides financial assistance for, and having some type of insurance that helps to cover some of the bills. You also have to be a resident of the country and be a citizen or legal alien. You can apply for the program online.

In addition to the above medical bill assistance programs for Native Americans you can also contact local organizations. Many local nonprofit organizations provide one-time grants that can be used toward medical bill payments. Also, you may qualify to take out a low interest loan where you can consolidate your medical bills and make one affordable payment per month for a specific amount of time.