How to apply for UF Health Shands + Florida Department of Health in Lafayette County (Two-Layer Hospital-Less Safety Net)

Who it's for

Lafayette County has NO acute-care hospital of its own — Lafayette's safety-net healthcare is structured as a two-layer model. LOCAL PRIMARY CARE: The Florida Department of Health in Lafayette County provides primary care, public health services, and a sliding-fee scale based on income from its location in Mayo. Lafayette also has limited Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) primary care access through regional providers. HOSPITAL-LEVEL CARE: Lafayette 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; the 45% uninsured self-pay discount applies as a baseline. Lafayette's geographic challenge: the LONGEST travel distance among SREC's 3-county transit cluster (about 1 hour east to Gainesville) — Lafayette is one of Florida's most rural and least-populated counties. For Lafayette seniors, SREC Transportation (fl.lafayette.srec_transportation) is the practical mobility link. Some Lafayette residents may also access Shands Live Oak Regional Medical Center (Suwannee County, about 30-40 minutes north) as an alternative for community-hospital care. Apply for UF Health Shands FAP by calling 352-265-7906.

What you'll need

• For FL DOH Lafayette 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 + 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

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about UF Health Shands + Florida Department of Health in Lafayette County (Two-Layer Hospital-Less Safety Net). 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 for FL DOH Lafayette 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 + proof of household income + proof of family size + photo ID + documentation of insurance status, for Medicaid or Medicare: separate enrollment applications through respective programs — 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 for UF Health Shands; FL DOH Lafayette enrollment is ongoing with periodic income recertification