Fort Worth Benefits

JPS Connection: Tarrant County’s Health Coverage for People Without Insurance

JPS Connection: Tarrant County’s Health Coverage for People Without Insurance

Fort Worth Benefits guide — facts checked against JPS Health Network, October 2026.

No insurance usually means no doctor — until something hurts badly enough for the emergency room, which is the most expensive, most stressful way to get care there is. Tarrant County has a different door, and a lot of Fort Worth residents don’t know it’s open to them: JPS Connection, the county’s own safety-net health coverage, run by JPS Health Network — the public health system behind John Peter Smith Hospital and JPS clinics across the county.

What JPS Connection is

JPS Connection is financial-assistance coverage for Tarrant County residents who are uninsured or underinsured. Instead of paying full price — or skipping care and hoping — members get care through JPS clinics and John Peter Smith Hospital with costs based on what they can pay.

Think of it as the county saying: if you live here and you can’t afford insurance, you still get a doctor. Texas has not expanded Medicaid, so for many working adults in Fort Worth, JPS Connection is the coverage that actually exists.

Who may qualify

JPS Connection is for Tarrant County residents who are uninsured or underinsured. You don’t need to guess whether your income or situation fits — that’s the Eligibility team’s job, and asking costs nothing. You may qualify if:

  • You live in Tarrant County and have no health insurance.
  • You have insurance, but it doesn’t cover what you need or costs more than you can pay.
  • You’ve had a hospital stay or a clinic visit recently — you can request financial assistance during a hospital stay or office visit, or up to 90 days after a visit. So even if the bill already happened, ask.

And here’s the part most people miss: if you don’t qualify, you’re not turned away empty-handed. Uninsured patients who don’t qualify for JPS Connection still get at least 40% off self-pay bills under JPS’s discount for uninsured patients. Either way, asking lowers the bill.

How to apply — step by step

  1. Call JPS Eligibility: 817-702-1001. The line is open Monday to Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM. Say you want to apply for JPS Connection or financial assistance.
  2. Or go in person: JPS’s eligibility office is at 101 W. Allen Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76110. Forms are also available at any JPS registration or admission area, and in the Emergency Department.
  3. Or email: write to enroll@jpshealth.org for application help.
  4. Bring your proof. You’ll need proof of address, proof of income, and photo ID. Gathering those three things before you call makes everything faster.
  5. Ask about the discount either way. If the answer on JPS Connection is no, ask directly about the discount for uninsured patients — at least 40% off self-pay charges.

How it fits with Medicaid and CHIP

JPS Connection isn’t the only coverage that may fit you, and it’s worth checking all three:

  • Texas Medicaid is free coverage — children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities may qualify at certain incomes, even though Texas hasn’t expanded Medicaid to all low-income adults.
  • CHIP is low-cost coverage for children 18 and under in families that earn too much for Medicaid — enrollment is $50 or less per family per year, with co-pays of $3 to $35.
  • JPS Connection sits alongside both: it’s the county safety net when state coverage doesn’t fit.

Apply for Medicaid and CHIP at YourTexasBenefits.com or by calling 2-1-1. Our checker looks at JPS Connection, Medicaid, and CHIP together, so you can see all three at once.

Common questions

I already have a JPS bill. Is it too late? Probably not. You can request financial assistance during a visit or up to 90 days after it. Call 817-702-1001 and ask — the worst they can say is no, and if the answer is yes, the bill shrinks.

Does JPS Connection cost money to join? Asking and applying are free. What you pay for care is based on what you can pay — that’s the point of the program.

I’m on Medicare or have some coverage. Can JPS still help? If you’re underinsured — covered on paper, but not for what you actually need — it’s still worth a call to Eligibility. Seniors can also get free benefits counseling from United Way of Tarrant County’s Area Agency on Aging at 817-258-8000.

Your next step: see every health program you may qualify for — See what you qualify for, or get a personal guide free with Apply for Me.

Fort Worth Benefits is a free community guide, not a government agency. JPS makes all JPS Connection decisions — confirm your details with JPS Eligibility when you apply.