Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for Health First Financial Assistance + Brevard Health Alliance Partnership
Health First, Inc. (private nonprofit; dominant Brevard hospital system operating Holmes Regional, Cape Canaveral, Palm Bay, and Viera) in partnership with Brevard Health Alliance (FQHC)
Who it's for
Health First is the dominant healthcare system in Brevard County, operating four hospitals (Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Cape Canaveral Hospital, Palm Bay Hospital, and Viera Hospital) along with primary care, urgent care, and specialty clinics. As a private nonprofit, Health First's Financial Assistance Program operates under §501(r) of the Internal Revenue Code: financial assistance is provided on a case-by-case basis to eligible individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for a government program, or otherwise unable to pay due to limited financial resources. Uniquely in the Florida county cluster, Health First's safety-net delivery is layered with Brevard Health Alliance (BHA) — a Federally Qualified Health Center that Health First has partnered with for over 15 years to deliver primary care, behavioral health, dental services, diagnostic testing, medication assistance, and specialty referrals to uninsured Brevard residents at reduced cost. Health First reports providing over $52 million in care and services to more than 28,000 residents who could not otherwise afford care. For hospital-level financial assistance, call Health First and request a financial counselor. For primary care + sliding-fee services, contact Brevard Health Alliance directly.
Health First financial assistance is per-encounter and decided case-by-case — there isn't a single hard income cutoff publicly stated, but the modeled $31,200 (~200% Federal Poverty Level for a single-person household 2026) is the typical threshold for full discount; sliding scale and partial assistance may extend higher based on circumstances. For PRIMARY CARE (uninsured non-emergency), Brevard Health Alliance is often the better pathway — BHA's FQHC sliding-fee scale follows HRSA rules and reaches its deepest discount at or below 100% FPL with sliding scale up to 200% FPL. For HOSPITAL care, request a Health First financial counselor at admission or after discharge. The HF+BHA partnership means that if you start at one entry point, you can be referred to the other.
What you'll need
- Proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, tax return, SSA-1099)
- Proof of household size
- Proof of Brevard County residency
- Photo identification
- Documentation of any other healthcare coverage applications (Medicare, Medicaid, Marketplace)
- Insurance card if you have coverage — Health First bills insurance first and applies financial assistance to remaining patient responsibility
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 321-434-3131
Renewals
per encounter; ongoing patients recertified annually
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.