Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for Jackson Health System Charity Care (Public Health Trust)
Jackson Health System / Public Health Trust of Miami-Dade County
Who it's for
Jackson Health System is Miami-Dade County's public health system, operated by the Public Health Trust under the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners. Jackson runs the safety-net hospitals (including Jackson Memorial, Jackson North, and Jackson South) along with primary-care clinics across the county. Jackson's charity care program — sometimes referred to as the Jackson Charity Care and Grant Program — pays for medically necessary inpatient and outpatient care for uninsured and underinsured Miami-Dade County residents at no cost or at a reduced sliding-fee scale, based on household income relative to the current Federal Poverty Guidelines. Patients at or below the base income threshold typically qualify for full charity (no patient responsibility); patients between the base threshold and 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for a sliding-fee discount. Anyone in need of emergency or critical care receives that care regardless of ability to pay or eligibility outcome; the financial assessment determines whether and how much you owe afterward. To apply, call the Patient Scheduling Center at 305-585-6000 to schedule a financial assessment appointment, or speak to a financial counselor at the hospital where you are receiving care.
Jackson charity care is a per-encounter benefit, not a standing entitlement — you qualify only at the point you seek care at a Jackson facility, and the financial assessment is done at or after the visit. The income threshold above is approximate (Jackson uses up to 300% of the current Federal Poverty Guidelines for a sliding-fee discount; the figure shown is the rough 300% FPL cap for a single-person household and rises with household size). Jackson also requires proof of Miami-Dade residency. If you have other insurance (Medicare, Medicaid, an Affordable Care Act marketplace plan), Jackson will bill that first; charity care covers the gap for genuinely uninsured or underinsured Miami-Dade residents.
What you'll need
- Proof of Miami-Dade County residency (driver's license, lease, utility bill, or voter registration)
- Proof of family unit size (household composition documentation)
- Proof of family unit gross income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, tax return, SSA-1099)
- Completed Jackson Charity Care and Grant Programs application (provided by Jackson Eligibility Management)
- Photo identification
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 305-585-6000
Renewals
per encounter; recertification typically required annually for ongoing patients
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Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.