How to Save on Internet Service With Medicaid or SNAP Benefits
Key takeaways:
High-speed internet makes health information accessible and helps connect people with healthcare services. This can lead people to wonder: How do I get internet service with SNAP benefits or if I have Medicaid?
The Federal Communications Commission previously offered free and discounted internet service for households with low incomes through the Affordable Connectivity Program. This program ended in June 2024.
A provider in your area may still offer low-cost or discounted internet service, such as Lifeline, if you’re enrolled in Medicaid or SNAP.
Table of contents
Internet service is important in many aspects of life, including access to healthcare. Many healthcare professionals now offer telehealth appointments, and there are online services like GoodRx Care that can help you save money and expand your healthcare options. Healthcare.gov enables people to search health insurance plans and buy coverage online through an Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace.
But the cost of internet service prevents some people from having access to online information and resources.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) offers the Lifeline program, which reduces the cost of phone or internet services for people with low incomes. People enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid are among those who qualify. The discount may cover your entire monthly bill.
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The FCC previously offered free and discounted internet service for households with low incomes through the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). But this program concluded in June 2024 because its congressional funding ended. ACP also offered discounts on devices such as laptops, desktop computers, and tablets.
What is Lifeline?
Lifeline is a federal program that provides internet or phone service discounts for households at or below 135% of the federal poverty level. You may qualify if you live in any U.S. state or territory or on tribal lands. (People who live on tribal lands qualify for more generous benefits.)
The program aims to make telecommunications more affordable for people with low incomes through:
Internet or phone service discount: Households can receive a discount of up to $9.25 monthly on internet, phone, or bundled services. This may be enough to cover your bill. Your internet service may be a home connection or through a cell phone or other device plan.
Consumers living on tribal lands: Households on tribal lands qualify for an additional $25 discount. This would take $34.25 off your monthly bill. These consumers are also eligible for a $100 discount on first-time connection fees at a new primary address.
Note that you will be required to recertify your Lifeline eligibility every year.
How can SNAP or Medicaid benefits help you get low-cost or discounted internet service?
Your household can qualify for Lifeline one of four ways:
By income
If you are a survivor of domestic violence, human trafficking, or a related offense
By participation in SNAP, Medicaid, or another federal or tribal assistance program
If your child is eligible for a qualifying program
Do you qualify for Medicaid? Adults and children with low incomes qualify for Medicaid coverage, as do others in states that have expanded eligibility to include uninsured people with slightly higher incomes.
Surprising items you can buy with SNAP benefits: Formerly known as food stamps, you can use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy plants and seedlings, meal replacement shakes with nutrition labels, and food online.
You may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI): People with limited income and assets who are age 65 and older, are blind, or have a qualifying disability may be eligible for SSI, which is monthly financial assistance.
Automatic eligibility
You are eligible if someone in your household receives assistance from one of these federal programs:
Medicaid
Federal housing assistance through the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, project-based rental assistance, public housing, or affordable housing for Native Americans, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians
SNAP, formerly known as food stamps
Tribal assistance programs, including Bureau of Indian Affairs general assistance, Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (Tribal TANF), food distribution programs on Indian reservations, and Tribal Head Start (if you meet certain income requirements)
Veterans pension or survivor benefits
Household defined
In this program, a household is defined as people who live together and share money. This would include a married couple living in the same home, for instance. But four roommates who don’t share money or expenses are considered four households.
How do you apply for free and discounted internet service?
There are four ways to access the Lifeline application:
By contacting your phone or internet service provider, which may be able to apply the Lifeline discount to your current service
By mail when you complete an application in English or Spanish and return the form with your documentation
By calling the Lifeline Support Center at 800-234-9473 if you have a disability or need help with your application.
How can I access free internet service?
Internet service provider programs: Some broadband providers offer deeper discounts for people with low incomes. These may cover the full cost of your monthly internet bill. California, Oregon, and Texas offer savings in addition to the federal Lifeline discount. These states also provide automatic eligibility to people who qualify for additional programs such as the National School Lunch Program (free and reduced meals).
Public WiFi: Public libraries, government buildings, and local businesses may offer free internet access.
Free hotspots: Some service providers offer free personal hot spots for individuals who qualify. But these may not have a high-speed connection.
The bottom line
Internet service is increasingly important for accessing healthcare. The Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program offers discounted internet or phone service for households with low incomes. The Affordable Connectivity Program offered a more generous monthly discount. But it ended in 2024.
You can qualify for Lifeline by meeting one of the following criteria: Your household falls within the income requirement; your household or your child qualifies for a certain federal assistance program; you live on tribal lands; or you are a survivor of domestic violence or human trafficking. The program is available through participating service providers. You can apply online, by mail, with participating phone or internet service providers, or by phone.
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References
California LifeLine Program. (n.d.). Program guidelines: Is California LifeLine right for you?
Christiansen, P. (2025). How to get free and low-cost internet. HighSpeedInternet.com.
Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). Affordable connectivity program & Lifeline FAQs.
Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). FCC form 5629: Lifeline program application form.
Federal Communications Commission. (n.d.). FCC form 5629: Programa de Lifeline: Formulario de aplicación.
Federal Communications Commission. (2024). Affordable connectivity program.
Federal Communications Commission. (2025). Lifeline support for affordable communications.
Food and Nutrition Service. (2025). National School Lunch Program. U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Office of Family Assistance. (2022). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Office of Family Assistance. (2023). Tribal Programs. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
Oregon Public Utility Commission. (n.d.). Oregon Lifeline.
Public Utility Commission of Texas. (n.d.). Low-income telephone/broadband discount program (Texas Lifeline) enrollment form.
T-Mobile. (n.d.). Project 10 million: Working to connect every student.
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). Documents needed. Universal Service Administrative Company.
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). Do I qualify? Universal Service Administrative Company.
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). Program rules. Universal Service Administrative Company.
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). Survivor benefit: About the safe connections act. Universal Service Administrative Company.
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). Tribal benefit. Universal Service Administrative Company.
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). What is a household? Universal Service Administrative Company.
USAC Lifeline Support. (n.d.). What is Lifeline? Universal Service Administrative Company.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (n.d.). HCV applicant and tenant resources.
