The availability of free or reduced cost care is critical, especially in Florida and our 11 sister states that have refused to expand Medicaid. Further, free/low cost care is more critical than ever due to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19. Miami Dade County is fortunate to have Jackson Health System, a publicly funded health system that has served as the major source of care for the county’s large, uninsured low-income populations for over 100 years.

However, without the federal funding provided through Medicaid expansion, the Jackson Health System (JHS) lacks resources to provide free or low cost care to all uninsured county residents. As a result, some residents experience barriers to care due to high copayments. Patients have also encountered problems with billing under the Jackson Health system, including for COVID testing and treatment that should not be billed.

Sharing information about the resources that are available AND and personal stories about the problems that county residents encounter is an important part of helping to ensure access to free or low cost care for indigent county residents.