American Red Cross - Local branches of the American Red Cross provide Americans with help paying electric and heating bills. The Red Cross will also provide other forms of assistance, such as aid to military families, health and safety classes, disaster assistance, and other community services. The services provided by the Red Cross depend on the individual consumer need, and the Red Cross must also always keep extra funds in reserve available for emergencies. The Red Cross receives most of the money it has available to pay out from the United Way.
Community Action Organizations- Local public or non-profit organization that provide numerous types of help and assistance, including help with utility bills, job training, and other services. Community Action Agencies (CAA) were created to help those in need, assist people with bills, and to promote self-sufficiency. A Community Action Agency is a local private and/or public non-profit organizations that is part of the Community Action Program (CAP). This program was founded in 1964 to help provide assistance and fight poverty by empowering the poor in the United States. Currently, there are over 1,000 of these agencies located in all states across the United States. Many work closely with state and local government assistance programs and charities CAA provide many services to struggling families. Community Action Agencies provide numerous programs that offer a wide range of much needed services to low-income people. For example, some local agencies :
have created interest-free loans for people who need small loans for home repairs, paying rent, or other needs
community action organizations can provide rent assistance
Gradient Gives Back Community Outreach Program - This is a new charity type program that families need to apply for. Families selected will receive both financial assistance and a financial makeover from resources provided by Gradient. They partner with various professionals, third-party affiliates, and they offer a highly skilled financial team.Some of the financial assistance provided by Gradient Financial Group includes :
They will provide funds for up to six months of mortgage and/or rent payments.
They can help you find available state and federal government funds and grants.
Assist with paying utility bills, deal with car loan companies, and provide resources to help with other applicable debt
Help you find and procure charitable contributions and donations from numerous programs that are available.
If you are a family selected, you will receive assistance in several areas, and more details include. First, the financial professionals that work with Gradient will help out with the family’s current financial situation by providing each selected family with up to to six mortgage or lease payments paid and the assistance with utility companies. However, they will also help the family plan for their future, put together a budget to keep them out of financial difficulty, and work with them on long term solutions.
Some other benefits include in addition, this program will allow for both the review and analysis of past tax income and other returns. They will review 2009 and help with 2010 tax returns.
From this point, families will undergo comprehensive budgeting, financial planning analysis and also career counseling and coaching. Some of the budgeting aid provided includes a review of your income, expenses, interest rates and all your debt, including credit card and medical. Operation Round Up - Operation Round Up is an assistance program that is offered by utility and gas companies in many states. This organization and the aid they will give provides energy assistance funds to families and individuals in need of help. In addition, the program will offer additional aid, such as help for paying medical bills, rent or housing costs, and more. Select your state to learn if Operation Round Up is available.United Way - Numerous utility companies across the country offer support and assistance to Americans to help them pay their electric bills. The utility companies will sometimes out source the administration of the program to the United Way. Please contact you local United Way office to see if they are aware of any assistance or support provided by your utility provider. A search box is at the bottom of this page.Ways to Work Foundation- This organization helps families and individuals who can't secure loan funding or cash grants at traditional lending institutions. Funds provided can be used to pay for items such as unexpected bills, fix transportation issues and purchase prescription drugs.Research Your State’s Rental Assistance Programs:Call your state’s Department of Human Resources for more details. Some states, like Massachusetts, Texas and Florida, have their own rental assistance programs that help people in need. You will have to meet certain income and family size requirements.HUD Rental Assistance:The HUD (Housing and Urban Development) program is normally associated with homeowners, but it can provide help for renters as well. Almost 1.5 million families use the program to help pay their rent. There is also a Rental Voucher Program to help people pay a portion of their rent. The program pays the landlord the difference between 30 percent of the family’s total household income and the determined payment standard. You’ll have to pay a portion but it will never be more than you can afford.Rural Living:If you live in a rural area, the USDA rural development program can offer help. They provide rental assistance to rural families, low-income families and those with disabilities.Community Resources:The state department of human resources can connect you with community resources in your area that can help you make your rent payments. You may also be able to get the name of local organizations that can help you pay rent until you get back on your feet.With community agencies, you’ll probably need to follow an application process and wait for a response. In tough economic times, these agencies are probably in high demand. If you can’t wait that long to receive help, you can also try to reach out to the religious agencies in your neighborhood for assistance. If you belong to a church, you may want to contact them to see if they can provide any assistance.Grants:Government and private institution rental assistance grants are also available for those who can’t make ends meet. You can find these grants by searching online or contacting your state’s assistance department. Many independent charities offer grants as well.Contact your landlord first if you anticipate ongoing financial hardship. Be honest. They may be willing to lower your rent temporarily or develop some type of payment plan.Gather information on your current income and call the Department of Human Resources in your state. Ask if there are any rental assistance programs available where you live based on your income.
Health Care
The Access Project - The Access Project was created to improve health care, strengthen community action, and help promote social change, especially for those who are struggling and in need of assistance. Among other services they offer a Medical Debt Resolution Program that may be able to help you with paying medical bills and debt. They can provide you with proven strategies and information to help advocate with insurers, medical providers, and public assistance programs to reduce and ideally resolve your medical debt.
American Veterans Relief Foundation - Aid military veterans and their family members when they are burdened with mounting medical bills and debts.
Catholic Charities - They will offer medical bill assistance to those in need of help with health care bills throughout the United States. This charitable organization works closely with the Providence Healthcare Network to provide assistance and services.
Children’s Health Fund (CHF) - This charity is committed to providing free health care to America’s most medically under served children as well as their families. It will provide medical care, help with medical costs, and essential services to children and families in need of aid, regardless of their ability to pay.
Free Prescription Medications - There are several programs that offer discounted and free prescription medications. They include Dispensary of Hope, Together RX Access, NeedyMeds, and Patient Advocate Foundation.
Free Diapers For Kids - The Diaper Bank (TDB) is a recently formed charity that provides and distributes free diapers to lower income families through existing service providers, including daycare centers, soup kitchens, food pantries, social service agencies, shelters and more. They provide free diapers through its extensive Diaper Distribution Network (DDN) of dozens of agencies and charities.
Free Medical Camps - This charity organization doesn't assist with paying past medical bills, but the organization does provide new and continuing health care for those who meet the income guidelines of this program.
HealthWell Foundation - This is a charitable assistance organization that helps people pay for prescription medications. This group provides financial assistance and grants to help patients to pay for various out-of-pocket health care expenses including health insurance premiums, prescription drugs, and a wide variety of other costs.
Medi-Corp Health System - This group provides and assists with charity care, payment scheduling and they can also negotiate and provide medical bill discounts for those in need of assistance with paying medical bills. If you plan on receiving care from this charitable program, you need to get approval in advance of your medical treatment. In addition, Medi-Corp also offers a discount program that enables lower bills for the both the underinsured and uninsured. Medical bill discounts are provided on a sliding scale, and those discounts will typically cover between 20 to 60 percent of the health care costs.
Mission of Mercy, Inc. - Offers free healthcare, including prescription medications, dental care, x-rays and lab tests, to both the uninsured and under insured using volunteer healthcare professionals that operate from a mobile medical clinic.
Modest Needs - A charitable organization that helps with securing a variety of medical bill assistance. Grant and funds provided can be used to aid qualifying individuals include self-sufficiency grants, independent living grants, back to work funding and more.
Patient Advocate Foundation - This is a national non-profit charity organization that seeks to help safeguard and protect patients through effective mediation and assuring access to health care, help with medical bills, preservation of patient financial stability, and maintenance of employment in regards to their diagnosis of debilitating or life threatening diseases.
Shepherd's Hope, Inc. - Free medical care is provided for lower income, uninsured families using an all-volunteer healthcare staff and services.
Smiles Across America, Inc. - This organization provides preventive dental care to uninsured and lower income children in school-based settings. Some of the dental services provided include cleaning, education, sealants and fluoride treatments.
UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation - The UHCCF organization provides medical cash grants of up to $5,000 to children's families to help families in need pay for non-covered medical services, bills and expenses from their commercial health benefit plan.
Find additional ways to save on medical bills and get help with medical debt, including free health care from hospitals, assistance from drug companies, medical billing advocates, and many others.
Top Rated Charities to Help With Medical Expenses and Bills Below are the top rated charities that may be able to help with paying for specific medical conditions and expenses. Obviously contact the charity that may apply to your condition. For example, if you have arthritis needs, contact the “Arthritis Foundation”.
American Brain Tumor Association
American Kidney Fund
American Liver Foundation
American Lung Association
American Parkinson Disease Association
Arthritis Foundation
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Diabetes Research Institute Foundation
Epilepsy Foundation & Research Foundation
First Candle/SIDS Alliance
Huntington's Disease Society of America
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
Lupus Foundation of America
Lupus Research Institute
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research
