Millions of Americans do not have healthcare coverage through their employers, either because their employer does not provide it as a benefit, they cannot afford it, they are not employed or they do not qualify. Luckily, there are government programs available to help.

Hefty medical expenses can be catastrophic to your financial health and stability. In fact, it is a leading cause of bankruptcy filings. Continue reading to find out about several alternatives for getting health-related government grants.

Medicaid

Medicaid is the federal government’s healthcare program for very low-income individuals and families. With this government-funded health insurance plan, there is typically no monthly premium payment required, although this varies by state. 

If you qualify for this government assistance program, you may be able to reduce (or eliminate) medical costs, such as:

• Doctor visits
• Prescriptions 
• Hospital stays
• Medical devices
• Medical procedures

Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

Children from low-income families can be covered under this government program, which is a branch of Medicaid. It covers many of the same services that Medicaid covers and reduces or eliminates the cost of their medical care.

If a family with children qualifies for Medicaid, it is likely that the children can be covered under CHIP. Sometimes, children can qualify for CHIP even if the parents or guardians do not qualify for Medicaid.

Medicare

Medicare is a similar government health insurance program to Medicaid. However, rather than serving solely low-income individuals, it serves the elderly. In general, Americans can qualify for Medicare when they reach 65 years of age. 

Some younger people may qualify if they have certain medical disabilities, ALS, or severe kidney disease. You must have also paid sufficient Medicare taxes into the system through deductions from your paycheck.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

The Affordable Care Act, also known as ACA or “Obamacare,” provides healthcare government grants for those who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid and do not qualify for Medicare. These federal grants are issued on a sliding scale based on income and family size. Some ACA recipients do not get grants, but have access to low-cost health insurance through the program.

VA Healthcare

If you are a member of the armed forces or are a veteran of a U.S. military branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, National Guard and their associated reserves), you may qualify for free or very low-cost healthcare through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). There are additional qualifications, including time served and type of discharge. Spouses and dependent children of service members or veterans may also qualify for coverage.