Parkland Financial Assistance — Programs, Income Limits, Contacts & How to Apply

PFAP is Parkland’s primary free-care program for Dallas County residents who cannot afford their medical bills. At or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level — approximately $31,920 for a single person and $65,600 for a family of four in the current period — all medically necessary services at Parkland facilities are covered at no cost. At 201–250% FPL, a sliding-scale discount applies. PFAP is not insurance — it’s a program that covers specific services at Parkland. It cannot be used at other hospitals or medical facilities. It covers primary care, specialist visits, emergency treatment, surgeries, imaging, lab work, and prescriptions filled through Parkland’s pharmacy. Apply online, by phone, or in person at any Parkland community health center.

HEALTHplus is a unique Dallas County program — not insurance, but a subsidized membership that gives uninsured residents regular access to the full range of Parkland’s medical services for low monthly premiums. It covers primary care, specialist care, hospital services, and prescriptions at Parkland facilities. Eligibility extends to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level — slightly more inclusive than PFAP. There is no enrollment cost to join, and copays are required for some services. HEALTHplus is the right choice if you need ongoing, regular access to medical care — managing a chronic condition, completing a course of treatment, or getting regular preventive care. It gives you a consistent medical home at a Parkland community clinic. Call 214-590-8000 or visit any Parkland location to apply.

This program is the safety net within the safety net — designed specifically for self-pay patients who don’t qualify for PFAP, HEALTHplus, Medicaid, or any other funding source. It provides a meaningful discount on the cost of medically necessary services to reduce what an uninsured patient owes. If you’ve been told you don’t qualify for other assistance but you’re still struggling to pay your bill, ask specifically about the Self-Pay Charity Discount. It’s less comprehensive than PFAP but still represents a significant reduction over the full hospital charge rate. This program is particularly useful for patients who are just over the income threshold for PFAP or who don’t meet the residency requirements for other programs. Managed through Parkland’s Patient Financial Services at 214-590-8000.

Many Dallas County residents qualify for Medicaid or CHIP but have never applied — either because they didn’t know they qualify, found the application confusing, or hit barriers with documentation. Parkland maintains Medicaid enrollment staff at the hospital and many community clinics who will assess your eligibility and complete the application on your behalf at no charge. Qualifying for Medicaid is better than PFAP for most patients because it extends to care outside Parkland facilities — a Medicaid card works statewide at most providers. For children, CHIP provides comprehensive coverage at very low cost regardless of immigration status. Ask for Medicaid screening whenever you visit any Parkland location. Parkland Community Health Plan also manages Medicaid STAR and CHIP for seven North Texas counties — call 214-266-2100.

If you received medical care at Parkland as the result of a violent crime — assault, sexual assault, domestic violence, robbery, shooting, stabbing — the Texas Crime Victims Compensation Act (CVCA) may cover your medical bills regardless of your income or residency. Parkland’s financial counselors are specifically trained to help patients apply for this program. You do not need to have reported the crime to police for all types of claims — sexual assault victims, in particular, have special protections allowing compensation without a police report in many cases. Apply through the Texas Attorney General’s office, but let Parkland’s financial counselors guide you through the process. This is one of the least-known and most underused programs available to Parkland patients. Ask your counselor specifically about CVCA if any portion of your bill relates to injuries from a crime.

Parkland’s financial counselors can help you enroll in an ACA Health Insurance Marketplace plan during Open Enrollment (November–January) or during a Special Enrollment Period triggered by a qualifying life event — job loss, change in household size, or losing coverage. For patients above the PFAP income threshold but eligible for marketplace subsidies, a marketplace plan extends coverage beyond Parkland facilities to any participating network provider statewide. If you recently lost employer coverage or had a life change that triggered a Special Enrollment Period, tell your Parkland financial counselor immediately — Special Enrollment windows close quickly and missing them means waiting until the next Open Enrollment. Counselors can complete the marketplace application with you and help estimate your subsidy.

For Parkland patients who are 65 or older or who receive Medicare due to disability, financial counselors can help ensure Medicare is being billed correctly and can connect patients to supplemental programs that reduce out-of-pocket costs. This includes Medicare Savings Programs (which help pay Medicare premiums and copays for low-income beneficiaries) and Medicare Extra Help (which reduces Part D prescription drug costs to near zero for qualifying patients). Many seniors who should receive Extra Help never apply because they don’t know it exists or assume they don’t qualify. If your income is limited and you’re on Medicare at Parkland, explicitly ask your counselor: “Can you help me determine whether I qualify for Medicare Extra Help or a Medicare Savings Program?” Call 214-590-8000 to speak with a financial counselor.

New applicants can apply directly at the Parkland financial assistance online portal or through Parkland MyChart (Menu → Billing → Parkland Financial Assistance). The online application collects your basic information, household size, and income documentation. After submitting, you can upload required proof documents through the same portal. The online portal is available 24 hours a day, which matters for patients who can’t easily take time off work for an in-person visit. If you have questions during the online application, call 214-590-8000 during business hours. If your bill has already gone to collections or you’re facing an urgent deadline, an in-person visit with a counselor is faster than the online process.

For urgent situations — a bill going to collections, a scheduled procedure you need covered, or difficulty completing the online application — applying in person with a financial counselor at Parkland Memorial Hospital or any of its 16 community health centers is the fastest option. Counselors can complete the application with you, assess your eligibility on the spot, and help ensure your documents are in order before you leave. Ask at any registration desk, emergency department check-in, or clinic front desk for a financial counselor. You don’t need a specific appointment — just ask. For the main hospital: 5200 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75235. For community clinic locations and phone numbers, visit parklandhealth.org/locations or call 214-266-4000 for clinic appointment scheduling.

Parkland requires three categories of proof: Dallas County residency, household size, and income. For residency, any document showing a Dallas County address works — a utility bill, lease agreement, bank statement, or Texas ID. For household size, any documentation showing who lives with you. For income, pay stubs, tax returns, or employer letters. If you have zero income, a signed statement declaring no income is acceptable — financial counselors are experienced with this and will guide you through completing it. If you have no documents at all, tell the counselor that honestly — they may be able to work with alternative verification. Never avoid applying because you’re worried you don’t have the right paperwork. Ask first.

Parkland typically provides a decision within 30 days of receiving a complete application with all required documents. If your application is approved, the assistance is applied retroactively to bills incurred since your application date. If you need care while waiting for your application to be processed, do not delay care. Tell the registration staff that you have a pending PFA application — this is noted in your Parkland record and will be linked to the assistance once approved. For non-emergency care, call 214-266-4000 to schedule a clinic appointment and mention your pending application at registration. A financial counselor can note your account to prevent premature billing while your application is under review.

PFAP approval does not last forever — you must renew it, and the renewal window matters. Begin the renewal process at least 30 days before your current PFA expires. If your PFA expires and you haven’t renewed, you have 6 months to complete the renewal process before you must start a brand new application. Missing that 6-month window means restarting the full application. Parkland will typically send you a renewal reminder, but don’t rely on that reminder arriving — set your own calendar reminder 45 days before your expected expiration date. Renewal can be done online through MyChart or in person at any Parkland location. The renewal process requires updated income documentation if your income has changed. Call 214-590-8000 if you’re unsure when your current approval expires.

Parkland Memorial Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and the main hub of the Parkland Health system. Financial counselors are available at the hospital during regular business hours, and the emergency department has financial services representatives who can connect patients to assistance programs during or after emergency visits. For billing questions and financial assistance, the main Patient Financial Services line is 214-590-8000. For MyChart support including help with the online financial assistance application, call the MyChart Support Line at 214-590-8324, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To pay a bill online, visit parklandhealth.org/paying-for-your-services.

Parkland’s 16 community health centers bring primary care, pediatric care, prenatal care, dental care, and mental health services to Dallas County neighborhoods — including areas that have historically been healthcare deserts. Each clinic serves as a medical home for patients and has financial counseling staff either on-site or available by referral. To find the clinic nearest to you and schedule your first appointment, call 214-266-4000 (clinic scheduling line) or use the location finder at parklandhealth.org/locations. One clinic contact example: the Maple Avenue Clinic at 5151 Maple Ave., Suite 2A, Dallas, TX 75235, main number 214-590-5632. Always call ahead — each clinic serves a defined geographic area.

Parkland Community Health Plan (PCHP) is the insurance arm of Parkland, administering Medicaid STAR and CHIP plans for members in seven North Texas counties. If you qualify for Texas Medicaid or CHIP, enrolling in PCHP as your managed care plan gives you access to Parkland’s full network as well as a broader statewide provider network of more than 3,000 doctors and 25 hospitals. PCHP members receive the same primary care at Parkland community clinics plus access to specialists, hospitals, and urgent care facilities outside the Parkland system. Contact Parkland Community Health Plan at 214-266-2100 (Monday through Friday, 8am–5pm) or visit parklandhealthplan.com for enrollment information.

Many Parkland patients receive two bills for the same visit — one from Parkland and one from UT Southwestern Medical Center for physician services provided by UTSW faculty. These are legally separate institutions with separate billing systems, and Parkland’s financial assistance does not cover UTSW physician charges. Contact UT Southwestern Patient Financial Services directly at 214-645-7599 to ask about their financial assistance program, which has its own income thresholds and documentation requirements. Their program covers medically necessary professional services for patients meeting income eligibility, and like Parkland’s program, can be applied retroactively to existing bills. Visit utswmed.org/patient-resources/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance for details.

Parkland’s dedicated online application portal at ola.veritysource.com/parkland accepts new PFAP applications and allows document uploads after submission. This is the most convenient path for patients who have access to a computer or smartphone and need to apply outside regular business hours. After submitting, you can log back in to upload any additional proof documents required. If you submitted a Parkland financial assistance application less than 30 days ago, use this same portal to upload remaining documents — you don’t need to call. The portal also handles the Self-Pay Charity Discount Program application in a single submission flow.

The Texas Crime Victims Compensation Act is administered by the Texas Attorney General’s office and provides compensation for crime victims’ medical expenses, counseling, lost wages, and other costs — regardless of income or insurance status. Parkland’s financial counselors can initiate the application process. For direct contact with the Texas AG’s crime victims assistance program, call 1-800-983-9933 (the Crime Victims’ Compensation Program helpline) or visit texasattorneygeneral.gov/crime-victims. Applications must typically be filed within three years of the crime, and compensation is available even if the offender was never caught or convicted. Do not assume you’re ineligible — let a counselor or the AG’s office assess your specific situation.

If you owe a Parkland balance that isn’t fully covered by assistance and you need to pay or set up a payment plan, online payment through MyChart is available at parklandhealth.org/paying-for-your-services. Payment plans are available for patients who cannot pay in full — ask a financial counselor to set up a manageable installment arrangement rather than ignoring a bill. Ignoring a Parkland bill does not make it go away — unpaid balances are sent to collections, which affects credit and makes future assistance more complicated. If you receive a bill you cannot pay, call 214-590-8000 immediately, tell them you cannot pay the full amount, and ask about both assistance programs and payment plan options in the same call.

Patients enrolled in PFAP or HEALTHplus can fill prescriptions through Parkland’s pharmacy system at significantly reduced or no cost. Parkland pharmacies are located at the main hospital and at several community health centers. The Maple Avenue clinic pharmacy can be reached at 214-590-6617, with refills at 214-590-6120. If you are not yet enrolled in PFAP or HEALTHplus and are struggling to afford prescriptions, ask your Parkland provider to prescribe through Parkland’s pharmacy system while your financial assistance application is pending — the pharmacy can often apply anticipated financial assistance pricing while the application is reviewed. For prescription refills at community clinic pharmacies, call ahead to confirm the medication is in stock.