What is the Gold Card? 

The Gold Card is a financial assistance program by the Harris County Health System. It will help you cover some of the costs of hospital visits when you go to hospitals and clinics in the Harris Health System.

The gold card is not health insurance, rather it allows you to get discounted pricing on healthcare on a sliding scale. So depending on your income, you will be placed into one of four classifications (Group I-IV) that have different discounted costs.  For example, someone in group I will pay $50 for an inpatient stay whereas someone in group IV will pay $2500.

Am I Eligible?

1. Anyone is eligible regardless of age, income, or immigration status.
2. You must be a Harris County resident.

How Do I Apply?

 

What are the next steps after applying?

1. Turning in your required forms to an eligibility center and they will tell you within about 14 days whether you are eligible.
1. If you or a family member need an immediate surgery or therapy, you can speed up this process by requesting expedited processing of your forms.
2.  You will get a letter that lists who in your household is eligible for the approved plan.
3.  If you are approved, you need to bring an ID to your first medical visit at a Harris Health System hospital
1. Your palm will be scanned in order to enter you into the system
2. You will NOT get a physical gold card.