Jackson Health Bill Help 2026–27: Jackson Prime, the Financial Assistance Program and How to Apply in Miami-Dade
Jackson Health System is Miami-Dade County's public hospital system, run by the Public Health Trust. If you're uninsured, or you're holding a Jackson bill you can't pay, Jackson has two main ways to help. Jackson Prime is for Miami-Dade residents and works like a discount card you get before care. The Jackson Financial Assistance Program looks at bills after the fact and can cover people who don't qualify for Prime.
This guide explains who qualifies for each, what the policy says about income limits and full write-offs, how to apply and renew, and where to turn if you're denied.
Last checked October 2026. Sources: Jackson Health System's Financial Assistance page; its online Financial Assessment application portal; Jackson Revenue Cycle Policy RCM 750, "Determination of Financial Assistance" (revised April 29, 2024, the version currently posted); and the Florida Health Justice Project's "Where Can I Get Help If I Am Uninsured in Miami-Dade County?" (updated May 1, 2026). Jackson's posted fee schedule is dated 2016, so we haven't listed copay amounts. Ask a Healthcare Advisor for current fees.
The Short Version
Emergency care first: Jackson's page says anyone who needs critical or emergency care can get it regardless of ability to pay.
Jackson Prime: for uninsured Miami-Dade residents with income up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. You pay a copay per visit based on a sliding scale.
Residency: the online application says you must have lived in Miami-Dade for at least 90 days.
Jackson Financial Assistance Program: for uninsured patients, including non-residents in some cases. It can give a 100% discount at or below 300% of poverty, or when a bill is catastrophic compared to your income.
Deadline for an existing bill: up to 240 days after the first bill following discharge, for balances over $100.
Questions: Jackson Healthcare Advisors, 305-585-2222, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Denied? You have 60 calendar days to appeal.
Jackson Prime: The Program for Miami-Dade Residents
Jackson's policy describes Jackson Prime as a financial assistance program for Miami-Dade County residents, with case management, where patients are usually screened before care and get a Jackson card. The Florida Health Justice Project's May 2026 guide says Prime covers primary and prenatal care as well as inpatient hospital care and outpatient specialty care within the Jackson system, and that primary care is free below 100% of poverty.
Who qualifies
The policy and the online application list these requirements:
Miami-Dade residency. The application says at least 90 days.
Uninsured.
Income up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines. Your copay level, which Jackson calls a "plan code," is set on a sliding scale by your family's gross income.
Not eligible for other programs such as Medicaid, or already turned down for them. Jackson screens every Prime applicant for Medicaid and other government coverage first.
Full cooperation with the financial assessment, including working with the Florida Department of Children and Families if asked.
Jackson also looks at citizenship or immigration status as part of eligibility, and asks for proof of it. If you're unsure how your status affects your application, the Florida Health Justice Project (below) can help you understand your options.
How long it lasts
The policy says a Prime classification generally lasts two years, with exceptions for grants, homeless classification and some contracted facilities. Enrolled patients are also subject to annual audits. If your income, insurance or family size changes significantly for four weeks or more, the policy says it's your responsibility to schedule a re-evaluation.
Some Prime classifications can be applied retroactively to open Jackson balances from up to 240 days before your Prime start date. If you have older Jackson bills, ask about this when you're approved.
What a Jackson card is not
Jackson's page is clear that the Jackson Prime card is not health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. It only works at Jackson. Jackson's policy also says it covers only services at Jackson facilities and from Jackson-employed physicians, so a bill from an outside doctor or lab may not be covered.
How to Apply for Jackson Prime
Apply online through the Financial Assessment portal linked from Jackson's financial assistance page. The application is free and requires a valid e-mail address.
Send every requested document within 30 days of your application date. Jackson says it decides within 30 days of receiving a complete application, and sends notices by e-mail or mail.
Sign the Disclosure Statement. The policy says every Prime applicant must sign one, and it includes perjury language, so answer carefully.
You'll need to prove four things, according to Jackson's page:
Miami-Dade residency
Citizenship or immigration status
Family size
Family gross income
Jackson posts a Jackson Prime Required Documents list, an application and supporting forms in English, Spanish and Haitian Creole. These include a personal statement, an employment verification form and a third-party support statement for when someone else helps pay your bills.
If you can't upload documents, Jackson says you can drop them off at:
Park Plaza East, Suite S, on the main campus
Rosie Lee Wesley Health Center
Dr. Rafael A. Peñalver Clinic
North Dade Health Center
Jackson North Medical Center
Renewing
Renewals are online only. Jackson's page says it no longer does in-person or phone renewal interviews. You'll need your Jackson Prime medical record number, proof of residency and any changes to income, family size or immigration status. Submit it at least 15 days before your card expires to avoid a gap. The renewal portal accepts renewals if you were enrolled in the last 6 months or your card expires within 30 days. Jackson notes the portal works in Chrome, Edge or Safari.
The Jackson Financial Assistance Program: Help With a Bill You Already Have
The second program is for patients who don't meet Prime's residency rules but meet the charity guidelines, and it's applied to bills after care, one episode at a time.
When you can ask
The policy says you can request help for any balance over $100, up to 240 days after the first billing statement following discharge. It doesn't apply to your share of a bill after insurance has paid.
What it can cover
The policy says you may qualify for a 100% discount if:
your household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, or
your balance is catastrophic, meaning it's more than 25% of your annual household income, and your income is under four times the poverty guideline for a family of four.
Either way, the policy says eligible patients won't be charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients for emergency or other medically necessary care.
Faster approval in some cases
Jackson can use a shortened process for people already on Medicaid or other low-income government programs, who the policy treats as indigent, including when benefits are exhausted. It also covers patients approved for Victims of Crime coverage and some deceased patients with no estate. Jackson also uses software to presumptively screen uninsured patients who never apply, based on public data.
Limits to know about
Non-residents: the policy says Jackson won't give financial assistance to non-residents for non-emergency care that's available at their own area's safety-net hospital. If there's no safety-net provider where they live, it's decided case by case. Approved non-residents are approved one date of service at a time.
Not covered: elective cosmetic procedures, transplants, bariatric surgery, and balances owed by insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, auto insurance, workers' comp or other liability coverage.
Prepay discount: if you choose Jackson's discounted self-pay package rate, paid before service or discharge, you can't also get financial assistance on that care.
Assets and lawsuits: Jackson can look at assets and pending injury claims, and may run a credit check.
If You're Denied
Appeal within 60 calendar days of the decision, using Jackson's Appeal form (available in English, Spanish and Creole).
Ask a Healthcare Advisor at 305-585-2222 why you were denied and whether a missing document was the reason.
Florida Health Justice Project: its May 2026 guide says Miami-Dade residents can ask for help if a Jackson Prime application is denied or delayed, or if they're struggling with hospital charity care or facing a collection action. It says FHJP doesn't represent people in collection lawsuits but can review a hospital's policy with you. Request help through the "I Need Help" form at floridahealthjustice.org.
Other Miami-Dade Hospitals
The Florida Health Justice Project lists Baptist Health South Florida and Mount Sinai Medical Center as local nonprofit hospitals that must have financial assistance policies, and notes that for-profit hospitals, including HCA Florida Kendall and Aventura, often keep their own charity policies. If your bill is from one of those, ask that hospital's billing office for its policy and application.
A Quick Checklist
Photo ID and proof of Miami-Dade address (90 days or more)
Proof of income for everyone in the family
Proof of family size, such as birth certificates
Citizenship or immigration documents
Any Medicaid denial letter
Your Jackson bills, with the date of the first statement after discharge, so you know your 240-day window
A working e-mail address for notices
Comments