Financial Help for People With Heart Problems

Patients with cardiac problems often face the problem of rising medical bills without the ability to make their payments, even if they have insurance. Financial help for people with heart problems can help offset health care expenses and can cover prescriptions, equipment, medical care and other needs. Several methods of financial help exist for those with heart problems.

Prescription Assistance

Prescriptions for heart problems can add up quickly. If you lack prescription drug coverage, you can apply to programs such as Free Meds and Solutions, as well as Partnership for Prescription Assistance. These programs offered through the pharmaceutical industry can reduce or eliminate your medication costs. Prescription manufacturers also offer assistance programs for heart medication and other prescriptions if you meet their financial eligibility requirements. In order to apply, you need to pre-qualify online through a simple application. Your physician will need to provide a prescription for such medication for you to be considered by most prescription assistance programs.

Grants

Heart Support of America provides financial help for people with heart problems who do not have the resources to pay for their treatments. A grant from HSA can help you with medication, medical expenses, meals, transportation, equipment and other needs. In addition to HSA, you may want to look into private foundations that cover general medical expenses through databases such as foundationcenter.org.

Government Programs

Although Social Security, Social Security Disability and Medicaid often provide a solution to cover medical costs, you may not meet their qualifications. Some other state and federal programs exist, such as state indigent care programs and the Hill-Burton Program. Specific facilities participate in these programs to provide free or no-cost health care to those eligible.

Hospital Charity

Many hospitals operate their own charity programs to help heart patients and can write off all or a portion of your bill. To qualify, you normally need a denial from state or federal financial assistance programs. Hospitals often limit such assistance to emergency care only, which will not cover ongoing medical costs for heart treatments or prescriptions medication for heart disease, hypertension, or other health concerns.

Negotiating

Before you have received health care or soon after, speak with your medical provider to discuss your bill. Negotiating medical bills remains a common practice, so speak with them about your health care costs related to your cardiac problems, personal expenses, including prescription and equipment costs, and your overall financial situation.

Tip

Some programs will require you to have a letter from your physician explaining your medical problem and why specific equipment, prescriptions, oxygen or other treatments are needed. Financial assistance programs will also require tax or income documentation to demonstrate need. Try to keep all documentation together to ease the process of negotiating your bills and requesting financial assistance.