Howard Brown Health offers discounted medical care, psychiatry, dentistry, and mental health counseling to patients who are uninsured and have low income. We also provide discounted mental health counseling for patients with low income who have medical insurance that does not cover mental health counseling. The amount a patient pays is based on the federal income levels. Each year the federal government sets a Federal Poverty Line (FPL) and new income levels that qualify patients for discounted care. The income levels are based on a patient’s gross income (how much money you make each year before taxes are taken out).
How Do I Apply?
In order to qualify you will need to meet the following requirements listed below and fill out the sliding scale fee application.
- Call 773.388.1600 to become a patient
- Submit your application and proof of income
- Email: billingteam@howardbrown.org
- Fax: 773.388.1602
- Postal mail: Howard Brown Health, Attn. Billing department 4025 N. Sheridan Rd. Chicago, IL 60613
- If you are not able to send your application and documentation, please bring them to your next appointment.
Once all documents have been reviewed, you will be informed of the sliding fee based on gross annual income and household size. If you have questions about the sliding fee scale procedure, please call the main line at 773.388.1600 and ask to be transferred to the billing team.
| Household Annual Gross Income | Howard Brown Sliding Fee | Ryan White maximum charge per calendar year (January 1 to December 31) |
|---|---|---|
| Equal to or below 100% of the federal poverty line | $5 | No charges permitted |
| 101 – 125% of the federal poverty line | $10 | $10 per visit with no more than 5% of gross annual income in a 12 month period |
| 126 – 150% of the federal poverty line | $15 | $15 per visit with no more than 5% of gross annual income in a 12 month period |
| 151 – 175% of the federal poverty line | $20 | $20 per visit with no more than 5% of gross annual income in a 12 month period |
| 176 – 200% of the federal poverty line | $25 | $25 per visit with no more than 5% of gross annual income in a 12 month period |
| 201 – 300% of the federal poverty line | 100% of visit fee | 100% per visit with no more than 7% of gross annual income in a 12 month period |
| More than 300% of the federal poverty line | 100% of visit fee | 100% per visit with no more than 10% of gross annual income in a 12 month period |
Special Charges for Patients with HIV/AIDS
The Ryan White Program is a federal grant that helps Howard Brown Health cover some health care costs for patients with HIV/AIDS. Patients living with HIV/AIDS are eligible for the Ryan White Sliding Fee Scale based on their annual gross income. The Ryan White Sliding Fee Scale is almost identical to Howard Brown’s Sliding Fee Scale for HIV negative patients. The one exception is that patients with HIV/AIDS at or below 100% of the FPL are not charged for any service they receive at Howard Brown. The Ryan White grant is the “payer of last resort.” This means that, if a patient with HIV/AIDS has insurance, we must use it. In addition, this also means that patients with HIV/AIDS cannot be on the Ryan White Sliding Fee Scale if they are eligible for another benefit that would pay for their healthcare at Howard Brown (like Medicaid). Patients must have proof of their HIV/AIDS diagnosis on file at Howard Brown to qualify for the Ryan White Sliding Fee Scale.
Charge Limits for Patients with HIV/AIDS
The federal Ryan White grant does not want people with HIV/AIDS to be overwhelmed by health care costs. To manage the sometimes high cost of healthcare, the federal government sets a limit on what someone with HIV/AIDS can spend on their health care at agencies that accept Ryan White grant funding. Based on a patient’s annual gross income, Howard Brown has set a maximum amount patients can be charged for eligible services in one calendar year (January 1 to December 31). After a patient’s charges meet the maximum amount, patients themselves will pay $0 for eligible services until January 1. If a patient with HIV/AIDS has insurance, Howard Brown will continue to bill a patient’s insurance for those services, but patients will not be required to pay their co-pay. Eligible services include medical care, labs, and mental health counseling; Walk-In testing services are not included. Bills from outside of Howard Brown can also count towards patients’ maximum amounts. Patients who have health care bills from other agencies or pharmacies, should bring those bills into Howard Brown. Howard Brown will not pay those bills, but they will count those costs towards patients’ maximum amounts. Patients can submit bills for healthcare outside of Howard Brown to count towards their Ryan White Maximum Charge per year. Examples include bills for prescriptions, doctor’s appointments, mental health counseling, co-pays and hospital costs. Patients will be asked and encouraged to bring in receipts to keep track of their annual expenses. Patients must give Howard Brown copies of bills from other places that they would like included in their maximum amounts or Howard Brown can’t count those costs. The chart below shows how a patient’s maximum charge is determined by their annual gross income. For example, if a patient had an annual gross income that was 175% of FPL, the patient’s maximum charges per year would be equal to 5% of their annual gross income. After the patient had been charged 5% of their annual gross income for health care costs (within and outside of Howard Brown), they would pay $0 until January 1st. Howard Brown would still charge any insurance, but the patient would not be responsible for their co-pay.
Dental Procedures
The following services are provided by Howard Brown Health Dental if you qualify for the Sliding Fee Scale:
- X-Rays
- Comprehensive Oral Exam
- Deep Cleanings (Right and Left) – this procedure is performed by the hygienist
- Note: Only one side cleaned at a time (at least 2 visits). Both sides cannot be deep cleaned in the same visit.
- Fillings (if applicable) – Typically only two fillings done in per visit
- Extractions (if applicable) – Only simple extractions. If it is a back tooth, the patient will be referred to an outside agency for a surgical extraction.
- Dentures (if applicable) – Done at provider’s discretion
How Do I Qualify?
To qualify for the Howard Brown Sliding Fee Scale, Ryan White Sliding Fee Scale or Ryan White maximum charges, you must bring proof of your “household” gross annual income. A “household” includes legal children, a civil union partner or married spouse, and legal dependents. Annual gross income includes salary, unemployment benefits, disability or social security benefits, investment income or other sources of income that support the household. You should bring proof of all of the household income for yourself and everyone in your household.
The following documents can be used for proof of income:
- Most recent tax return
- 2-3 most recent pay stubs from employer, no older than three months
- Most recent W-2 or 1099
(Prior year W2 or 1099 will not be accepted as Proof of Income after June 30 of the current year) - Letter from employer stating cash earnings that is signed by your employer or supervisor
- Letter from the Social Security Administration documenting your SSI or SSDI benefits
- Letter from the Social Security Administration documenting that you are ineligible for government benefits
- Letter detailing unemployment benefits from your state unemployment office
- Military Leave and earnings statement
- Notarized letter stating you have no source of income signed by you