Which Austin hospital has the most generous charity care?

Ascension Seton (including Dell Seton and Dell Children's) offers free care up to 250% FPL with discounts extending to 400% FPL. However, you must live in one of 12 Central Texas counties to qualify. HCA St. David's offers free care at 200% FPL and gives all uninsured patients an automatic 92% discount regardless of income.

Can my wages be garnished for medical debt in Texas?

No. Texas does not allow wage garnishment for medical debt. Only federal debts, taxes, and child support can trigger wage garnishment in Texas. Additionally, Texas has an unlimited homestead exemption, meaning your primary residence cannot be seized to pay medical debt.

What is the statute of limitations on medical debt in Texas?

Texas has a 4-year statute of limitations on medical debt, which is relatively short compared to other states. After 4 years, creditors can no longer sue you to collect the debt.

What discount do uninsured patients get at St. David's hospitals in Austin?

All uninsured patients at HCA St. David's (6 hospitals in Austin) receive an automatic 92% discount on charges regardless of income, with no application needed for the discount. Patients below 200% FPL qualify for completely free care, and those above 200% FPL can receive 40-90% discounts.

Most Generous Hospital Charity Care in Austin (2026)

Austin hospitals ranked by how generous their financial assistance programs are. Enter your income and household size below to see which hospitals would cover your bills for free or at a discount.

What is FPL? The Federal Poverty Level is a government-set income threshold used by hospitals to determine who qualifies for free or discounted care. For example, 400% FPL for a family of four is about $132,000 per year. The higher a hospital's FPL threshold, the more people qualify.

Do You Qualify? Check Now

Enter your annual household income and household size. We will show you which Austin hospitals would give you free or discounted care.

Austin Hospitals with Most Generous Charity Care

Sorted by the income level at which you qualify for completely free care. Higher FPL thresholds mean more people qualify.

Hospital	Free Care	Discounted Care	Hardship	Details
Ascension	≤ 250% FPL $82,500/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Full guide
Ascension Seton (Central Texas) Geographic service area: Central Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, Blanco, Llano, Fayette, Gonzales, Lee, San Saba counties	≤ 250% FPL $82,500/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Full guide
HCA Healthcare	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	No	Full guide

What You Need to Apply

Most Austin hospitals require similar documentation. Gather these before you apply:

Proof of income for all household members (recent pay stubs, tax returns, Social Security or disability award letters, or a signed statement of no income)
Proof of household size (tax return showing dependents, birth certificates, or lease agreement)
Government-issued ID (driver's license, state ID, or passport). Citizenship is not required.
Proof of residency (utility bill, lease, or mortgage statement). Especially important for Ascension Seton, which requires residence in one of 12 Central Texas counties.

Tip: Ascension Seton (Dell Seton, Dell Children's) requires you to live in one of 12 Central Texas counties: Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, Caldwell, Burnet, Blanco, Llano, Fayette, Gonzales, Lee, or San Saba. Their online application lets you apply from your phone by scanning a QR code at the hospital.

Good news: At HCA St. David's (6 Austin hospitals), all uninsured patients automatically receive a 92% discount on charges with no application needed. You only need to apply if you want 100% free care (under 200% FPL) or additional discounts beyond the automatic reduction.

Texas Law Protections

Texas has no state charity care mandate, but nonprofit hospitals must provide financial assistance to maintain 501(c)(3) status. Key laws that protect Austin patients:

No wage garnishment for medical debt: Texas does not allow wage garnishment for medical debt. Only federal debts, taxes, and child support can trigger garnishment, making it one of the most protective states for medical debtors.
Unlimited homestead exemption: Texas is one of only 5 states with an unlimited homestead exemption on your primary residence. Your home cannot be seized to satisfy medical debt.
4-year statute of limitations: Medical debt in Texas has a relatively short 4-year statute of limitations. After that, creditors cannot sue you to collect.
Itemized bill requirement: Hospitals must provide itemized bills within 10 business days of your request, helping you verify charges and identify errors.
Community property state: Texas is a community property state, so a spouse's income may be considered in financial assistance applications. Plan accordingly when applying.

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How we rank: Hospitals are sorted by the income threshold at which they offer 100% free care (higher = more generous). FPL figures are based on 2026 Federal Poverty Level guidelines.

Data is sourced from each hospital's published financial assistance policy. Last updated May 2026. For the most current information, see each hospital's full guide or contact their financial assistance office directly.