Most Generous Hospital Charity Care in the Inland Empire (2026)

Riverside and San Bernardino county hospitals ranked by how generous their financial assistance programs are. California has some of the strongest charity care laws in the nation. Enter your income and household size below to see which hospitals would cover your bills for free or at a discount.

Major hospitals covered

400%+

FPL discount ceiling

240

Days to apply (CA law)

SB 1276

State protection law

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 Inland Empire hospitals would give you free or discounted care.

Inland Empire Hospitals Ranked by Charity Care Generosity

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
San Antonio Regional Hospital Independent nonprofit Independent community hospital in Upland. Generous free care threshold.	≤ 300% FPL $99,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Medicare rate	No	Coming soon
St. Bernardine Medical Center Dignity Health / CommonSpirit CommonSpirit charity care at 250% FPL. Discount tiers up to 500% FPL.	≤ 250% FPL $82,500/yr (family of 4)	≤ 500% FPL Sliding scale	No	Coming soon
Loma Linda University Medical Center Adventist Health / LLUH Seventh-day Adventist mission hospital, Level I trauma center	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Coming soon
Riverside University Health System Medical Center Riverside County County safety-net hospital. Requires Riverside County residency.	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Coming soon
Riverside Community Hospital HCA Healthcare HCA expanded charity care caps out-of-pocket at 4% of income for 201-400% FPL	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	No	Coming soon
Kaiser Permanente Riverside Kaiser Permanente Members and non-members eligible. Average free care threshold ~204% FPL.	≤ 200% FPL $66,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 400% FPL Sliding scale	Yes	Full guide
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center San Bernardino County County safety-net hospital. Discount tiers extend to 500% FPL.	≤ 100% FPL $33,000/yr (family of 4)	≤ 500% FPL Medicare rate	Yes	Coming soon

California SB 1276: Your Legal Right to Charity Care

California has some of the strongest hospital billing protections in the country. SB 1276 and related laws give Inland Empire patients enforceable rights that go far beyond federal requirements.

What California law requires every hospital to do:

Offer financial assistance up to 400% FPL. All California hospitals must provide charity care or discounted payment to uninsured and underinsured patients earning up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Cap charges at Medicare/Medi-Cal rates. Eligible patients cannot be billed more than the Medicare or Medi-Cal reimbursement rate, whichever is higher. This alone can cut a bill by 60% to 80%.
Ban aggressive collections against eligible patients. Hospitals cannot sue, garnish wages, place liens, or report to credit bureaus any patient who qualifies for financial assistance.
Accept applications for 240 days. Hospitals must consider your financial assistance application for at least 240 days after the first bill, even if the account is already in collections.
Screen for Medi-Cal first. Before processing your charity care application, the hospital must check whether you qualify for Medi-Cal or other government coverage.
Exclude assets for patients between 201% and 350% FPL. California law prohibits hospitals from counting your monetary assets when determining eligibility for patients in this income range.

How to use this law if a hospital bills you:

Request a financial assistance application from the hospital. They must provide one in your preferred language.
Submit the application with proof of income. The hospital has 30 days to respond.
If denied, ask for the denial in writing with the specific reason. You can appeal.
If the hospital uses aggressive collection tactics against you while eligible, file a complaint with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) or contact your local legal aid office.

Monthly payment cap: California law limits monthly payments to no more than 10% of your family income (after essential living expenses). Hospitals must negotiate payment plans on these terms.

See all California medical bill rights

What You Need to Apply

Most Inland Empire 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, passport, or consular ID). Citizenship is not required.
Bank statements (last 3 months). Required by Arrowhead Regional and Loma Linda. California law exempts assets for patients between 201% and 350% FPL.

Tip: RUHS Medical Center requires Riverside County residency (utility bill, lease, or CA ID with Riverside County address). Arrowhead Regional similarly requires San Bernardino County residency for its MISP program. Private hospitals do not have residency requirements.

Insider Tips for Inland Empire Patients

Arrowhead Regional extends discounts to 500% FPL

Most hospitals cap discounts at 400% FPL. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center offers tiered discounts all the way up to 500% FPL. For a family of four, that is about $165,000 per year. If you earn too much for other hospitals, Arrowhead may still help.

HCA hospitals cap your total bill at 4% of annual income

Riverside Community Hospital (HCA Healthcare) has an expanded policy for patients between 201% and 400% FPL with balances over $1,500. Your total out-of-pocket is capped at 4% of your annual income. On a $20,000 bill, a family earning $50,000 would owe no more than $2,000.

Loma Linda has a separate children's hospital with the same policy

Loma Linda University Children's Hospital follows the same financial assistance policy as the main medical center. If your child was treated there, apply using the same application. The hospital also has financial counselors who specialize in pediatric cases.

County hospitals will screen you for MISP before billing

Both RUHS and Arrowhead Regional run Medically Indigent Services Programs (MISP) for uninsured county residents. If you show up to the ER without insurance, their eligibility staff will try to enroll you in MISP or Medi-Cal before sending a bill. Ask to speak with an eligibility worker during your visit.

CommonSpirit (Dignity Health) hospitals share one application

St. Bernardine Medical Center and Community Hospital of San Bernardino are both part of CommonSpirit Health. One financial assistance application covers bills from either facility. CommonSpirit offers free care up to 250% FPL and discounts through 500% FPL.

File complaints with HCAI if a hospital does not comply

The California Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) department publishes every hospital's charity care policy online and handles complaints. If a hospital refuses to provide an application, denies you without explanation, or uses aggressive collection tactics, file a complaint at hcai.ca.gov. Hospitals take these complaints seriously because HCAI conducts audits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is charity care and who qualifies at Inland Empire hospitals?

Charity care is free or discounted medical treatment that hospitals provide to patients who cannot afford to pay. Under California law, all hospitals must offer financial assistance to uninsured or underinsured patients earning up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a family of four in 2026, that is about $132,000 per year. Each hospital sets its own free care threshold within these state requirements.

Can I apply for charity care after I already received a bill?

Yes. California law requires hospitals to accept financial assistance applications for at least 240 days after they send the first bill. You can apply even if the bill is already in collections. The hospital must pause collection activity while reviewing your application.

Does RUHS Medical Center require Riverside County residency?

Yes. Riverside University Health System Medical Center requires patients to be Riverside County residents. Arrowhead Regional Medical Center similarly requires San Bernardino County residency for its Medically Indigent Services Program. Private hospitals like Loma Linda and Kaiser do not have county residency requirements.

What happens if a hospital sends me to collections before reviewing my application?

Under California law (SB 1276), hospitals cannot use extraordinary collection actions (lawsuits, liens, wage garnishment, or credit reporting) against patients who are eligible for financial assistance. If a hospital violates this, you can file a complaint with the California Department of Public Health or contact a legal aid organization.

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for charity care in California?

No. California hospital charity care programs do not require U.S. citizenship or legal residency. Hospitals are prohibited from denying financial assistance based on immigration status. You will need a government-issued ID, but a foreign passport or consular ID card is accepted at most hospitals.

What is the difference between Medi-Cal and hospital charity care?

Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program, which provides ongoing health insurance coverage. Hospital charity care is a one-time reduction or elimination of a specific hospital bill. Hospitals are required to screen you for Medi-Cal eligibility before processing a charity care application. If you qualify for Medi-Cal, it may cover future care as well.

Not sure where to start? Let us handle it.

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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 California HCAI filings. Last updated May 2026. For the most current information, see each hospital's full guide or contact their financial assistance office directly.