ChristianaCare Financial Assistance: Free Care at 200% FPL + Delaware Medical Debt Protections (2026 Guide)
ChristianaCare is Delaware's largest healthcare system, operating Christiana Hospital (one of the busiest ERs on the East Coast), Wilmington Hospital, and numerous outpatient sites. Their financial assistance program covers both hospital and physician services for qualifying patients. Delaware residents also benefit from some of the strongest medical debt protections in the country, including bans on wage garnishment, credit reporting, and interest on medical debt.
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Quick Eligibility Summary
Who Qualifies for ChristianaCare Financial Assistance?
100% Free Care (Up to 200% FPL)
Patients with household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for completely free care at ChristianaCare. Your entire bill for covered services is written off. For a single person in 2026, 200% FPL is approximately $31,920/year. For a family of four, it is approximately $65,600/year.
Sliding Scale Discounts (201-300% FPL)
Patients with household income between 201% and 300% FPL qualify for discounted care on a sliding scale. The discount amount depends on exactly where your income falls within that range. For a single person in 2026, 300% FPL is approximately $47,880/year. The closer your income is to 200% FPL, the larger your discount.
Medical Hardship Consideration
ChristianaCare provides additional consideration based on medical hardship. If you have extraordinary medical expenses or financial circumstances that make it impossible to pay your bills, you may qualify for assistance even if your income exceeds 300% FPL. Contact Patient Financial Services to discuss your situation.
What Services Are Covered?
ChristianaCare financial assistance covers both hospital services and ChristianaCare physician services. This is important because many hospital systems only cover facility fees, leaving you responsible for physician bills. At ChristianaCare, both are included in the program.
Delaware Medical Debt Protection Act (MDPA): Your Rights
Delaware passed the Medical Debt Protection Act in 2024, giving residents some of the strongest medical debt protections in the entire country. If you are a Delaware resident with ChristianaCare bills, these protections apply to you automatically.
What the MDPA prohibits:
- No wage garnishment. ChristianaCare cannot garnish your wages to collect medical debt.
- No bank account attachment. Your bank accounts cannot be seized or frozen for medical debt.
- No interest charges. Hospitals cannot charge interest on medical debt balances.
- Required 24-month payment plans. Hospitals must offer plans of at least 24 months, capped at 5% of your gross monthly income per month.
Why this matters: In most states, hospitals can garnish your wages, freeze your bank account, and charge interest on unpaid medical bills. Delaware patients are protected from all of these collection tactics. This gives you significant leverage when negotiating with ChristianaCare.
Delaware Credit Reporting Ban for Medical Debt
As of October 2025, Delaware banned medical debt from appearing on credit reports. This is a separate protection from the MDPA and it is equally powerful.
What this means for you:
- ChristianaCare cannot report your medical debt to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion
- Unpaid ChristianaCare bills will not affect your credit score
- Collection agencies working on behalf of ChristianaCare are also prohibited from reporting
- If medical debt already appears on your credit report, you can dispute it under Delaware law
Important: This protection applies to Delaware residents. If you live in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Maryland and receive care at ChristianaCare, different rules may apply. See the tri-state section below.
Need Help with a ChristianaCare Bill?
CareRoute can help you understand your Delaware protections, draft appeal letters, and navigate the financial assistance application process. Our tools are designed to help patients advocate for themselves effectively.
Try Bill DefenseTri-State Patients: Know Your Protections
ChristianaCare serves patients from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. Your medical debt protections depend on which state you live in, not which state the hospital is in. This is a critical distinction.
Delaware Residents
You have the strongest protections: no wage garnishment, no bank account attachment, no interest, no credit reporting, and mandatory 24-month payment plans capped at 5% of monthly income. The MDPA and credit reporting ban apply fully to you.
Delaware medical bill rightsPennsylvania Residents
Pennsylvania has different medical debt protections than Delaware. You are still eligible for ChristianaCare financial assistance, but the Delaware MDPA protections (wage garnishment ban, credit reporting ban) may not apply to you. Check your state-specific rights.
Pennsylvania medical bill rightsNew Jersey Residents
New Jersey has its own medical debt protections. You are eligible for ChristianaCare financial assistance, but Delaware-specific protections may not apply. New Jersey does have some protections for hospital patients, so check your state rights page.
New Jersey medical bill rightsMaryland Residents
Maryland has its own hospital financial assistance requirements. If you live in Maryland and were treated at ChristianaCare, you can still apply for ChristianaCare financial assistance. Maryland also has some medical debt protections worth reviewing.
24-Month Payment Plans (Delaware Law)
Even if you do not qualify for free or discounted care, Delaware law requires ChristianaCare to offer you a payment plan with specific protections. This applies whether or not your financial assistance application is approved.
Payment plan requirements under the MDPA:
- Minimum 24 months. ChristianaCare must offer plans of at least 24 months in duration.
- 5% income cap. Monthly payments cannot exceed 5% of your gross monthly income.
- Zero interest. No interest can be charged on the payment plan balance.
- No acceleration clauses. Missing one payment cannot trigger the entire balance to become due.
Extra Protections for Patients 65+ and Disabled
The Delaware MDPA includes an especially powerful enforcement provision for vulnerable patients. If ChristianaCare (or any collector acting on their behalf) violates the MDPA when collecting from a patient who is 65 years or older or has a disability, the patient can recover treble (triple) damages.
What this means in practice:
- If you are 65+ or disabled and ChristianaCare garnishes your wages (illegally under the MDPA), you could recover three times your actual damages
- If they charge you interest (prohibited under the MDPA), the same treble damages apply
- This creates a strong financial incentive for ChristianaCare to fully comply with the MDPA, especially for senior and disabled patients
Tip: If you are 65+ or disabled and receive any collection activity from ChristianaCare that seems aggressive (wage threats, interest charges, credit report threats), document everything and consult with a consumer protection attorney. The treble damages provision makes these cases very worthwhile for attorneys to take.
ChristianaCare Facilities
Christiana Hospital
Newark, Delaware
Level I trauma center with one of the busiest ERs on the East Coast (120,000+ visits/year). The flagship ChristianaCare facility.
Wilmington Hospital
Wilmington, Delaware
Full-service hospital in downtown Wilmington serving the city and surrounding communities.
Outpatient Locations
Throughout Delaware and nearby states
Numerous outpatient clinics, imaging centers, and specialty offices across the ChristianaCare network.
ChristianaCare Physician Services
Employed physician network
Financial assistance covers ChristianaCare-employed physician services in addition to hospital facility charges.
All ChristianaCare facilities follow the same financial assistance policy. You can apply at any location and your application covers all ChristianaCare services.
Emergency Room Visits: Retroactive Financial Assistance
Christiana Hospital's emergency room sees over 120,000 visits per year, making it one of the busiest on the East Coast. Many patients arrive in emergencies without thinking about costs. The good news: financial assistance is available retroactively.
Key points for ER patients:
- You can apply for financial assistance after receiving emergency care
- If approved, the discount or free care applies retroactively to your ER bills
- You do not need to apply before or during your ER visit
- Contact Patient Financial Services at (302) 623-4660 as soon as you receive your bill
Insured Patients: Highmark BCBS and Other Plans
Many ChristianaCare patients have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or other insurance plans. Having insurance does not disqualify you from financial assistance. Both insured and uninsured patients are eligible.
When insured patients should apply:
- You have a high deductible plan and owe thousands before insurance kicks in
- Your copays and coinsurance for a hospital stay or surgery are substantial
- You hit your out-of-pocket maximum but still have bills from earlier in the plan year
- Your insurance denied a claim and you are facing the full charge
- You have coverage but your household income is below 300% FPL
How to Apply for ChristianaCare Financial Assistance
Contact Patient Financial Services
Call (302) 623-4660 or visit the Patient Financial Services office at Christiana Hospital or Wilmington Hospital. You can also visit christianacare.org/patients/billing/financial-assistance to learn more before calling.
Gather Your Documents
You will typically need: proof of income (recent pay stubs, tax returns, or a statement of no income), proof of household size, government-issued ID, and your ChristianaCare bills or account numbers. If you have insurance, bring your insurance card and any Explanation of Benefits (EOB) statements.
Complete the Application
Fill out the ChristianaCare financial assistance application form. Staff can help you complete it if needed. Be thorough and include all household members and income sources so your eligibility is accurately assessed.
Submit and Keep Copies
Submit your completed application with all supporting documentation to Patient Financial Services. Keep copies of everything you submit, including the application form, all documents, and any receipts or confirmation numbers you receive.
Receive Your Determination
ChristianaCare will review your application and notify you of the decision. If approved for free care (200% FPL or below), your balance will be written off. If approved for sliding scale assistance (201-300% FPL), the discount will be applied to your eligible bills. Follow up within 2 weeks if you have not heard back.
If Your Application Is Denied
If ChristianaCare denies your financial assistance application, you have options, especially given Delaware's strong patient protections:
- 1.Request a written explanation of the denial reason. Understanding why helps you address the issue directly.
- 2.Appeal the decision. Ask about the appeal process and provide additional documentation that addresses the denial reason.
- 3.Cite medical hardship. If you were denied on income alone, explain why your bills are disproportionate to your ability to pay and request hardship review.
- 4.Request a 24-month payment plan. Even without charity care approval, Delaware law requires ChristianaCare to offer payment plans capped at 5% of monthly income with zero interest.
- 5.Remind them of MDPA protections. ChristianaCare cannot garnish wages, attach bank accounts, charge interest, or report to credit bureaus (for Delaware residents). Knowing your rights gives you leverage.
- 6.Contact the Delaware Attorney General if you believe ChristianaCare is violating the MDPA or its 501(r) nonprofit obligations. File a complaint at attorneygeneral.delaware.gov.
Denied? Let Us Help You Appeal
CareRoute can help you draft an appeal letter citing Delaware MDPA protections, identify the right provisions for your situation, and build a compelling case for reconsideration.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What protections does the Delaware Medical Debt Protection Act give ChristianaCare patients?
The MDPA bans wage garnishment and bank account attachment for medical debt. It prohibits charging interest on medical debt and requires hospitals to offer 24-month payment plans capped at 5% of gross monthly income. These are among the strongest medical debt protections in any state.
Can ChristianaCare report my medical debt to credit bureaus?
No, not for Delaware residents. As of October 2025, Delaware banned medical debt from credit reports. ChristianaCare and any collection agencies working on their behalf cannot report your medical debt to Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. If you find medical debt on your credit report, you can dispute it under Delaware law.
Do Delaware protections apply if I live in Pennsylvania or New Jersey?
Medical debt protections are generally tied to where you live, not where the hospital is. If you live in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Maryland and receive care at ChristianaCare, your home state protections apply rather than Delaware protections. Check the state rights pages linked above for your specific protections.
Who qualifies for free care at ChristianaCare?
Patients with household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for 100% free care. For a single person in 2026, that is approximately $31,920/year. For a family of four, approximately $65,600/year. Both insured and uninsured patients can apply.
What discounts are available at 201-300% FPL?
Patients between 201% and 300% FPL receive discounted care on a sliding scale. The closer your income is to 200% FPL, the larger your discount. For a single person, 300% FPL is approximately $47,880/year. Contact Patient Financial Services for details on the exact discount schedule.
Can I apply for financial assistance after an ER visit?
Yes. Financial assistance is available retroactively. Christiana Hospital's ER sees over 120,000 visits per year, and many patients apply after receiving care. Call (302) 623-4660 as soon as you receive your bill to start the process. Do not wait for the bill to go to collections.
What is the 24-month payment plan requirement?
Under the Delaware MDPA, ChristianaCare must offer payment plans of at least 24 months with monthly payments capped at 5% of your gross monthly income. No interest can be charged. This applies even if you do not qualify for free or discounted care through financial assistance.
What about treble damages for patients 65 and older?
If ChristianaCare violates the MDPA when collecting from patients aged 65 or older, or patients with disabilities, the patient can recover triple damages. This applies to illegal wage garnishment, interest charges, credit reporting, and other prohibited collection practices. It is a powerful enforcement tool that gives seniors and disabled patients extra protection.
Do I need to be uninsured to qualify?
No. Both insured and uninsured patients are eligible for ChristianaCare financial assistance. Many ChristianaCare patients have Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield or other plans but still face significant out-of-pocket costs from deductibles, copays, and coinsurance. Financial assistance applies to the patient responsibility portion of bills.
Does ChristianaCare consider medical hardship?
Yes. Beyond the standard FPL-based eligibility, ChristianaCare provides additional consideration for medical hardship. If you have extraordinary medical expenses or a financial situation that makes paying your bills impossible (even if your income is above 300% FPL), contact Patient Financial Services to discuss hardship review.
Related Guides and State Rights
Your state provides additional protections for medical bills beyond what ChristianaCare offers through its financial assistance program. ChristianaCare serves patients from multiple states, so check the guide for where you live.
Last updated: May 2026. Information is based on publicly available ChristianaCare financial assistance policies and Delaware state law. Always confirm current eligibility requirements directly with ChristianaCare Patient Financial Services at (302) 623-4660.