Who qualifies for free hospital care in Buffalo, New York?

Under New York's Hospital Financial Assistance Law (effective October 2024), ALL hospitals must waive charges for patients at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (about $59,880/year for a family of four in 2026). Catholic Health Buffalo goes further, offering free care up to 300% FPL (about $89,820 for a family of four). You qualify regardless of immigration status.

What documents do I need to apply for charity care in Buffalo?

New York uses a Uniform Hospital Financial Assistance Application that works at all hospitals. You typically need proof of income (pay stubs, tax returns, or a signed statement of no income), proof of household size, and a government-issued ID. Citizenship and immigration documentation are NOT required. You can apply at any time, even after a bill goes to collections.

Is there a deadline to apply for financial assistance at Buffalo hospitals?

Under New York law, patients can apply for financial assistance at any time. There is no deadline. Even if your bill has already been sent to collections, you can still apply and the hospital must process your application. Hospitals must also screen patients for eligibility before referring accounts to collections.

What is the difference between Kaleida Health and Catholic Health in Buffalo?

Kaleida Health (part of Great Lakes Health with UB and ECMC) operates Buffalo General, Millard Fillmore Suburban, and Oishei Children's Hospital. It offers free care at the state minimum of 200% FPL. Catholic Health operates Mercy Hospital, Kenmore Mercy, and Sisters of Charity, and exceeds the state minimum with free care up to 300% FPL, making it the most generous system in the Buffalo metro for charity care.

Most Generous Hospital Charity Care in Buffalo, NY (2026)

Buffalo hospitals ranked by financial assistance generosity. Catholic Health Buffalo leads with free care up to 300% FPL, well above the state minimum. New York's 2024 Hospital Financial Assistance Law gives Buffalo patients some of the strongest protections in the country.

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 Buffalo hospitals would give you free or discounted care.

Buffalo 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. All Buffalo hospitals must comply with NY's Hospital Financial Assistance Law.

Hospital	Free Care	Discounted Care	Hardship	Details
Catholic Health Buffalo Exceeds NY state minimum by 100 percentage points Mercy Hospital, Kenmore Mercy, Sisters of Charity, Mount St. Mary's	≤ 300% FPL $99,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Coming soon
Kaleida Health NY state minimum; largest Buffalo system Buffalo General, Millard Fillmore Suburban, Oishei Children's, DeGraff Memorial	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Coming soon
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) County-owned safety net hospital; no immigration status requirement ECMC main campus, Grider Street	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Coming soon
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer patients only; Angel Fund for extraordinary expenses Roswell Park main campus, Elm & Carlton	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Coming soon
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center Serves Niagara Falls and northern Erie County Main campus, 621 Tenth Street, Niagara Falls	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	No	Coming soon

Insider Tips for Buffalo Patients

Catholic Health is the best option for middle-income patients. With free care up to 300% FPL (about $89,820/year for a family of four), Catholic Health covers patients who would only get discounted care at Kaleida or ECMC. If you have a choice of where to receive non-emergency care, Catholic Health facilities offer the most generous charity care in the region.

ECMC is the safety net hospital for undocumented patients. As a county-owned facility, ECMC explicitly states that immigration status is not an eligibility criterion. They also offer a non-interest loan program for patients who do not qualify for charity care but still struggle to pay.

You can apply retroactively, even after collections. Under NY law, there is no deadline to apply for financial assistance. If you have an old bill from a Buffalo hospital (even one already in collections), submit an application. The hospital must process it and, if approved, recall the debt from the collector.

Underinsured patients qualify too. If your out-of-pocket medical costs from the past 12 months exceed 10% of your gross household income, you are considered "underinsured" under NY law and eligible for financial assistance, even if you have insurance. This catches many patients with high-deductible plans.

Roswell Park has an Angel Fund for cancer patients. Beyond standard charity care discounts, Roswell Park offers grants through its Angel Fund for medication costs, childcare, transportation, and other expenses that arise during treatment. Ask your social worker (716-845-8022) about eligibility.

What You Need to Apply

New York uses a standardized Uniform Hospital Financial Assistance Application. All Buffalo hospitals accept this form. Gather these documents:

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.
Medical bills from the past 12 months (if applying as underinsured with bills exceeding 10% of income)

Tip: New York's Uniform Application works at every hospital in the state. If you need care at multiple Buffalo hospitals, you can use the same form and supporting documents. Kaleida Health also has a dedicated Charity Care Hotline at (716) 859-8979 for free, confidential help with applications.

New York Hospital Financial Assistance Law

New York's Hospital Financial Assistance Law (expanded October 2024) gives Buffalo patients some of the strongest protections in the nation. Key provisions:

Free care mandate: ALL hospitals must waive charges entirely for patients at or below 200% FPL. No exceptions, no nominal payments.
Discount caps (200% to 300% FPL): Charges cannot exceed 10% of the Medicaid rate for services received. For most procedures, this means a 90%+ discount off list price.
Discount caps (300% to 400% FPL): Charges cannot exceed 20% of the Medicaid rate. Still a substantial discount for most services.
No lawsuits below 400% FPL: Hospitals cannot sue patients with incomes below 400% FPL. Any collection lawsuit must include a CFO affidavit confirming the patient earns above this threshold.
Universal coverage: As of October 2024, ALL New York hospitals must comply, not just those in the State Indigent Care Pool. This closed a major loophole.
No deadline to apply: Patients can apply at any time, including after a bill has been sent to collections.
Underinsured protection: Insured patients with out-of-pocket medical costs exceeding 10% of gross income in the past 12 months qualify for assistance.
Wage garnishment limit: Limited to 10% of gross income (much lower than the federal 25% standard).

See all New York medical bill rights

Frequently Asked Questions

Who qualifies for free hospital care in Buffalo?

Under NY law, all hospitals must provide free care to patients at or below 200% FPL (about $59,880/year for a family of four). Catholic Health Buffalo exceeds this, offering free care up to 300% FPL (about $89,820 for a family of four). You qualify regardless of citizenship or immigration status.

Can Buffalo hospitals sue me for unpaid medical bills?

Not if you earn below 400% FPL. Under NY law effective October 2024, hospitals cannot initiate lawsuits against patients with household incomes below 400% FPL (about $119,760/year for a family of four). Any lawsuit must include a sworn CFO affidavit confirming your income exceeds this threshold.

I have insurance but my bills are still too high. Can I still get help?

Yes. New York law considers you "underinsured" if your out-of-pocket medical costs from the past 12 months exceed 10% of your gross household income. This makes you eligible for the same sliding-scale discounts as uninsured patients. Many patients with high-deductible plans qualify under this provision.

Is there a deadline to apply for charity care?

No. Under NY law, you can apply at any time. Even if your bill has already been sent to a collection agency, submit an application. The hospital must process it, and if you qualify, they must recall the debt from collections and adjust your balance accordingly.

Which Buffalo hospital should I go to for the best financial assistance?

For non-emergency care, Catholic Health facilities (Mercy Hospital, Kenmore Mercy, Sisters of Charity) offer the most generous charity care with free care up to 300% FPL. For cancer care, Roswell Park provides standard charity care plus an Angel Fund for extra expenses. ECMC is the best option for patients concerned about immigration status documentation.

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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 and the NYS Hospital Financial Assistance Law (Public Health Law 2807-k). Last updated May 2026. For the most current information, see each hospital's full guide or contact their financial assistance office directly.