Affordable Care
Get the Care You Need, When You Need It.
We accept many commercial health insurance plans, as well as Medicare and MaineCare. The charge for your visit is based upon many factors, such as insurance status, co-pays or minimum fees.
Sliding Fee Program
If you don’t have insurance (and even if you do!), we have a variety of payment options and financial assistance though our Sliding Fee Program (formerly called our Affordable Care Plan), which is based on your income and household size. Eligible applicants may save a significant amount off the cost of their care. Your PCHC Outreach and Enrollment Specialist can answer any questions you may have on insurance, or help you with financial assistance applications. Call any PCHC practice and ask to speak with an Outreach and Enrollment Specialist today.
Frequently Asked Questions:
The Sliding Fee is a discount program, visit fees are based on a sliding scale using income and household size. Federal poverty guidelines set limits on the household income for this program.
You may qualify to pay reduced visit fee when you see a provider at PCHC.
There is no cost to apply.
The visit fees (co-pays) range from $10 – $55 per visit depending on your income and household size. You may also qualify for reduced charges for Dental services. See the fee chart below.
This program covers healthcare services provided by PCHC, this includes visits to your primary provider, mental health counselor, physical therapy, specialty care, or preventive dental care. It does not cover visits to the hospital or other healthcare providers. You must apply to those places to participate in their programs.
Here is a full listing of our services:
Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Geriatrics, Counseling, Lab services, OMT, Gynecology, Nutrition/Diabetes Education, Psychiatry, Podiatry, Audiology, Speech, Physical Therapy, Walk-In Care Services, Wound Care, Complementary and Alternative Medicine including Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy and Meditation.
Complete the Sliding Fee Program application. Download Application HERE Or get one at any of our locations or call to have one mailed.
Be sure to provide information for all your household members. Bring in or send us proof of income for all your income sources. There is a list of what we need for each kind of income on the income worksheet included in the Sliding Fee packet. Someone will reach out if additional information is needed.
No, the Sliding Fee program is not insurance.
Yes. If you qualify based on household size and income, you can use the Sliding Fee program to reduce your healthcare expenses.
The Outreach and Enrollment team can help you look at health insurance options like, MaineCare and health insurance through the Marketplace. We can also help you complete applications for help from the local hospitals. Additionally, we can look into prescription help using one of PCHC’s pharmacy programs.
Other important information:
- When you apply, you must send us the paperwork within 30 days.
- After we receive the application you have an additional 30 days to send in supporting documents.
- All adults must have their own application.
- The effective date is the patient signature date.
Apply today!
As a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), Penobscot Community Health Care offers sliding fees based on income in accordance with federal poverty guidelines and patient family size at all of our practices and for all of our services. PCHC Outreach and Enrollment Specialist can help determine if you qualify. For more information or to find out how you can enroll, please contact a Outreach and Enrollment Specialist by dialing 207-992-9200 and the extension for your site:
- Brewer Medical Center: ext. 1466
- Capehart Community Health Center: ext. 1115
- Community Care and Geriatrics Department: 2005
- Dental Center: ext. 2511
- Helen Hunt Health Center: ext. 3078
- Hope House: ext. 2005
- Jackman Community Health Center: ext. 3078
- Medical Specialists: ext. 2005
- Penobscot Community Health Center: ext. 1115
- Penobscot Pediatrics: ext. 2005
- Seaport Community Health Center: ext. 2005
Prescription Assistance Program
PCHC also offers a Prescription Assistance Program (RxAP) that will help you find ways to afford your medications. We look for low-cost or no-cost medications. Our mission at Prescription Assistance is to assure that you have access to the medications you need. How Does it Work? After enrolling in the Prescription Assistance program, you will receive your medications for free from the pharmaceutical company. Ask your PCHC provider or pharmacist for more information.
Procedure Pricing
Below, patients can access the price list for our most frequently provided procedures. Please note: this is the full cash price for our services. If you have insurance, insurance may cover some or all of this cost; if you do not have insurance or have difficulty paying your bill, please ask at the front desk about the Affordable Care Program (Sliding Fee) or how to set up a payment plan. No one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay; and there is a discounted/sliding fee schedule available based on family size and income. The Maine Health Data Organization also offers information on health care pricing.
Find the Best Price for the Best Service
If you have been referred to any of the following services, you have the right to review your insurer’s health care price transparency tool and to choose a provider of this service: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiology and Imaging, Laboratory testing, Infusion therapy. You can access this price transparency tool by going to your commercial insurer’s member website, or by calling them.
Contact information should be located on your insurance card. You can also find more information at www.comparemaine.org. The description of the service being ordered should be included in your visit summary, which you will receive at the end of your appointment. If it is not included in the visit summary, your care team can provide you with a description.
Shared in compliance with LD 445.
Sliding Fee Program Fee Schedule
Levels based on Income Level and Household Size
| Services | Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | >200% of FPG |
| Primary Care Including PCHC Specialty, PCHC Lab testing & X-ray | $10 | $25 | $35 | $45 | $55 | Full Fee |
| Preventative Dental Care | $35 | $45 | $55 | $65 | $75 | Full Fee |
| Restorative/Other Dental | $35 | 35% Discount | 25% Discount | 15% Discount | 5% Discount | Full Fee |
| Infusion Services | $35 | 40% Discount | 35% Discount | 30% Discount | 25% Discount | Full Fee |
| Pharmacy Effective Feb 1. 2019 | 40% Discount | 35% Discount | 30% Discount | 25% Discount | 20% Discount | Full Fee |