Healthcare Voucher Program and Free Healthcare Days Toolkit

Navigating healthcare and health insurance resources can be complex, and creating effective programs can take a lot of time, resources and relationships. This toolkit is great for replicating a whole program, but if you are just looking for a place to start, try this Teeny Toolkit with four small things that you can do to connect your community to healthcare: Get it here.

Finding a place to get healthcare – medical clinics, dental clinics, fitness centers — can be a daunting task. Although more people are getting insured, many still avoid care because of factors like insurance deductibles or lack of coverage for all of their healthcare needs (e.g. lots of medical insurance plans have free preventive care, but aren’t required to cover dental or eye care services for adults).

This Healthcare Voucher toolkit takes some unease out of finding that care. Here’s how it works: An organization or group which works with a particular community teams up with a healthcare provider that is high quality, committed to helping that community get care, and low-cost (typically, the cost of services are dependent on income). Once a year, members of that community can apply for a voucher to use, like a gift certificate, towards the cost of a visit. The organization/group and healthcare provider may also team up on events, such as free dental screening days and flu vaccination clinics.

By lessening the emotional and monetary risk of the first experience at the healthcare provider, your community members get an extra nudge in the door so that they realize they can afford the care they need and have a place to go for their ongoing health needs.

This toolkit was created by Springboard for the Arts and modeled on their successful Artists’ Access to Healthcare (AAH) program. It will walk you step-by-step through the process of creating an Voucher program and Free Healthcare Days, complete with logistical pointers and lessons we’ve learned from our program in the Twin Cities. This toolkit is available for free from Springboard for the Arts, with an option for phone/Skype consultations starting at $45.

For help locating a healthcare provider to work with, please check out the Artists’ Health Fair and Guide to Healthcare Toolkit here.

Voucher Program and Free Healthcare Days Toolkit At-A-Glance

  • Springboard for the Arts started the AAH Voucher program in 2006 in St. Paul for uninsured/underinsured artists.
  • Since 2006, over 3,000 artists have used the voucher program and free healthcare days to connect to care. 98% of survey respondents say they will return to the clinics again. Only 10% re-apply.
  • Duluth, MN and Fergus Falls, MN have used the AAH Voucher toolkit to replicate the program in their cities

If you’re having issues with the form or have other questions, click here to request the free toolkit, or email Carl at creativeexchange@springboardforthearts.org.

Springboard’s Artists’ Access to Healthcare (AAH) program is made possible through the generous support of UCare.