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Help with Medical Bills
If you are struggling financially, visit our other
Get Help pages (especially our
Multiple Needs page and
Financial page).
- Hospital bills:
- If you receive a hospital bill that you are unable to pay, contact the hospital and ask about financial assistance programs that might help you with your bill. The financial assistance department may help you apply for programs that can help pay your bill (such as Medicaid), give you a discount, or set up a payment plan. Do not ignore medical bills, or they can go to a debt collector and affect your credit score.
- Prescription Medications:
- Some nonprofit organizations may help pay for prescription medications, if you do not have adequate health insurance coverage to pay for them.
- The 211 Maryland helpline (dial 211) can help connect you to state, pharmaceutical patient assistance programs, and local nonprofit groups that can help with medication costs.
- The Maryland Rx Card is a free discount program that provides medication discounts at select, participating pharmacies.
- The Primary Care Coalition has several programs that provide access to medication services and prescription drugs such as the Community Pharmacy and the Montgomery County MedBank.
- Emergency Medicaid
- Covers emergency services for patients who do not qualify for full Medicaid. Immigration status not required.
- State Health Insurance Assistance Program: 301-255-4250
- Provides information to Medicare beneficiaries on financial help with co-pays, billing issues, and more.
- PAN Foundation: 866-316-7263
- Helps underinsured patients who are dealing with life-threatening, chronic, and rare diseases pay for out-of-pocket costs for medications and treatment.
- HealthWell Foundation: 800-675-8416
- Helps under-insured patients with certain medical conditions pay for medical costs.
- CancerCare (English) (Español): 800‑813‑HOPE (4673), [email protected]
- Provides financial assistance for cancer-related costs and co-pays, help finding additional resources, case management, support groups, and more.
- MD Attorney General's Health Education and Advocacy Unit (HEAU) : 410-528-1840 (English), 410-230-1712 (Español), [email protected].
- Offers mediation services to consumers who have a billing dispute with their healthcare provider or a coverage dispute with their HMO or health insurance company.