Amputee Coalition Fact Sheet

Free and Low-Cost Healthcare Resources

Web Administration Fact Sheet

Created 08/2018

Healthcare Costs

Everyone will need to access healthcare resources at some point (or perhaps several points) in their lives. Access to and costs of healthcare services are constantly changing, as well as the ability for people to be able to afford healthcare services. As a result, many people in the limb loss community report being unable to afford healthcare services. The Amputee Coalition provides the following list of free and low-cost healthcare services that may be able to help people with limb loss who need assistance.

The contents of the following Web sites are solely the responsibility of their authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Amputee Coalition. The Amputee Coalition cannot and does not make specific recommendations for products or services. No Amputee Coalition endorsement is implied.

Hill-Burton Free and Reduced-Cost Healthcare

Based on a 1946 Congressional bill, about 140 healthcare facilities nationwide are obligated to provide free or reduced-cost care to all qualifying people residing in the facility’s area.

You are eligible to apply for Hill-Burton free care if your income is at or below the current Federal Poverty Guidelines. You may be eligible for Hill-Burton reduced-cost care if your income is as much as two times (triple for nursing home care) the HHS Poverty Guidelines.

You must apply at the admissions or business office at an obligated facility and be found eligible to receive free or reduced-cost care. A directory of Hill-Burton obligated facilities listed by state may be found here: hrsa.gov/get-health-care/affordable/hill-burton/facilities.html.

FreeClinics.com

FreeClinics.com is a search engine that lists free medical clinics by city and state. They also list medical and dental clinics that are sliding scale and income based. You are encouraged to contact these facilities for information about your eligibility for their services prior to making an appointment.

A list of facilities offering these services may be found here: freeclinics.com.

The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics

The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (NAFC) was founded in 2001 by a group of grassroots medical providers and organizers who recognized that healthcare was not being provided at a local level to the working poor, uninsured and underinsured. Free & Charitable Clinics are safety-net healthcare organizations that use a volunteer/staff model to provide a range of medical, dental, pharmacy, vision and/or behavioral health services to economically disadvantaged individuals.

To locate a Free & Charitable Clinic in your area, click here: nafcclinics.org/find-clinic.

211

211 provides callers with information about and referrals to social services for everyday needs and in times of crisis. The 211 system can connect you with physical and mental health resources in your community. These may include health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, and drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation. 211 may also have access to resources in your community that could assist with medical costs. 211 is available to approximately 270 million people, in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. To access this service, simply dial 211 on your phone.

More information about the 211 program may be found here: 211.org.


It is not the intention of the Amputee Coalition to provide specific medical or legal advice but rather to provide consumers with information to better understand their health and healthcare issues. The Amputee Coalition does not endorse any specific treatment, technology, company, service or device. Consumers are urged to consult with their healthcare providers for specific medical advice or before making any purchasing decisions involving their care.

© Amputee Coalition. Local reproduction for use by Amputee Coalition constituents is permitted as long as this copyright information is included. Organizations or individuals wishing to reprint this article in other publications, including other websites must contact the Amputee Coalition for permission to do so, by emailing a request to rc@amputee-coalition.org.