JPS Connection: Low-Cost Care at JPS Health Network for Tarrant County Residents
JPS Connection is Tarrant County's tax-supported program for low-cost care at JPS Health Network. It isn't insurance. It's a membership that can bring doctor visits to $0 and keep hospital stays and prescriptions affordable for residents with household income up to 250% of the federal poverty level. This guide covers how it works, what it costs, and how to apply in Fort Worth, Arlington and the rest of the county.
AT A GLANCE
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What JPS Connection is
JPS Health Network is the public hospital system run by the Tarrant County Hospital District. Its Connection program helps county residents who need care but lack the money to pay for medical services and prescriptions. Members get a medical home with a primary care team, specialists and low-cost prescriptions.
JPS states plainly that Connection is not an insurance company or an insurance plan. Your benefits apply only at JPS facilities, not at other hospitals, clinics or doctors' offices. JPS also says it continues to provide emergency care to everyone, regardless of ability to pay.
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The five programs
JPS places each member in a tier based on income and any other coverage:
Program | Who it's for | Income limit |
|---|---|---|
JPS Connection 1 | Uninsured and experiencing homelessness | Below 21% of FPIL |
JPS Connection 2 | Uninsured | Below 100% of FPIL |
JPS Connection 3 | Uninsured | 101% to 250% of FPIL |
Supplemental to Medicare | Medicare Part A and B, or a Medicare plan contracted with JPS | Below 250% of FPIL |
Supplemental to Insurance | A primary insurance plan contracted with JPS | Below 250% of FPIL |
The basic requirements
The JPS application lists four minimum requirements:
Residence: you live in Tarrant County.
Citizenship: you're a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident.
Income: your household's monthly gross income doesn't exceed 250% of FPIL.
Other coverage first: you pursue and accept any health coverage you can get before JPS Connection helps.
That last point matters. JPS calls Connection the payor of last resort. If you qualify for an Affordable Care Act plan through HealthCare.gov, you must sign up for it before applying. If you might qualify for state, federal or drug-company assistance, you have to seek that first. An Eligibility and Enrollment specialist can help with those applications during your screening. JPS's screening procedure also says Medicare members must enroll in Parts A, B and D, or apply for Extra Help with drug costs.
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2026 income limits
JPS counts all household income: your paycheck, your spouse's paycheck, child support, investments, side jobs and any other money coming in. Here are the limits from the JPS 2026 income chart:
Family size | Connection 1 (21%), monthly | Connection 2 (100%), monthly | Connection 3 and Supplemental (250%), monthly | 250% yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $279 | $1,330 | $3,325 | $39,900 |
2 | $379 | $1,803 | $4,508 | $54,100 |
3 | $478 | $2,277 | $5,692 | $68,300 |
4 | $578 | $2,750 | $6,875 | $82,500 |
5 | $677 | $3,223 | $8,058 | $96,700 |
6 | $776 | $3,697 | $9,242 | $110,900 |
7 | $876 | $4,170 | $10,425 | $125,100 |
8 | $975 | $4,643 | $11,608 | $139,300 |
Each additional person | $99 | $473 | $1,183 | $14,200 |
Our example: a family of three with $2,000 a month in gross income is under the 100% line of $2,277, so if uninsured they would fall in the Connection 2 range. At $4,000 a month they would land in Connection 3. JPS makes the final placement.
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What you'll pay
JPS's copay schedule took effect October 1, 2023 and was updated in January 2024. These are facility charges only. JPS notes that physician services are billed separately, so you may get a separate bill from your doctor or medical group.
Service | Connection 1 | Connection 2 | Connection 3 | Supplemental |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Primary or specialty office visit | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Urgent care | $0 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
Emergency room | $0 | $0 | $100 | $100 |
Hospital admission, first day | $0 | $0 | $200 max | $200 max |
Additional hospital days, observation | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Outpatient surgery, cardiac cath, angio, I/R | $0 | $0 | $100 | $100 |
Physical therapy, per visit | $0 | $0 | $5 | $5 |
Radiation or chemo, per visit | $0 | $0 | $10 | $10 |
Lab, radiology, tests (Level III) | $0 | $0 | $25 | $25 |
Preventive colonoscopies and mammograms, along with Level I and II lab, radiology and other tests, are $0 in every tier.
Prescriptions
Item | Connection 1 | Connection 2 | Connection 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
Diabetic supplies | $0 | $10 | $10 |
Tier I drugs | $0 | $5 | $5 |
Tier II drugs | $0 | $10 | $10 |
Tier III drugs | $0 | $20 | $20 |
Supplemental members pay what their plan documents say. Drug copays apply to up to five prescriptions per 30-day supply. JPS's procedure says you can buy more than five at cost, using drugs priced under the federal 340B program and on the JPS formulary.
What it doesn't cover
The membership form says Connection doesn't cover every JPS service. Exclusions include dental, cosmetic procedures, maternity services, assisted reproductive technology and transplants. Car-accident care isn't covered when other insurance applies.
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How to apply
JPS breaks it into three steps: fill out the application, gather documents, and submit both.
Documents checklist
Photo ID for every applicant (government, school or work ID)
Birth certificates for all child dependents
If you're homeless: a shelter letter, approved agency residence letter or valid homeless scan card
Award letters from agencies such as SNAP, TANF, housing, CHIP/Medicaid, RSDI or SSI
The completed application, signed and dated by you and your spouse. JPS won't accept incomplete applications
Signed IRS form 4506-C
The Membership Responsibility Form, initialed and signed
Homeowners, self-employed people and Social Security recipients: a current 30-day bank statement for all accounts
Proof of income for everyone in the household, such as pay stubs, award letters, financial aid refunds or self-employment forms
Ways to submit
Method | Details |
|---|---|
In person | Any JPS Eligibility & Enrollment location (see below) |
Online | ola.veritysource.com/jps. You'll need your JPS medical record number |
enroll@jpshealth.org | |
Fax | 817-702-3834 |
JPS Enrollment & Eligibility Center, 101 W. Allen Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76110 |
If you get an error after submitting online, JPS says you can't apply online at this time. Download the paper application instead. JPS also says you must be screened before you can get an ambulatory appointment as a sponsored patient.
Already have a JPS bill?
You can ask for financial assistance during a hospital stay or office visit. JPS's financial assistance page says you can also apply up to 90 days after your visit. The screening procedure describes a longer window, 270 days after the post-discharge billing statement, and coverage can reach back over that period. If a bill is already in hand, apply as soon as possible and ask which window applies to you.
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Where to go in person
Location | Address | Weekday hours |
|---|---|---|
JPS Hospital, Admissions Office | 1500 S. Main St., Fort Worth 76104 | 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Eligibility & Enrollment Center | 101 W. Allen Ave., Fort Worth 76110 | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
Stop Six–Walter B. Barbour Health Center | 3301 Stalcup Rd., Fort Worth 76119 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Diamond Hill Health Center | 3308 Deen Rd., Fort Worth 76106 | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (also 3rd Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon) |
Medical Home Southeast Tarrant | 1050 W. Arkansas Ln., Arlington 76013 | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (also 4th Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon) |
Medical Home Southwest Tarrant | 5001 Mesa Springs Dr., Fort Worth 76123 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (also 4th Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon) |
Viola Pitts–Como Health Center | 4701 Bryant Irvin Rd. N., Fort Worth 76107 | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (also 2nd Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon) |
Gertrude Tarpley–Watauga Health Center | 6601 Watauga Rd. #124, Watauga 76148 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Medical Home Northeast Tarrant | 3200 W. Euless Blvd., Euless 76040 | 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. (also 1st Saturday, 8 a.m. – noon) |
Medical Home True Worth | 1513 E. Presidio St., Fort Worth 76102 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
JPS also lists Eligibility & Enrollment at the Oncology & Infusion Center, 1450 8th Ave., weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Keeping your membership
Renew early. Membership expires each year and doesn't renew on its own. JPS suggests renewing a few weeks before it ends. Renewals can start at ola.veritysource.com/jps.
Automatic extensions are possible. JPS's procedure says membership can be extended up to 365 days if JPS can verify your income and address through public databases. Otherwise, you'll need to reapply.
Report changes. Call 817-702-1001 if your address, household income, job, family size or insurance changes. JPS says not reporting can suspend your benefits.
Be accurate. JPS warns that false information is a crime under state and federal law.
If you don't qualify for Connection
JPS's uninsured-patient policies still offer help. Under the procedure (effective January 17, 2025), JPS screens uninsured and self-pay patients with automated software. If you're at 0% to 399.99% of the federal poverty level, you're auto-qualified for an 80% presumptive charity discount. At 400% or above, or if your income can't be determined, you get a 40% uninsured discount, and you can still apply manually. JPS also says no uninsured patient is charged more than the amount generally billed to insured patients for emergency or medically necessary care.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
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More help in Fort Worth and Texas
Official sources
Last checked: October 30, 2026. Programs, income limits, copays, documents, locations and discounts come from JPS Health Network's JPS Connection, Financial Assistance and Eligibility & Enrollment pages, the 2026 income chart, the copay schedule, the Connection application, and JPS policies LDF 5000, 5001, 7300 and 7301.
This is general information, not medical or financial advice. JPS Health Network decides eligibility, tier placement and costs. Call 817-702-1001 to confirm before you rely on any figure here.
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