Minimum criteria:
- The applicant must be a woman and a permanent resident of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, or Sarasota County.
- The date of service for the unpaid medical bills for which you are requesting financial assistance must be either 180 days in the past or will be completed within 90 days in the future, or a combination of the two.
- The applicant must be 18 years or older.
Other guidelines and information about the application process:
- Applications for funding must be for unpaid and non-covered (by insurance or other assistance) health services including traditional and alternative care, mental health care and preventive dental services and co-pays. Alternatives to traditional medicine such as chiropractic, homeopathy, massage, and acupuncture are eligible for funding.
- Medically necessary dental care, under some circumstances, may be considered for assistance. We are unable to cover reparative or cosmetic dental work. Please visit our dental assistance page for possible helpful referrals.
- Applicants should seek financial assistance directly through their provider and other government assistance sources first. SPHF should be the last resort for financial assistance. The Fund administrator may assist the applicant in identifying other ‘first-line’ assistance.
- Each applicant may apply only once per calendar year (Jan – Dec). Multiple requests for assistance related to the same health service or procedure will be treated as individual applications. Applicants are encouraged to include all requested assistance for one health event in one application.
- An applicant must complete the online application form or submit a written/typed request for assistance using the Word application form. This form is available on the website or by requesting a mailed copy from the SPHF Fund Administrator.
- Official bills (for past services) or written estimates (for future services) from the provider(s) must accompany the application.
- The SPHF Board will evaluate requests for assistance monthly during each regularly scheduled meeting.
- The amount requested by an applicant may be approved in full, in part, or denied based on available funds. The Board will award assistance based on SPHF available monies, with a maximum of $2000 per application, less if available monies do not permit. The average award in the past year was $550.
- The Fund Administrator will notify the applicant of the Board’s decision.
- For approved applications, awarded funds will be paid directly to the provider. SPHF will not reimburse the applicant directly.
- SPHF will request a receipt for payments made to each provider. If received, SPHF will provide a copy to the applicant for her records.
- At the completion of each funded application, SPHF will send the applicant a form to collect demographic and other information for purposes of measuring success against the SPHF mission, guiding future decisions, report data in grant applications, etc.
- SPHF will make available information regarding programs that provide free or reduced fees for health screening/care whenever possible.
- An applicant’s information is held in confidence.
Contact the Fund Administrator at SPHFapplications@gmail.com or at (727) 482-0216 for additional information.
Disclaimer: Any information provided by the Sonia Plotnick Health Fund should in no way be considered medical advice nor does it replace consultation with a healthcare provider.