One of the most common financial burdens in the United States comes from medical emergencies. Even with insurance, medical services are expensive. Routine visits often cost several hundred dollars, but if you experience an emergency, you may end up owing thousands of dollars. There’s also ongoing costs, such as medication or therapy after a treatment, which may not be covered by insurance at all.

There are several government grants to help with medical costs. You may also be eligible for insurance through the Affordable Care Act, which guarantees reduced or sometimes even free insurance if you make between $12,760 and $51,040.

As of writing, healthcare grants are still being revised to address financial hardship caused by the global pandemic. Through the American Rescue Plan, income limitations for the Affordable Care Act were temporarily halted, but this is currently set to expire starting in 2023.

While there has been talk about offering additional extensions, nothing has been confirmed. Because of this, it is worth exploring other government grants as well.

One of the best resources for medical coverage is Medicare. Medicare is the largest federally-managed health insurance program. However, it is only available to retired adults starting at age 65, or applicants who are already receiving disability benefits. Medicare is divided into four separate programs, known as parts:

• Medicare Part A covers hospital insurance, with limited homecare options available. It is often bundled alongside Part B as part of an Original Medicare option. If you meet the eligibility requirements, there are no monthly premiums.
• Medicare Part B is for outpatient services, limited prescription costs and physician visits. There is a small monthly premium, which increases the longer you wait to apply for benefits after first becoming eligible.
• Medicare Part C is a unique plan, also called Medicare Advantage. Unlike other Medicare parts, Medicare Advantage is available from private insurance providers. As a result, the eligibility requirements and coverage greatly vary. It often ends up with slightly higher premiums, but more customization compared to other plans.
• Medicare Part D offers the most limited coverage, only applying to prescription drug costs. There are multiple Part D plans to choose from, each with varying costs and levels of coverage.

Medicare is not strictly a needs based program, so your income is not a requirement. However, lower-income individuals may be eligible for slightly lower premiums. You can also apply for additional assistance if you qualify for Medicaid, which is based off of income and compatible with Medicare coverage.

Medicaid is a government assistance program that offers either free or significantly discounted insurance. The level of coverage varies depending on your state, but there are some federal requirements each state must follow. This includes physician visits, preventative care and x-rays. Most states also offer some form of emergency assistance.

If you do not qualify for Medicaid but have children, you can apply for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). CHIP is almost identical to Medicaid, but only available to children who do not have access to any other form of healthcare.

If you are a veteran or an active service member, you have unique medical needs compared to normal civilians. Serving in the military is a difficult and often dangerous job, but it comes with access to some of the best federal health programs available. Federal grants for veterans and military personnel applies to both service members and their families.

In addition to healthcare, veterans also have access to other unique loans, such as housing grants backed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).