How to apply for Valley Baptist Financial Assistance + Cameron County CIHCP (Contracted via Valley Baptist)

Who it's for

Cameron County does NOT maintain a public hospital district. The county's hospital safety net operates through Valley Baptist Medical Center — a private nonprofit hospital network with major facilities in Brownsville (VBMC-Brownsville) and Harlingen (VBMC-Harlingen) — through TWO STACKED programs: (1) the VALLEY BAPTIST PATIENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, available to households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level OR households whose annual out-of-pocket medical costs exceeded 10% of household income; AND (2) the CAMERON COUNTY INDIGENT HEALTH CARE PROGRAM (CIHCP), required by Texas Health & Safety Code Chapter 61, which Cameron County CONTRACTED to Valley Baptist in 2007 — Valley Baptist administers Cameron County's CIHCP for residents at or below 21% of the Federal Poverty Level (the Texas statutory minimum threshold). Apply for either program by calling Valley Baptist Patient Financial Services at 956-389-3132 (M-F 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.). The 10%-of-income medical-burden alternate qualification is distinctive — even higher-income households facing catastrophic medical bills can qualify. Cameron seniors at or below 21% FPL with Cameron County residency receive the deepest CIHCP coverage; the 200% FPL Valley Baptist FAP provides broader sliding-scale assistance for the larger middle-income uninsured population.

What you'll need

• Completed Valley Baptist Patient Financial Assistance Program application
• Proof of all household income (paycheck stubs, Social Security award letter, pension statement)
• Proof of Cameron County residency
• Photo identification
• Proof of uninsured or underinsured status
• For CIHCP (21% FPL): also asset documentation + 6-month Cameron County residency
• For 10%-of-income medical-burden alternate qualification: documentation of medical bills over the past 12 months

Where to apply

Renewals

annual recertification required