Benefits · Healthcare

How to apply for Lower Keys Medical Center — Charity Care + Financial Assistance Program

Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC) — 167-bed acute-care hospital at 5900 College Road, Key West FL 33040; the principal hospital serving Monroe County's Lower and Middle Keys; a Public Hospital governed by The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District and its Board of Commissioners; administers Charity Care + Uninsured + Catastrophic Care Discount programs for income-eligible patients

Who it's for

Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC) is the primary acute-care hospital serving Monroe County's Lower Keys and Middle Keys, located in Key West. LKMC is a 167-bed hospital with 24-hour emergency department, laboratory, radiology, and medical transport services. LKMC is a PUBLIC HOSPITAL governed by The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District (a Florida special district with its own Board of Commissioners) — structurally similar to Lee Health (Lee County), Sarasota Memorial (Sarasota), and Halifax Health (Volusia) public-hospital-district peers in the FL catalog. LKMC's Financial Assistance Program offers THREE discount tiers: (1) Charity Care Discount based on multiples of the U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines for uninsured/underinsured patients ineligible for government assistance; (2) Uninsured Discount for patients without insurance who don't qualify for other assistance; (3) Catastrophic Care Discount when bills exceed a percentage of gross annual income. Complete and submit the Financial Assistance Program (FAP) Application with supporting documentation at time of service or anytime during the billing cycle. Call (305) 294-5531 for the Patient Access Director or Financial Counselor. For Upper Keys residents (Key Largo, Tavernier), Mariners Hospital is the closer facility but is geographically far from LKMC; for Middle Keys (Marathon), Fishermen's Community Hospital serves locally. LKMC remains the main hospital for the entire Lower Florida Keys Hospital District jurisdiction.

LKMC is a public hospital district (The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District) — its mission obligation includes serving uninsured/underinsured Monroe County residents, comparable to other Florida public hospital districts in the catalog (Lee Health, Sarasota Memorial, Halifax Health). The 200% FPL income gate is conservative modeling — LKMC's actual policy uses 'multiples of the Federal Poverty Guidelines' that vary by discount tier; for full charity care, the actual income gate may be tighter (often 100-150% FPL at peer hospitals). The Catastrophic Care Discount is a distinctive third tier — when total household medical bills exceed a percentage of annual income, patients qualify even if regular income would put them above charity care threshold. Upper Keys residents (Key Largo, Tavernier) should consider Mariners Hospital (Tavernier) as a closer alternative; Middle Keys residents in Marathon have Fishermen's Community Hospital. For tertiary or specialized care not available in the Keys, patients are referred to mainland Miami-Dade facilities (UM/Jackson Memorial, Baptist Health) — coordinate transit carefully due to ~150-mile distance from Key West.

What you'll need

Completed LKMC Financial Assistance Program (FAP) Application
Proof of all household income (Social Security award letter, pension statement, pay stubs, SSI award letter, tax return)
Proof of insurance status (Medicaid denial letter, lack of insurance documentation)
Photo identification
Proof of Monroe County or service-area residency (utility bill, lease, or government correspondence)
For Catastrophic Care Discount: documentation of total household bills relative to gross annual income

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 305-294-5531

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Lower Keys Medical Center — Charity Care + Financial Assistance Program. I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need completed LKMC Financial Assistance Program (FAP) Application, proof of all household income (Social Security award letter, pension statement, pay stubs, SSI award letter, tax return), proof of insurance status (Medicaid denial letter, lack of insurance documentation) — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Renewals

per encounter; documentation refresh required for ongoing care

Official source →Last verified · September 2, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.