Cleveland Clinic Financial Assistance (Charity Care): Complete 2026 Guide
Cleveland Clinic posts financial assistance information by region (Cleveland Clinic Ohio & Nevada vs Cleveland Clinic Florida). This guide summarizes eligibility, income limits, required documents, and step-by-step application instructions, and highlights where coverage can vary by location and provider.
Our Bill Defense team can apply for financial assistance on your behalf, follow up with the hospital, provide any additional documentation they request, and find other ways to reduce your bill (billing errors, insurance disputes, negotiation). You pay $0 unless we save you money.
Quick Facts
100% Free Care
Income at or below 250% FPL (primarily for uninsured)
Discounted Care
Income 251-400% FPL (primarily for uninsured)
Apply on Time
Submit within 240 days of the first billing statement
866-621-6385
Customer Service
Covered Cleveland Clinic Locations
Cleveland Clinic posts financial assistance details by region. Use the official resources below to confirm your specific facility, covered services, and any state-specific rules.
Ohio (Main Campus & Regional Hospitals)
Florida
Nevada
Note: Financial assistance policies are location-specific and may not apply to every Cleveland Clinic Health System facility. Provider coverage can vary (some private-practice physicians are excluded), so check the provider exclusion list and confirm with Customer Service.
Eligibility & Income Limits (2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines)
| Income Level | Family of 1 | Family of 2 | Family of 3 | Family of 4 | Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% FPL (Ohio HCAP) | Up to $15,960 | Up to $21,640 | Up to $27,320 | Up to $33,000 | 100% Free |
| 250% FPL or below | Up to $39,900 | Up to $54,100 | Up to $68,300 | Up to $82,500 | 100% Free |
| 251-400% FPL | $39,901-$63,840 | $54,101-$86,560 | $68,301-$109,280 | $82,501-$132,000 | Discounted* |
2026 Federal Poverty Level guidelines. Add $5,680 for each additional family member above 4.
Important Notes:
- • Discounted care is reduced to the "amount generally billed" to insured patients
- • Ohio HCAP (Hospital Care Assurance Program) provides free care at 100% FPL for Ohio residents
- • Financial assistance applies to emergency and medically necessary care only
- • All applicants must cooperate with Medicaid screening
Additional Ways to Qualify
Catastrophic Balance
If your Cleveland Clinic balance exceeds 25% of your annual family income, you may qualify for financial assistance regardless of your income level. This applies to charges from an episode of care (excludes patients with out-of-network insurance).
Exceptional Circumstances
Patients experiencing extreme personal and financial hardship, including terminal illness or catastrophic medical conditions, may qualify on a case-by-case basis even if they don't meet standard income criteria.
Maternity Services (Ohio Residents)
Pregnant patients with insurance that doesn't cover maternity benefits may qualify if their income is below 400% FPL and they are Ohio residents.
Required Documents Checklist
Income Verification (Required)
- Recent pay stubs (last 2-3 months) OR
- Most recent tax return (all pages) OR
- Unemployment/disability benefits documentation (if applicable)
Identification & Household
- Photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
- Social Security information
- Household size information (family members and dates of birth)
Important: You must cooperate with Cleveland Clinic's Medicaid screening process. Third-party vendors (Centauri Health Solutions, ElevatePFS, or Firstsource) will contact you. Failure to respond may result in being billed.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
Check Your Eligibility
Review the income table above. If your income is at or below 250% FPL, you likely qualify for free care. Ohio residents at 100% FPL qualify through HCAP.
5 minutes
Gather Documents
Collect all required documents from the checklist. Having everything ready speeds up approval.
15 minutes
Get the Application
Download from clevelandclinic.org/financialassistance, pick up in admissions or ER, request from a Patient Financial Advocate, or call Customer Service to have one mailed.
5 minutes
Complete Medicaid Screening
Respond to contacts from Medicaid screening vendors (Centauri, ElevatePFS, or Firstsource). This is required for financial assistance consideration.
Varies
Submit Your Application
Mail completed application with all documents to: CCF Financial Assistance Application, PO BOX 932553, Cleveland, OH 44193.
5 minutes
Follow Up
Call Customer Service to check status. Once approved, eligibility is valid for 90 days.
Ongoing
Good News: Cleveland Clinic may use third-party data to presumptively determine your eligibility, which means you could be approved automatically based on available information.
Contacts & Official Links
Customer Service
or 216-445-6249
Ohio Financial Assistance
Mailing Address
Self-Pay Discount
Automatic Self-Pay Discount: 43% Off
Uninsured (true self-pay) patients automatically receive a 43% discount on charges. This discount is calculated based on hospital insurance expected reimbursement divided by hospital total charges. No application is required. Additional financial assistance discounts may apply on top of this if you meet the income thresholds above.
Collections Policy
What Cleveland Clinic Will NOT Do
- No credit bureau reporting: Cleveland Clinic and its collection agencies do not report medical debt to credit bureaus
- No wage garnishments: Cleveland Clinic does not pursue wage garnishments
Exception: On a case-by-case basis, Cleveland Clinic may pursue collection through a lawsuit when a patient has an unpaid balance and will not cooperate with requests for information or payment.
501(r) Collection Timelines
As a nonprofit, Cleveland Clinic follows federal 501(r) rules. All timelines start from your first billing statement:
- 120 days: No extraordinary collection actions during this notification period
- 240 days: Deadline to submit a financial assistance application
- +30 days: Written notice required before starting any ECAs
If payment plan minimum is not received within 60 days, the plan is cancelled and the balance follows the normal aging process before being sent to collections.
Ohio Medical Debt Fairness Act (HB 257, Pending)
Ohio is considering significant medical debt protections. If passed, HB 257 would:
- Cap interest on medical debt at 3%
- Prohibit reporting medical debt to credit bureaus ($10/day penalty)
- Ban wage garnishment for medical debt
Check Ohio medical bill rights for current status.
Already in collections? Read our full 7-step collections playbook for debt validation scripts, settlement strategies, and credit protection tips.
What If You Are Denied?
Review the Decision
Cleveland Clinic will notify you of the eligibility determination. If denied, review the reason carefully. Common reasons include income above thresholds, failure to cooperate with Medicaid screening, or missing documents.
Request Reconsideration
Contact Customer Service at 866-621-6385 to discuss the denial. If your circumstances have changed, you have new documentation, or you believe the decision was made in error, ask for a review. You can also visit a Patient Financial Advocate office in person.
Other Options
- • Check if you qualify under the Catastrophic Balance provision (bills exceed 25% of annual income)
- • Ask about payment plans
- • Request an itemized bill to verify charges
- • Complete Medicaid screening if you haven't already (required for eligibility)
Denied or need more help? If your financial assistance application is denied, or your bill has other issues beyond charity care (billing errors, insurance underpayment), CareRoute's Bill Defense team can appeal the denial, identify additional savings, and handle all communications with the hospital on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for Cleveland Clinic financial assistance?
Does the financial assistance apply to Florida and Nevada locations?
What is the deadline to apply?
Does financial assistance cover doctor bills too?
What if my bills exceed 25% of my income?
How long is the eligibility determination valid?
What is the HCAP program?
Next Steps
Related Resources:
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not legal or financial advice. Eligibility requirements and processes may change. Always confirm current policies directly with Cleveland Clinic.CareRoute is not affiliated with Cleveland Clinic or Cleveland Clinic Health System.