Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for UF Health Shands + Florida Department of Health in Levy County (Two-Layer Hospital-Less Safety Net)
Two-layer healthcare safety net for hospital-less Levy County: (1) Florida Department of Health in Levy County — provides primary care, public health services, and sliding-scale fees at multiple Levy locations (Bronson, Williston, Chiefland); (2) UF Health Shands Hospital — 1,162-bed academic medical center + Level I Trauma Center at 1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville FL 32610 (Alachua County) — Levy seniors travel approximately 30-60 minutes to Gainesville for hospital care
Who it's for
Levy County has NO acute-care hospital of its own — Levy's safety-net healthcare is structured as a two-layer model. LOCAL PRIMARY CARE: The Florida Department of Health in Levy County (FL DOH Levy) provides primary care, public health services (immunizations, family planning, communicable disease), and a sliding-fee scale based on income at multiple locations across Levy County. Medicaid and Medicare are accepted. The FL DOH Levy Healthy Start program supports prenatal and early childhood health. HOSPITAL-LEVEL CARE: Levy seniors travel to Alachua County for hospitalization, typically UF Health Shands Hospital — the 1,162-bed academic medical center and Level I Trauma Center at 1600 SW Archer Road in Gainesville. UF Health Shands has a STRICTER 185% FPL threshold for 100% charity care (compared to peer 200% FPL hospitals); patients with income between 185% and 400% FPL may receive sliding-scale partial discounts; UF Health does NOT extend sliding-scale charity above 200% FPL. The Uninsured Discount provides a baseline 45% reduction off gross charges for non-FAP-eligible uninsured patients. Applications processed within 7 business days. Geographic reality: Levy is approximately 30-60 minutes north of UF Health Shands depending on Levy origin (Williston is closest, Cedar Key and Otter Creek farther). For Levy seniors, Levy County Transit (fl.levy.levy_county_transit) is the practical mobility link. Apply for UF Health Shands FAP by calling 352-265-7906; for FL DOH Levy services, contact the Levy County Health Department.
Levy County's lack of an in-county acute-care hospital makes the two-layer safety net structurally important: FL DOH Levy handles routine primary care locally at multiple Levy County locations; UF Health Shands in Gainesville handles hospitalization with mandatory cross-county travel of 30-60 minutes. UF Health Shands' 185% FPL threshold for 100% charity is STRICTER than peer FL hospitals (HCA 200%, Ascension 200%, AdventHealth 250%, Baptist Jax 300%) — Levy seniors near the 185-200% FPL range should be aware that they may NOT receive full charity care at Shands. The 45% uninsured self-pay discount applies as a baseline for non-FAP-eligible uninsured patients. FL DOH Levy's sliding-fee scale is genuinely income-based — even seniors with modest income can access affordable primary care visits. Geographic reality: 911 emergency dispatch in Levy will route to the appropriate Gainesville facility — typically UF Health Shands for major emergencies, HCA Florida North Florida Hospital for some cardiac/specialty cases. For non-emergency hospital care, advance scheduling and Levy County Transit coordination are essential.
What you'll need
- For FL DOH Levy sliding-scale: proof of household income (recent pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099) + photo identification
- For UF Health Shands FAP application: Completed UF Health Financial Assistance Application (available in English/Spanish/Mandarin) + proof of household income + proof of family size + photo ID + documentation of insurance status
- For Medicaid or Medicare: separate enrollment applications through respective programs
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 352-486-5300
Renewals
per encounter for UF Health Shands; FL DOH Levy enrollment is ongoing with periodic income recertification
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Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.