Can't afford care? Help exists — most people don't know it.

FQHCs are community health centers that charge on a sliding scale based on your income. For many low-income patients the cost per visit is $0 to $35 — even if you have no insurance. There are about 1,400 FQHC organizations operating ~14,000 sites across the US.

Services include primary care, behavioral health, dental, and often pharmacy. They cannot turn you away for inability to pay. You don't need to be uninsured — many people with high-deductible plans use them to avoid out-of-pocket costs.

Every nonprofit hospital in the US is federally required to have a Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) — discounts up to 100% for low- and middle-income patients. That includes most major health systems.

If you're at or below 200-400% of the federal poverty line (varies by hospital), you often qualify for a free or heavily discounted hospital bill — retroactively, for up to 240 days after service. Most patients never apply because hospitals don't proactively tell them.

Half of Americans earning under $40,000 have skipped a prescription because of cost. The drug manufacturer almost certainly has a patient assistance program (PAP) — often giving the medication free or at deep discount to income-qualified patients.

• NeedyMeds — searchable database of every drug's assistance program. needymeds.org
• RxAssist — directory of manufacturer PAPs by drug. rxassist.org
• GoodRx / SingleCare — comparison pricing at every pharmacy near you. Often cheaper than your insurance copay.
• 340B pharmacies at FQHCs and participating hospitals offer deep discounts to qualifying patients.

If your insurance is denying the drug specifically (not just making it expensive), Lysco's denial-appeal flow can help.

4 in 5 Marketplace enrollees can get a plan for $10/month or less after subsidies. Many don't apply because they assume they won't qualify or don't know open enrollment is happening.

Medicaid covers adults up to 138% of federal poverty level in expansion states (and higher in some). Enrollment is year-round — not just open enrollment. If your income drops for any reason (job loss, reduced hours), check eligibility immediately.