Local Health Clinics

ProjectSafetyNet, run by the St. Luke's Episcopal Charities, lists local clinics in detail. Link to a list of local health clinics on this website, or search ProjectSafetyNet at http://www.slehc.org/CHI/CHIS/PSN/Index.cfm.

CHIP Information for Families

CHIP is health insurance designed for families who earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet cannot afford to buy private health insurance. To qualify for CHIP, a child must be under age 19, a Texas resident and a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident. CHIP enrollment fees and co-payments are based on the number of people in the family and the family's income and assets. Enrollment fees do not exceed $50 for each six-month term of eligibility and some families pay no enrollment fee. Most co-payments for doctor visits and prescription drugs range from $3 to $10.

Phone

Call toll-free 1-877-543-7669 (877-KIDS-NOW) Monday through Friday between 8 am and 8 pm Central Time (except federal holidays). People who speak English, Spanish and other languages are available to help. If you have a speech and hearing impairment, please call 1-800-735-2988 (Relay Texas). We can start your application over the phone and send it to you for your signature. All you have to do is sign it and mail it back with copies of your information. It's that easy.

CHIP Application in English

Gold Card

(download as PDF from Texas Southern University)

The Gold Card is a Texas public health benefit that provides subsidized medical costs. Your first step in obtaining a gold card is to call for an appointment. You may call the Harris County Hospital District’s Gold Card Hotline 713-678-1003 to schedule an interview with a gold card representative at a location nearest you.

Below are some helpful tips with regards to obtaining a Gold Card.

To establish your eligibility requirements, you will need to provide proof for the following six items:

1. Identification

A valid driver’s license or state of Texas ID card I.D. If you don’t have a current Texas driver’s license, you may use one of the following to provide proof of identification:

Preferred Identification

• Identification card issued by Texas Dept. of Public Safety
• Current employee job badge with picture
• Passport with picture
• Immigration document with picture
• Credit card with picture

Alternate Identification

• Birth Certificate (married women may not use this item)
• Popras form infant (under 90 days old)
• Hospital arm band (infant under 90 days old) Infant birth fact record (infants under 90 days old)
• Baptismal or other religious record

2. County Residency

Two utility bills with your name from within the last 60 days from any of the following utility companies:electric, telephone, water, natural gas or cable. You may chose, instead, to provide one utility bill accompanied by a valid Houston apartment Association lease (both documents must use your name)

Residency Documents
If you can’t provide two utility bills or one bill accompanied by a valid Houston Apartment Association lease, you have some options available to you. You may fulfill the proof of residency requirement by providing two of the following items:

• School records for children under age 18
• Monthly mortgage coupon Alternate Proofs
• Rental verification form (when no lease exists)
• Credit card billing statement in your name
• Property tax documents
• Automobile insurance documents (unexposed)
• Income tax documents
• Certification document or benefit checks from Social Security or Texas* Workforce Commission
• Letter from recognized social services agency (signed by agency’s director or designee)
• Voter’s registration card (unexpired)
• Texas driver’s license or I.D. card issued by Dept of Public Safety (unexpired only and must be accompanied by an item from above that is dated within past 60 days)

* One proof must be dated within past 60 days; the other may be up to one year old.

3. Household income

You must show proof of household income during the past 30 days. Based on your family’s income, size and the insurance information you provide, we can determine what level of financial assistance you qualify for. It is necessary to prove the income for all family members who live with you, even if only one family member is applying for gold Card.

If you currently have no household income, you must show how you are living. If someone is helping you financially, you will need to have that person or organization complete an HCHD supporter statement.

What you’ll need to show:

• If you are employed, you must provide all of your household’s pay stubs from the last 30 days (4 pay stubs if paid weekly, 2 pay stubs if paid twice monthly).
• If you are self-employed, you will need your most recent IRS 1040 form and Schedule C.
• If you are unemployed, you will need to show proof of payments from Texas Employment Commission, an HCHD wage letter signed by your last employer, proof of your retirement income or an HCHD supporter statement.
• If you are disabled, you will need to show check stubs from your disability payments and a statement from a doctor indicating projected length of disability.

Note: Depending on your circumstances, you may also be sked to provide tax documents, pay stubs from the past month, bank statements, sworn bookkeeper’s statement, final divorce decree, proof of retirement income, social security benefits or other payments received. Medicare recipients are required by Federal regulation to present proof of assets and other third party coverage

4. Family Dependents

To establish parental or guardian relationship, bring a birth certificate or guardianship document in your household.

Dependent Relationships

If you cannot provide a birth certificate or guardian ship document for each dependent in your household, you will need to provide one of the following:

• Baptismal record showing names of both parent and child
• Your most recent IRS 1040 Form
• Social Security Award letter with dependents’ names
• Divorce Decree
• Insurance or school documents showing names of both parent and child
• Any document which shows parent or guardian-child relationship
• Popras Form, birth fact or hospital armband for babies within 90 days

5. Insurance Coverage

Bring health insurance cards or plan information if you currently have healthcare insurance

6. I.N.S Status

Non-U.S. citizens should provide Immigration and Naturalization Service documents. Persons with certain restricted visas are not eligible for Gold Card financial assistance.

By providing these six items you will help ensure your Gold Card application goes smoothly. If you are having difficulty finding or providing any of the items mentioned above, call the nearest eligibility center to ask about other documents or proofs you may submit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What do I need to have ready to call for a clinic appointment?
A. You should have your Harris County Hospital District Gold Card or the follow up instruction sheet or consultation form from your last visit at the hospital or clinic. You should also have a calendar nearby to check for dates you have available for an appointment.

Q. What if my District Gold Card is out of date, or I don’t have one?
A. Call 713 678 1003 to talk with Gold Card Representative and request a valid Gold Card. If you haven’t applied for a Gold Card, schedule an appointment with Gold Card representative to apply.

Q. What can I do if I don’t have everything?
A. Call 713 678 1003 to talk with a Gold Card Representative or manager. Tell them your situation and see if there is any way they can help you through the process.

Q. How do I make a clinic appointment?
A. Call 713 526 4243 to make an appointment with any of the healthcare providers throughout the Harris County Hospital District. The District’s Appointment Center is open. Monday through Friday. From 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Q. Will I be asked to certify the information I have provided?
A. Yes it is important that you understand you are liable for the accuracy and truthfulness of the information you provide during the application process. Legal actions can result from the discovery of fraudulent claim or false information being provided to gain access to Harris County’s Healthcare services.

Harris County Department of Public Health

The Harris County Department of Health provides the following services. Parents must call about eligibility requirements.

Location
210 Foresthill Drive
Hamilton, Georgia 31811

Patient/Clinic Hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Immunizations

Immunizations are provided for early childhood diseases such as DPT (Diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus), polio, MMR(mumps, measles, and rubella), Hib (meningitis), HBV (hepatitis B) - is an ongoing service. Adult immunizations are available. Call for more information about other vaccines and requirements.

Teen Clinic

Our Teen Clinic promotes optimum health in teen pregnancy prevention and /or delay pregnancy. specifically for teens (male and female) to 19 years of age providing birth control, HIV/AIDS, STD testing and annual exams. All visits are confidential.

WIC

WIC provides comprehensive health and nutrition services that encouage wellness, healthy lifestyles and prventive health care. Nutrition education services and nutritious supplement foods are available to eligible Women, Infants and Children up to five years of age.

Children's Dental Health

Children's Dental Health provides cleanings, x-rays, sealants, extractions and fillings for school aged children. Fees are based on sliding scale. Medicaid accepted.

Children First

Children First provides a system of identification, linkage, monitoring, access to primary health care and service coordination for children 0-3 years of age who are at risk for poor health and/or development.

Children's Medical Services

Children's Medical Services provides treatment and services to children with special health care needs, also helping them to attain/maintain their optimum level of health and functioning. Children age birth to twenty-one years.

Car Seat Program

Car Seat Program - provides car seats and training on proper use of car seats. Call for eligibility and class schedule.

WIC Information

Getting Started in WIC, from the Houston Department of Health

The Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program is funded and administered at the national level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and at the state level by the Texas Department of Health. Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program which provides health care referrals, nutrition education and nutritious foods to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, and children under five who have nutrition health-related problems. WIC has a strong health component; women must be screened during pregnancy and, after delivery, for at least six months. If a woman breastfeeds, she and her infant may receive benefits for one year. After one year, children may receive benefits up to age five as long as the re-certification criteria are met every six months. While participating in the program, WIC-approved foods supplying significant amounts of protein, iron, Vitamin C, calcium and other nutrients needed for proper growth and development are provided. Each participating infant or child and their siblings receive immunizations at no cost.

To be eligible for the WIC program in Texas one must be pregnant, a mother who is breastfeeding, or a woman who has had a baby in the last six months. Infants and children up to age five are also eligible. WIC applicants will be asked for identification and proof of residency in an approved WIC service area. Their income will be checked to see that it does not exceed statewide standards. They will be screened for medical and nutritional risk. Once eligibility is determined, the participant will receive counseling, nutrition education, and food vouchers each month during their eligibility period. The vouchers can be exchanged for prescribed foods at approved local grocery stores. Currently the Houston Department of Health and Human Services WIC Program serves 80,000 clients, from 20 public delivery sites, 42 percent of the estimated 184,995 potentially eligible participants in Harris County.  Most of the clinics are open evenings and Saturdays. One site is opened on Sundays.
Residents of the City of Houston and Harris County may request eligibility screening or they may be referred by any dietitian/nutritionist, nurse or physician from any health or medical facility, public or private, in the county.