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Resources for Financial Needs and Medical Assistance

Are you facing medical bills or need low-cost assistance for your health and well-being? This page provides resources.

But first, let us offer some advice:

  1. Do your best to avoid bills as much as possible. See How to Avoid or Minimize Medical Bills.
  2. Don't ignore medical bills. Ask who can help. Ask what can be done. The article Tips for Hard Times explains why and how.

Need help navigating resources? Contact or visit UHS Managed Care and Student Insurance Office at 734-764-5182 or toll-free 866-368-0002, or email UHS-mancare-stuins@med.umich.edu. Staff can guide you through your options.

On this page:

Low-cost health care:

Students, UHS is your campus health resource, and for currently enrolled UM students, most services are paid with tuition. For what's covered and what's not, see Fee or Free for Students. To discuss at bill at UHS, contact the Business Office at 734-764-7380.

Are you between terms or did you just graduate? Consider purchasing the UHS Prepaid Plan for access to UHS services.

Packard Health:
3174 Packard Road, Ann Arbor, Phone 734-971-1073
501 N. Maple Road, Ann Arbor, Phone 734-926-4900

For a list of other low-cost health clinics, see ArborWeb

Health insurance / coverage:

UM offers health insurance plans, in case you are ill or injured, if you need to withdraw from school for medical or psychological reasons, and in case you experience a health problem while traveling. For options, see Health Insurance Plans for Students.

For public assistance, see:

  • Michigan Assistance and Referral Service: An interactive online system that helps identify what assistance programs that you and your household may qualify to receive.
  • Michigan Health Care Programs Eligibility: Provides a description of programs as well as who is eligible.
  • Michigan Department of Human Services, Washtenaw County office, 2140 East Ellsworth Rd. Phone 734-481-2000  or 481-2098. Determines eligibility for Medicaid and State medical programs, as follows:
    • MIChild: Coverage for children age 18 & under from families with income above Medicaid limits. Monthly premium of $5/family covers immunizations, dental care, prenatal care and delivery, vision and hearing care, and mental health care. Call 888-988-6300 toll-free.
    • Medicaid: Insures certain Michigan residents below the federal poverty level: blind or otherwise disabled people, those age 65 & over, pregnant women, and—through the Healthy Kids program (888-988-6300)—children age 18 and under.
  • Washtenaw Health Plan (Washtenaw County Public Health Department): Uninsured county residents who meet income requirements can get health coverage for primary care from local doctors, clinics, and other services, including specialty care, hospitalization, and prescription drugs.

Prescription assistance:

Washtenaw County Prescription Plan
A discount prescription drug program for County residents of all ages who have limited, exhausted, or no prescription drug coverage, without income or age restrictions.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance
Helps patients in need find ways to access prescription medicines for little or no cost through patient assistance programs. Phone 888-4ppa-now

UHS Pharmacy
May assist in obtaining medications. Phone 734-764-7387.

Michigan Drug Prices.com
Helps you compare prices among pharmacies. Provided by the Michigan Department of Community Health. Also links to drug discount programs.

Health charities:

Community Health Charities of Michigan
Lists health charities, e.g. American Diabetes Association, American Arthritis Foundation

Lions Club
Assists people with sight-related issues. Phone 734-780-2135.

Financial assistance:

Michigan Crime Victim Compensation
Assists victims of crimes with medical bills

UM Center for the Education of Women
Awards small grants to graduate students who face serious, unexpected, emergency financial problems

UM Health System Patient Accounts
Develops payment plans for those who have medical bills at the UM Health System

UM International Center Health Insurance Office
Provides guidance for international students in arranging payment plans with health care providers

UM Law School of Financial Aid
Offers law students loans for educational, short-term and emergency needs.

UM Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives
Offers grants for UM students from the Student Academic Multicultural Fund

UM Office of Financial Aid
Provides financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships and loans

UM Rackham Graduate School
Contact the fellowship chair in your department regarding financial assistance

UM School of Public Health, Office of Academic Affairs
Provides School of Public Health students with financial assistance including loans, scholarships and short-term emergency loans

UM Emergency Hardship Program
For UM faculty and staff. Confidential counseling to determine the need and to recommend university or community resources. Accepts applications for one-time (non-chronic) emergency financial assistance up to a maximum of $800 based on eligibility criteria. Funding is provided entirely by donations.

Dental clinics and discount plan:

Community Dental Center

Hope Dental Clinic

UM Dental School

Washtenaw Children's Dental Clinic

Aetna Vital Savings Discount Program offers a dental discount plan (after clicking link, choose "Dental Discount Program: Enroll" from orange column on left)

Legal advice, conflict resolution and guidance:

UM Student Legal Services
Provides free legal advice to students regarding collections and other matters

UM Ombuds Office
Offers informal dispute resolution services, provides resources and referrals, and helps students consider options available to them

UM Dean of Students Office
Email deanofstudents@umich.edu or call 734-764-7420
Provides assistance with personal (i.e. non-academic) matters such as illness, injury, family or emotional issues, etc. The office can also help coordinate notification of student emergencies to the proper academic programs, etc.

Office of Student Conflict Resolution
Provides programs and services designed to support a safe, just and peaceful community, and to help Michigan students learn how to manage and resolve conflict peacefully. OSCR offers a full-spectrum menu of conflict resolution pathways.

Dispute Resolution Center
Offers free mediation services

Food, shelter and other assistance:

See listing of local resources on Arborweb.

2-1-1 is a telephone number for information about health and human services in Washtenaw County, Michigan. However, this service may not include many of the UM resources for students.