Hospital Financial Assistance Programs
Find specific charity care programs, eligibility requirements, and step-by-step application guides for major hospital systems. Most nonprofit hospitals are required to offer financial assistance and cannot charge eligible patients more than typical insurance rates.
Need help with the application? Our Bill Defense team identifies programs you qualify for, handles paperwork, and negotiates your bill - $0 unless we save you money.
What You Should Know
✓ Nonprofit Hospitals Must Help
Required to offer financial assistance and screen patients for eligibility
✓ Rate Protection
Eligible patients cannot be charged more than typical insurance rates (AGB)
✓ Common Thresholds
100% free care often available up to 200% Federal Poverty Level
✓ Apply Anytime
Most hospitals accept applications before, during, or after treatment
Hospital-Specific Programs
Baylor Scott & White Health
Texas
100% free care up to 200% Federal Poverty Level
Discounted care 201-500% FPL with medical indigence
Texas service area requirement for non-emergency
Medical City Hospitals (All Texas Locations)
Texas
100% free care up to 200% Federal Poverty Level
Partial assistance available up to 400% FPL for bills over $1,500
240 day application window from first bill
Texas Health Resources (29+ Hospitals)
Texas
Financial assistance generally available up to 250% Federal Poverty Level
Sliding scale assistance available above 250% FPL
Serves 7+ million residents across 18 North Texas counties
Cleveland Clinic
Ohio, Florida, Nevada
100% free care up to 250% Federal Poverty Level
Discounted care up to 400% FPL (40-55% discount)
HCAP program: 100% free at ≤100% FPL with automatic enrollment
Mayo Clinic
Arizona, Florida, Minnesota
Income-based tiers for free and discounted care (varies by campus)
Eligibility considers income, assets, household size, and insurance status
Apply by campus deadline listed on the application
Houston Methodist
Texas
100% free care at or below 200% Federal Poverty Level
Discounted care up to 500% FPL (charges capped at insured rates)
8 hospitals across Greater Houston, interest-free 18-month payment plans
Memorial Hermann
Texas
Financial assistance for qualified patients
Sliding scale based on income
Houston and surrounding areas
Texas Children's Hospital
Texas
Sliding scale discounts from 56.5% to 100% based on income
Covers medically necessary care per Medicare/Medicaid standards
5 campuses with financial counselors, bilingual applications
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Maryland, D.C., Florida
100% free care at or below 200% FPL (Maryland law mandate)
35-75% sliding scale discounts for 201-300% FPL, hardship relief to 500% FPL
180-day collections moratorium, interest-free payment plans capped at 5% of monthly income
Baptist Health South Florida
Florida
100% free care for uninsured patients at or below 300% FPL
Partial discounts for 301-400% FPL, presumptive eligibility via credit scoring
9 hospitals across Miami-Dade and the Florida Keys, 240-day application window
Ballad Health (21 Hospitals)
Tennessee, Virginia
100% free care at or below 225% FPL, sliding scale discounts to 450% FPL
Automatic 85% self-pay discount for all uninsured patients (no application needed)
Covers both insured and uninsured patients, 240-day application window
Bon Secours Mercy Health (49 Hospitals)
Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina
100% free care at or below 200% FPL, sliding scale discounts to 400% FPL
No wage garnishment, bank garnishment, asset repossession, or foreclosures
Covers insured and uninsured patients, 240-day application window, presumptive screening
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware
100% free care at or below 400% FPL (~$132,000/yr for family of 4), no partial tiers
Covers both insured and uninsured patients, 1-year approval period
50+ locations across PA, NJ, and DE with dedicated Family Health Coverage Program coordinators
University Hospitals Cleveland (21 Hospitals)
Ohio
100% free care at 0-100% FPL via Ohio HCAP, sliding scale discounts to 400% FPL
Covers insured and uninsured patients, 240-day application window
21 hospitals across 16 northern Ohio counties including Rainbow Babies & Children's
HCA Healthcare (190 Hospitals)
Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Colorado + 15 more states
100% free care at 0-200% FPL for emergency and non-elective services
Automatic ~92% uninsured discount on hospital charges, no application needed
No credit reporting, no lawsuits, no wage garnishments, no home liens
CommonSpirit Health (142+ Hospitals)
California, Arizona, Colorado, Washington + 20 more states
100% free care at 0-200% FPL (250% in California), discounted care to 400% FPL
Automatic 60% uninsured discount on hospital charges, no application needed
Presumptive eligibility for SNAP, WIC, and subsidized housing recipients
Providence (51 Hospitals)
Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Montana, Texas, New Mexico
100% free care at 0-300% FPL in CA/OR (250% in WA), discounted care to 400% FPL
Post-$157.8M settlement reforms: every patient now screened for eligibility
Interest-free payment plans, no liens on primary residences
Ascension Health (139 Hospitals)
Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas + 14 more states
100% free care at 0-250% FPL, sliding-scale discounts to 400% FPL
Covers insured and uninsured patients, 240-day application window
Review bills from mid-2024 carefully (ransomware attack caused billing disruptions)
Trinity Health (92 Hospitals)
Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Idaho + 17 more states
100% free care at 0-200% FPL, sliding-scale discounts to 400% FPL
Catastrophic expense protection when bills exceed 20% of household income
Catholic mission system with MercyOne, Loyola Medicine, Mount Carmel, and Saint Joseph Mercy brands
Advocate Health (67+ Hospitals)
Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama
100% free care at 0-300% FPL, partial discounts to 600% FPL
Merged system: Advocate Aurora (IL/WI) + Atrium Health (NC/SC/GA/AL)
Automatic 50% uninsured discount in IL/WI, covers insured and uninsured patients
Tenet Healthcare (49 Hospitals)
California, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, Alabama
For-profit system: free care at 0-200% FPL, discounted care to 400% FPL
Also operates 480+ ambulatory surgery centers through USPI
Automatic uninsured discount applied before financial assistance evaluation
UPMC (40+ Hospitals)
Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York
100% free care at 0-300% FPL, discounted care to 400% FPL
Pennsylvania near-total wage garnishment ban protects patients
Also operates UPMC Health Plan insurance, $26B+ system
Northwell Health (21 Hospitals)
New York
100% free care at 0-200% FPL, discounted care to 500% FPL
NY credit reporting ban on medical debt, strong surprise billing protections
Largest NY system: Lenox Hill, Long Island Jewish, North Shore University Hospital
NYU Langone Health
New York
Academic medical center with financial assistance for qualifying patients
NY credit reporting ban on medical debt, strong patient protections
Includes Tisch Hospital, NYU Langone Brooklyn, Hassenfeld Children's Hospital
NewYork-Presbyterian
New York
Free care at 300% FPL, sliding scale discounts to 400% FPL
Includes Columbia, Weill Cornell, and community hospitals
NY Uniform Financial Assistance Application accepted
NYC Health + Hospitals
New York
Largest public hospital system in the US (11 acute care hospitals)
NYC Care program for all uninsured NYC residents regardless of income
Serves patients regardless of immigration status or ability to pay
Valleywise Health
Arizona (Maricopa County)
100% free care at 0-200% FPL, sliding scale discounts to 300% FPL
Public safety-net hospital for Maricopa County with Level 1 Trauma Center
Serves all residents regardless of immigration status, 12 community health centers
Banner Health (30 Hospitals)
Arizona, Colorado
100% free care at 0-200% FPL, discounted care to 400% FPL
Medically indigent program when bills exceed 50% of household income
Major Phoenix metro and Colorado presence including Banner University Medical Centers
Intermountain Health (33 Hospitals)
Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho
100% free care at 0-250% FPL, sliding-scale discounts to 500% FPL
Catastrophic bill protection when expenses exceed 25% of family income
Includes Primary Children's Hospital, also operates SelectHealth insurance
AdventHealth (50+ Hospitals)
Florida, Colorado, Texas, North Carolina + 5 more states
100% free care at 0-250% FPL, partial discounts to 400% FPL
Largest hospital system in central Florida, Seventh-day Adventist nonprofit
Alternative qualification when living expenses exceed 50% of income
Ochsner Health (46 Hospitals)
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Texas
100% free care at 0-200% FPL (250% at OLHS facilities), discounts to 400% FPL
Largest health system in Louisiana, Ochsner-LSU partnership facilities
Covers insured and uninsured patients, 240-day application window
Piedmont Healthcare (25+ Hospitals)
Georgia
100% free care at 0-300% FPL for uninsured Georgia residents
Largest hospital system in Georgia, presumptive eligibility screening
Covers 26+ hospitals across metro Atlanta, north, central, and south Georgia
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
California
100% free charity care at 0-400% FPL, discounts to 600% FPL
California AB 1020 protections: assets not considered, billing caps for uninsured
Premier Los Angeles academic medical center, includes Marina del Rey Hospital
Mass General Brigham (12 Hospitals)
Massachusetts
100% free care at 0-300% FPL, discounted care to 400% FPL
MA Health Safety Net program provides additional coverage layer
Includes Mass General, Brigham and Women's, Newton-Wellesley, Salem Hospital
Mount Sinai Health System (7 Hospitals)
New York
100% free care at 0-200% FPL, sliding-scale discounts to 400% FPL
NY credit reporting ban on medical debt, no lawsuits under 400% FPL
Includes Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai West, Morningside, Beth Israel, Brooklyn
Emory Healthcare (11 Hospitals)
Georgia
100% free care at 0-225% FPL (uninsured), automatic 35% uninsured discount
Separate from Grady Memorial (Atlanta safety-net hospital) despite physician overlap
Atlanta academic medical center, CarePayment 0% APR plans available
Duke Health (3 Hospitals)
North Carolina
100% free care at 0-200% FPL, discounts to 300% FPL, medical indigence at 15% of income
NC $6.5B medical debt relief program may cover existing Duke bills
Stopped suing patients in 2017, stopped credit reporting in 2020
Stanford Health Care
California
100% free care at 0-400% FPL, CA law prohibits asset tests
Very high chargemaster rates (4x+ markup), always request itemized bill
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital has separate FA policy with different thresholds
Northwestern Medicine (11 Hospitals)
Illinois
100% free care at 0-250% FPL (exceeds IL state law), discounts to 600% FPL
IL credit report ban on medical debt (Jan 2025), presumptive eligibility for SNAP/WIC
Northwestern Memorial is among Chicago's most expensive hospitals
Rush University Medical Center (3 Hospitals)
Illinois
100% free care at 0-300% FPL, 80% uninsured discount to 600% FPL
IL credit report ban (Jan 2025), presumptive eligibility for SNAP/WIC/TANF
Chicago West Side safety-net hospital, catastrophic bill cap at 20% of income
Corewell Health (22 Hospitals)
Michigan
100% free care at 0-250% FPL, sliding-scale discounts to 400% FPL
Formed from Spectrum Health + Beaumont Health merger (2022), largest MI system
Covers insured and uninsured patients, Priority Health insurance arm
Geisinger (10 Hospitals)
Pennsylvania
100% free care at 0-300% FPL, automatic 30% self-pay discount above 300%
PA near-total wage garnishment ban protects patients (but no homestead exemption)
Now part of Risant Health (Kaiser Permanente affiliate), ProvenCare model
Inova Health System (5 Hospitals)
Virginia
100% free care for uninsured at 0-400% FPL, covers underinsured patients too
VA Medical Debt Protection Act (July 2026): 3% interest cap, no home foreclosures
Dominant Northern Virginia system serving Fairfax, Loudoun, and Alexandria
Sentara Healthcare (12 Hospitals)
Virginia, North Carolina
100% free care at 0-300% FPL, 80% discount at 300-400% FPL
VA Medical Debt Protection Act (July 2026), Hampton Roads military community
Covers Hampton Roads, Blue Ridge, and Northern Virginia regions
WellStar Health System (11 Hospitals)
Georgia
100% free care at 0-125% FPL, up to 97% discount at 126-200% FPL
Controversially closed Atlanta Medical Center (2022), largest GA hospital closure
Covers metro Atlanta, west Georgia, and Augusta (MCG Health)
Kaiser Permanente (All Regions)
CA, CO, GA, HI, MD, VA, DC, OR, WA
Free care up to 300% FPL (350% in some regions), discounts to 400% FPL
Members can get FA for copays, deductibles, and coinsurance (not just uninsured)
Pharmacy costs covered too (unique integrated model), 12M+ members
Sutter Health (24 Hospitals)
California
100% free care up to 400% FPL (one of highest thresholds in the country)
Automatic uninsured discount before FA applies, presumptive eligibility screening
CA AB 1020 limits charges to uninsured patients at Medicare benchmark rates
BJC HealthCare / Barnes-Jewish (15 Hospitals)
Missouri, Illinois
Free care up to 200% FPL, discounts to 300% FPL, catastrophic provision at any income
Out-of-state patients eligible (major Midwest referral center)
Separate Wash U physician billing requires FA application with BOTH entities
Mercy Health System (50+ Hospitals)
Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas
Free care up to 200% FPL, discounts to 300% FPL, 25% income rule for high earners
Automatic screening may approve FA without an application
Multi-state system with different medical debt laws per state (MO 10yr vs AR 2yr SOL)
IU Health / Indiana University Health (16 Hospitals)
Indiana
60% automatic uninsured discount before FA even applies (one of most generous)
Free care up to 200% FPL, discounts to 400% FPL, 240-day application window
Riley Children's Hospital has additional programs beyond standard IU Health FA
Sanford Health (47 Hospitals)
South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska
Largest rural health system in the US, often the only hospital in the community
Free care up to 200% FPL, discounts to 300% FPL, travel/lodging assistance available
IHS referral patients may have care covered before Sanford FA applies
Prisma Health (18 Hospitals)
South Carolina
Largest SC system, free care up to 200% FPL, discounts to 300% FPL
Critical for SC coverage gap patients (no Medicaid expansion, ~130K uninsured adults)
Proactive FA screening with data analytics, merger may cause dual-entity billing
ChristianaCare (Delaware's Largest System)
Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey
Free care up to 200% FPL, discounts to 300% FPL, hardship consideration above
Delaware MDPA bans garnishment, bank attachment, interest, and credit reporting for medical debt
Busiest ER on East Coast (120K+ visits/year), retroactive FA available
Parkland Health (Dallas County)
Texas
Public safety-net hospital, free care up to 200% FPL, discounted to 250% FPL
HEALTHplus county health plan for uninsured Dallas County residents (not insurance)
Serves all patients regardless of immigration status, $800M+/year in charity care
Grady Health System (Atlanta)
Georgia
Atlanta's public safety-net hospital, free care up to 200% FPL, Grady Card program
Grady Card provides ongoing primary, specialty, and pharmacy access for the uninsured
Dual billing warning: Emory and Morehouse physicians bill separately from Grady
Jackson Health System (Miami)
Florida
Miami-Dade's public hospital, free care up to 200% FPL, ~$1B/year in charity care
Jackson Plus managed care plan for uninsured county residents (comprehensive coverage)
Serves all patients regardless of immigration status, UM physicians bill separately
Hartford HealthCare (7 Hospitals)
Connecticut
Connecticut's largest system, free care up to 250% FPL, discounts to 400% FPL
CT PA 24-6 bans medical debt from credit reports (2025), first state debt relief program
HUSKY Health (Medicaid) enrollment assistance, $250K homestead protection
RWJBarnabas Health (12 Hospitals)
New Jersey
NJ's largest system, NJ charity care LAW mandates free care at 200% FPL
State law sets the floor: hospitals cannot deny eligible applicants (N.J.S.A. 26:2H-18.64)
WARNING: NJ has no homestead exemption, making FA applications critical for homeowners
Scripps Health (5 Hospitals)
California
Free care up to 350% FPL (very generous), discounts to 400% FPL
CA AB 1020 caps uninsured charges at Medicare rates, 150-day application window
Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center has additional cancer-specific assistance programs
Dartmouth Health (5 Hospitals)
New Hampshire, Vermont
Free care up to 225% FPL, but VT Act 21 guarantees free care at 250% FPL for VT residents
Two-state system: NH has unlimited catastrophic homestead, VT bans garnishment and credit reporting
Geisel School physicians may bill separately, apply for FA with both entities
Avera Health (37 Hospitals)
South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota
Free care up to 200% FPL, Catholic mission obligation to serve the poor
Five-state system with different medical debt laws per state (SD unlimited homestead, MN zero interest)
IHS referral patients may have care covered before Avera FA applies
Sharp HealthCare (San Diego)
California
Free care up to 350% FPL, discounted care at 351-400% FPL (among the most generous in CA)
Covers hospital AND Sharp Rees-Stealy physician services under one application
Sharp Mesa Vista behavioral health included, plus CA AB 1020 price cap protections
MaineHealth (12 Hospitals)
Maine, New Hampshire
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL, catastrophic hardship above 300%
Maine law bans wage garnishment, home liens, credit reporting, and interest on medical debt
Includes Maine Medical Center (largest in state) and Wentworth-Douglass in NH
UnityPoint Health (32 Hospitals)
Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL across three states
Iowa patients get unlimited homestead protection (one of only 5 states with no dollar cap)
Includes Blank Children's Hospital and both insured and uninsured patients qualify
Essentia Health (15 Hospitals)
Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Idaho
Free care up to 200% FPL, discounted care at 201-300% FPL across four states
MN patients protected by Debt Fairness Act (0% interest, no wage garnishment for low-income)
Compare with Sanford Health, which also serves the same ND/MN region with different policies
Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Free care up to 250% FPL, sliding scale at 251-400% FPL (65-90% off), 15% income cap
MCW physicians bill separately: must submit two applications for full coverage
10-day return deadline on application packet (unusually short). BadgerCare Plus may cover you first
Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)
Pennsylvania
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL across 13 hospital campuses
Now part of Jefferson Health (merger may change policies), LVPG physicians included
PA has NO homestead exemption: NJ border patients should check NJ charity care law instead
Carilion Clinic (7 Hospitals)
Virginia
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL in Western Virginia
Virginia MDPA (effective July 2026) will add credit reporting bans and billing protections
VTC physicians bill separately, rural Appalachian system with free financial counselors
Cone Health (5 Hospitals)
North Carolina
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL in the Piedmont Triad
NC eliminated $6.5B in medical debt statewide, no wage garnishment for medical debt
NC Medicaid expansion (Dec 2023) may cover you first, reducing out-of-pocket costs
Harris Health System (Houston Safety-Net)
Texas
Free/near-free care for Harris County residents at or below 150% FPL via Gold Card program
Serves patients regardless of immigration status, applications in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese
Ben Taub (Level I Trauma) and LBJ Hospital plus 30+ community clinics
Cook County Health (Chicago Safety-Net)
Illinois
Free care at 200% FPL (IL law), sliding scale discounts to 600% FPL
CareLink subsidized health plan for Cook County residents regardless of immigration status
IL bans medical debt from credit reports (Jan 2025), Stroger Hospital Level I Trauma Center
UC San Diego Health
California
Free care at 400% FPL (highest in San Diego), CA law caps charges at Medicare/Medi-Cal rates
Only academic medical center in San Diego, includes Moores Cancer Center (NCI-designated)
CA prohibits asset tests for patients at 201-350% FPL, SB 1276 bans aggressive collections
Cook Children's Health Care System (Fort Worth)
Texas
Free care at 400% FPL, 75% discount at 401-500% FPL (most generous pediatric system in DFW)
Hardship provision caps costs at 5-20% of income if out-of-pocket exceeds 5% of income
No strict residency requirement, serves children across North Texas
Orlando Health (8 Hospitals)
Florida
Free care at 200% FPL, sliding scale discounts to 400% FPL
240-day application window from date of service
Covers Orlando Regional, Arnold Palmer, Winnie Palmer, and 5 more hospitals
UMC Southern Nevada (Clark County Public Hospital)
Nevada
Free care at 200% FPL, sliding scale discounts to 400% FPL
Clark County's only public hospital and Level 1 Trauma Center
Serves all patients regardless of ability to pay
Norton Healthcare (6 Hospitals, Louisville)
Kentucky
Free care at 350% FPL ($115K for family of 4), one of highest thresholds in the South
Suspended all collection lawsuits in August 2023 after filing 8,730 suits
Covers Norton Hospital, Norton Children's, and 4 more Louisville-area hospitals
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (Memphis)
Tennessee
Free care at 250% FPL plus 70% automatic uninsured discount (no application needed)
Erased debts of 6,500+ patients after ProPublica investigation
Covers Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and 4 adult hospitals
University Health Kansas City (Public Safety-Net)
Missouri
Free care at 400% FPL ($132K for family of 4) plus free pharmaceutical assistance
Kansas City/Jackson County residents only (strict residency requirement)
Cannot turn anyone away as county-owned public hospital
University of Maryland Medical System (11 Hospitals)
Maryland
Free care at 200% FPL (Maryland state law requires this as a floor)
Maryland all-payer system means no chargemaster markup (unique nationally)
One application covers all 11 UMMS hospitals across Maryland
UAB Medicine (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
Alabama
Free care at 200% FPL, discounts to 400% FPL ($70M+/year in charity care)
Must be approved BEFORE scheduling outpatient appointments at Kirklin Clinic
Only Level 1 Trauma Center in Alabama, largest employer in the state
Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (County Public System)
California
Free care at 400% FPL, discounts to 650% FPL (likely most generous in US)
County-owned: serves all patients regardless of immigration or insurance status
43,000 patients notified of potential refund eligibility in 2024
Regional One Health
Tennessee
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL for Memphis safety-net hospital
Only Level 1 Trauma Center within 150 miles, accepts notarized letters as income proof
Filed fewer lawsuits than Memphis peers (1,900 vs 8,300+ at Methodist Le Bonheur)
Saint Luke's Health System (BJC)
Missouri / Kansas
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL across 10 KC metro hospitals
Catastrophic cap: patient responsibility never exceeds 20% of annual income
Merged with BJC HealthCare Jan 2024. Non-employed physicians (anesthesia, radiology) NOT covered
UF Health Jacksonville
Florida
Free care up to 200% FPL at Duval County safety-net hospital, 45% uninsured auto-discount
Decision in 7 days for complete applications, 120-day ECA protection period
Separate entity from UF Health Gainesville (Shands), must apply to correct system
Ascension Seton (Central Texas)
Texas
Free care up to 250% FPL, sliding scale at 251-400% FPL across 10+ Austin-area facilities
Central Health sued Ascension in 2022 for improperly billing charity care patients
Texas homestead protection is unlimited, wages cannot be garnished for medical debt
University of Utah Health
Utah
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-300% FPL including Huntsman Cancer Institute
State entity: unpaid bills go to Office of State Debt Collection (can intercept tax refunds)
Requires personal letter explaining circumstances (unique requirement), 13 language support
Brown University Health (Lifespan)
Rhode Island
Free care up to 200% FPL (RI state mandate), sliding scale at 201-300% FPL
Covers RI Hospital, The Miriam, Hasbro Children's, Newport, Bradley, Saint Anne's (Fall River)
Presumptive eligibility via public records. RI bans medical debt credit reporting starting Jan 2026
Care New England
Rhode Island
Free care up to 200% FPL (RI state mandate), sliding scale at 201-300% FPL
Covers Women & Infants Hospital, Kent Hospital, Butler Hospital (psychiatric)
Separate tracks for uninsured vs underinsured patients. Apps in 10 languages including Khmer
CharterCARE Health Partners
Rhode Island
Free care up to 200% FPL (RI state mandate), sliding scale at 201-300% FPL
Roger Williams Medical Center and Our Lady of Fatima Hospital
Emerged from Prospect Medical bankruptcy in 2026, now nonprofit with 340B drug pricing
Loma Linda University Medical Center
California
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale at 201-400% FPL (CA SB 1276 mandates)
Seventh-day Adventist academic medical center, Level I trauma, 5 hospitals in Inland Empire
High medical costs consideration for patients with outstanding bills from other providers
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
California
Free care up to 100% FPL, Medicare rate cap at 101-350% FPL, discounts to 500% FPL
San Bernardino County safety-net hospital, Level I trauma, regional burn center
Special discounts above 500% FPL on case-by-case basis. No citizenship required.
Riverside University Health System
California
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale to 400% FPL. MISP program for ongoing coverage.
Riverside County safety-net hospital, only Level 1 Trauma Center in Riverside County
MISP has strict 10-day appeal window. Requires Riverside County residency.
San Antonio Regional Hospital
California
Free care up to 300% FPL (most generous private hospital in Inland Empire)
Independent nonprofit in Upland. Medicare rate cap for uninsured above 300% FPL.
Women Caring for Women program for low-cost breast care services
OU Health
Oklahoma
Free care up to 200% FPL, 79-97% discounts at 201-300% FPL across 3 hospitals
State instrumentality (not standard 501(c)(3)), does not file Form 990
Aggressive ECAs after 120 days (credit reporting, debt sales, legal action)
INTEGRIS Health
Oklahoma
Free care up to 200% FPL, 80-97% sliding scale at 151-300% FPL
Largest Oklahoma nonprofit system (12+ hospitals). 4,275+ collection lawsuits filed.
SSM Health acquisition fell through. INTEGRIS remains independently Oklahoma-owned.
Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City
Oklahoma
Free care up to 200% FPL with presumptive eligibility (no application needed in many cases)
One policy covers all 9 Mercy Oklahoma hospitals across the state
Must call Medicaid screening line (855-420-7900) before applying for financial assistance
Oklahoma Heart Hospital
Oklahoma
Free care under 200% FPL, discounted care under 300% FPL at specialty cardiac hospital
Physician-owned (not traditional nonprofit), 501(r) rules may not apply
Free Clinic for the Uninsured in Midwest City provides ongoing cardiac care at no cost
Norman Regional Health System
Oklahoma
Free care up to 200% FPL, discounted care to 300% FPL across 3 campuses
CRITICAL: 21-day application deadline (vs 240 days at most hospitals)
Bank statements and assets reviewed (stricter than income-only hospitals)
LCMC Health (6 New Orleans Hospitals)
Louisiana
Free care up to 250% FPL, sliding scale to 400% FPL. One application covers all 6 hospitals.
UMC (successor to Charity Hospital), Touro, Children's, West Jefferson, East Jefferson, NOLA East
Louisiana has a 3-year statute of limitations on medical debt
Ochsner Medical Center
Louisiana
Free care up to 200% FPL, sliding scale to 400% FPL across 46+ hospitals
$59M debt erased in Aug 2024 via Undue Medical Debt partnership (66,000 patients)
No lawsuits, liens, wage garnishment, or debt sales. Ochsner LSU facilities have separate policy.
VCU Medical Center
Virginia
Free care up to 200% FPL (Virginia Indigent Care Program), discounts to 400% FPL
365-day application window (longest in Richmond). Only Level I trauma center in metro.
36,000 lawsuits over 6 years ($106M). Pledged to end routine lawsuits in 2019.
Catholic Health Buffalo
New York
Free care up to 300% FPL (50% more generous than NY state minimum)
6 hospitals across Western New York. NY law bans lawsuits under 400% FPL.
No application deadline under NY law. No credit reporting of medical debt.
Kaleida Health
New York
Free care up to 200% FPL (NY mandate). Buffalo General, Oishei Children's, Millard Fillmore.
No immigration status requirement. Dedicated Charity Care Hotline: (716) 859-8979.
Retirement accounts excluded from asset review. 30-day written response guarantee.
Erie County Medical Center (ECMC)
New York
Free care up to 200% FPL (NY mandate). Public county-owned safety-net hospital.
WNY only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center and only burn center.
No application deadline under NY law. No immigration status requirement.
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
New York
Free care up to 200% FPL (NY mandate). NCI-designated cancer center (only one in Upstate NY).
Angel Fund covers travel, meals, gas, lodging, and co-pays for cancer patients.
Social worker referral process. No application deadline under NY law.
Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center
New York
Free care up to 200% FPL (NY mandate). Niagara County safety-net hospital.
$6.5M+ annual charity care. Health Home services for chronic conditions.
No application deadline under NY law. Three financial counseling phone lines.
How to Use These Guides
1
Find Your Hospital
Select your hospital system from the list above to see specific eligibility requirements and application processes.
2
Check Eligibility
Review income thresholds, required documents, and any special requirements like geographic restrictions.
3
Apply With Confidence
Follow step-by-step instructions, use our document checklists, and contact information for help.
General Application Tips
Before You Apply:
- • Gather all required documents before starting your application
- • Calculate your household income including all sources
- • Check if your hospital has geographic requirements
- • Ask about billing holds while your application is reviewed
During Application:
- • Complete all sections - incomplete applications delay processing
- • Include all household members and income sources
- • Keep copies of everything you submit
- • Get confirmation that your application was received
If Your Charity Care Application is Denied
Don't give up if your financial assistance is denied. You have options:
- • Appeal the decision with additional documentation
- • Request a payment plan directly with the hospital
- • Ask about prompt-pay discounts for self-pay patients
- • Review your bill for errors (80% of medical bills contain them)
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Additional Resources
Don't See Your Hospital?
We're continuously adding more hospital-specific guides. In the meantime, here are general resources that work with most hospitals:
Disclaimer: Hospital financial assistance policies change frequently. Always verify current policies directly with the hospital. CareRoute is not affiliated with any hospital system mentioned on this page.