Froedtert & MCW Financial Assistance: Free Care at 200% FPL + Catastrophic Medical Expense Help (2026 Guide)
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin is Southeast Wisconsin's academic health system, anchored by Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee (700+ beds). Their financial assistance program offers 100% free care for patients at or below 200% FPL, discounted care at 201-300% FPL, and a catastrophic medical expense provision. Both insured and uninsured patients are eligible. As a major referral center for cancer, transplant, and trauma care, patients travel from across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan for treatment here.
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Quick Eligibility Summary
Who Qualifies for Froedtert & MCW Financial Assistance?
100% Free Care (Charity Care)
Patients with household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for complete charity care. Your entire bill is written off. For context, 200% FPL is approximately $31,920/year for a single person or $65,600/year for a family of four in 2026.
Discounted Care (201-300% FPL)
Patients with household income between 201% and 300% FPL are eligible for discounted care on a sliding scale. The exact discount depends on where your income falls within this range. For a single person, 300% FPL is approximately $47,880/year in 2026.
Catastrophic Medical Expense Provision
Froedtert & MCW also provides a catastrophic medical expense provision for patients whose bills are overwhelming relative to their financial resources. Even if your income exceeds 300% FPL, you may qualify for assistance if your medical expenses are catastrophic. See the dedicated section below for details.
Critical: MCW Physicians Bill Separately
This is one of the most common mistakes patients make at Froedtert. Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) physicians bill separately from Froedtert Hospital. This means you will receive two different bills for a single hospital visit: one from Froedtert (the hospital/facility charges) and one from MCW (the physician/professional charges).
What you need to do:
- Apply for financial assistance with both entities. A Froedtert approval does not automatically cover MCW physician charges.
- Check both bills carefully. The hospital bill and physician bill will arrive separately, often at different times.
- Ask your Froedtert financial counselor to help you navigate the MCW physician billing process as well.
Why this matters: Many patients apply for and receive hospital financial assistance but forget about the physician side. Months later, they receive collection notices from MCW physician billing. Apply to both at the same time to avoid this problem.
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CareRoute can help you understand your options, draft appeal letters, and navigate the financial assistance application process for both Froedtert Hospital and MCW physician charges.
Try Bill DefenseCatastrophic Medical Expense Provision (Key Insight)
Beyond the standard income-based eligibility tiers, Froedtert & MCW maintains a catastrophic medical expense provision. This is designed for patients whose medical bills are financially devastating, even if their income technically exceeds the 300% FPL threshold.
Given that Froedtert is a major referral center for complex procedures (transplants, cancer treatment, trauma), many patients accumulate very large bills. This provision ensures that financial assistance is available based on the full picture of your situation, not just a single income number.
When to use this provision:
- Your income exceeds 300% FPL but your bills are $15,000+
- You had a transplant, extended ICU stay, or complex surgery
- You are undergoing ongoing cancer treatment with accumulating costs
- You experienced a financial change (job loss, disability) after receiving care
- Your insurance left you with a large balance after applying benefits
- You have multiple family members receiving care at Froedtert
Special Resources for Cancer Patients
The Froedtert & MCW Cancer Center is one of the leading cancer treatment facilities in the Midwest. Cancer patients should be aware that multiple layers of financial assistance exist beyond the standard hospital program.
Additional resources for cancer patients:
- Pharmaceutical copay assistance programs. Many drug manufacturers offer copay cards or patient assistance programs that can reduce the cost of chemotherapy and other cancer medications to $0.
- Cancer foundation grants. Organizations like the Patient Advocate Foundation, CancerCare, and disease-specific foundations offer financial grants for cancer patients.
- Social work and navigation services. Ask your care team to connect you with an oncology social worker who specializes in financial navigation.
- Clinical trials. Some clinical trials cover the cost of the investigational treatment, potentially reducing your out-of-pocket expenses.
Important: Do not assume that standard financial assistance is your only option. Cancer treatment involves many different cost categories (facility, physician, pharmacy, imaging, lab) and each may have separate assistance pathways. Ask your financial counselor and oncology social worker to review all available options.
BadgerCare Plus (Wisconsin Medicaid)
Wisconsin's Medicaid program, BadgerCare Plus, covers adults with income up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level. This is a partial expansion (Wisconsin did not adopt the full ACA Medicaid expansion to 138% FPL). For a single person in 2026, 100% FPL is approximately $15,960/year.
How Froedtert can help:
- Froedtert financial counselors can screen you for BadgerCare Plus eligibility
- They can assist with the enrollment application process
- If you qualify, BadgerCare Plus may cover your care retroactively (up to 3 months prior to application)
- For income between 100-200% FPL, you may qualify for both BadgerCare Plus (if applicable) and Froedtert charity care simultaneously
Gap to know about: Because Wisconsin only expanded Medicaid to 100% FPL (not 138%), adults earning between 100-200% FPL may fall in a coverage gap. These patients are exactly who Froedtert's charity care program at 200% FPL is designed to help. If you are in this range, apply for Froedtert financial assistance right away.
Froedtert & MCW Facilities
Froedtert Hospital
Milwaukee (Flagship)
700+ bed academic medical center. Level I trauma center, major cancer center, transplant programs. Affiliated with Medical College of Wisconsin.
Community Memorial Hospital
Menomonee Falls
Community hospital serving the northwest suburbs of Milwaukee with emergency, surgical, and specialty services.
St. Joseph's Hospital
West Bend
Community hospital serving Washington County and surrounding areas with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services.
Froedtert & MCW Clinics
Multiple Southeast WI Locations
Outpatient clinics throughout the greater Milwaukee area offering primary care and specialty services.
All Froedtert & MCW facilities follow the same financial assistance policy. Patients from across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan are eligible, including those referred for specialty care at the Milwaukee campus.
How to Apply for Froedtert & MCW Financial Assistance
Contact Patient Financial Services
Call Froedtert Patient Financial Services at (414) 805-3666 or visit the financial counseling office at any Froedtert & MCW facility. You can also ask at registration or the admissions office. Financial counselors are available to help you understand your options at no charge.
Gather Your Documents
You will typically need: proof of income (recent pay stubs, tax returns, or a signed statement of no income), proof of household size, a government-issued ID, and your Froedtert medical bills or account numbers. Your financial counselor will confirm exactly what documentation is required.
Apply to Both Froedtert Hospital AND MCW Physicians
This is the most important step many patients miss. Because MCW physicians bill separately, you must submit applications to both the hospital financial assistance program and the MCW physician billing department. Ask your financial counselor to help you with both applications at the same time.
Check for BadgerCare Plus Eligibility
Your financial counselor should screen you for Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus (Medicaid) eligibility. If you qualify, BadgerCare Plus may cover your care retroactively. Even if you don't qualify for Medicaid, the screening is a standard part of the process and helps ensure you receive all available assistance.
Submit and Follow Up
Submit your completed applications with all documentation. Keep copies of everything. Follow up within 2 weeks if you have not received confirmation. Track both applications (hospital and MCW physician) separately to make sure neither falls through the cracks.
Receive Your Determination
Froedtert & MCW will review your application and notify you of the decision. If approved for charity care at 200% FPL, your entire balance will be written off. If approved for discounted care (201-300% FPL), a percentage discount will be applied. The determination should cover both current and eligible past bills.
Wisconsin Patient Protections
Wisconsin provides several protections that are relevant to Froedtert patients dealing with medical bills. Understanding these can strengthen your position when negotiating or applying for assistance.
20% Wage Garnishment Cap
Wisconsin limits wage garnishment to 20% of disposable earnings. This is lower than the federal limit of 25%. If a medical debt goes to collections and a judgment is obtained, your wages cannot be garnished beyond this 20% threshold. This provides meaningful protection for working patients.
$75,000 Homestead Exemption
Wisconsin provides a $75,000 homestead exemption that protects equity in your primary residence from creditors. While this is modest compared to some states, it means your home has a layer of protection if medical debt leads to a judgment.
Milwaukee County Medical Debt Relief
Milwaukee County has worked on medical debt relief initiatives. If you are a Froedtert patient in Milwaukee County, check with the county for any active debt abolition or relief programs that may apply to your situation. These programs change over time, so it is worth asking about current availability.
If Your Application Is Denied
If Froedtert & MCW denies your financial assistance application, you have several options:
- 1.Request a written explanation of why your application was denied. Understanding the specific reason helps you address the issue directly.
- 2.Appeal the decision. Ask about the formal appeal process. Provide any additional documentation that addresses the denial reason, such as updated income information or evidence of financial hardship.
- 3.Invoke the catastrophic medical expense provision. If denied based on income alone, specifically ask about the catastrophic provision. Explain why your bills are disproportionate to your ability to pay.
- 4.Check both applications. If you were approved by the hospital but denied by MCW physicians (or vice versa), appeal the denied application separately. Each has its own review process.
- 5.Request a payment plan. Even without charity care approval, Froedtert may offer interest-free or reduced payment plans that make your balance manageable.
- 6.Contact the Wisconsin Attorney General if you believe the denial violates nonprofit hospital obligations. As a tax-exempt organization, Froedtert must comply with IRS Section 501(r) requirements for financial assistance.
Denied? Let Us Help You Appeal
CareRoute can help you draft an appeal letter, identify the right provisions to cite (including the catastrophic medical expense provision), and build a compelling case for reconsideration.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for free care at Froedtert & MCW?
Patients with household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for 100% free care at Froedtert & MCW facilities. This is approximately $31,920/year for a single person or $65,600/year for a family of four in 2026. Both insured and uninsured patients can qualify.
Do I need to apply separately with MCW physicians?
Yes. Medical College of Wisconsin physicians bill separately from Froedtert Hospital. You will receive separate bills from each entity, and you must apply for financial assistance with both. Ask your Froedtert financial counselor to help you navigate the MCW physician application as well.
What is the catastrophic medical expense provision?
This provision allows patients whose medical bills are overwhelming relative to their financial resources to qualify for assistance, even if their income exceeds the standard 300% FPL threshold. It is designed for patients with large bills from complex care such as cancer treatment, transplants, or extended hospital stays.
Can insured patients qualify for financial assistance?
Yes. Both insured and uninsured patients are eligible. Insured patients may receive help with out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles, copays, and coinsurance if they meet the income guidelines or qualify under the catastrophic medical expense provision.
What is BadgerCare Plus and can Froedtert help me enroll?
BadgerCare Plus is Wisconsin's Medicaid program covering adults up to 100% FPL (approximately $15,960/year for a single person). Froedtert financial counselors can screen you for eligibility and assist with the enrollment process. BadgerCare Plus may cover care retroactively for up to 3 months before your application date.
Which hospitals are in the Froedtert & MCW system?
The system includes Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee (the flagship 700+ bed academic medical center), Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls, and St. Joseph's Hospital in West Bend. Multiple outpatient clinics are located throughout Southeast Wisconsin.
Does Froedtert offer special help for cancer patients?
Yes. Beyond standard financial assistance, cancer patients at the Froedtert & MCW Cancer Center should ask about pharmaceutical copay assistance programs, cancer foundation grants, and oncology social workers who specialize in financial navigation. Multiple layers of support are available that go beyond the hospital's base financial assistance program.
What are Wisconsin's wage garnishment limits for medical debt?
Wisconsin limits wage garnishment to 20% of disposable earnings, which is lower than the 25% federal limit. This means if a medical debt goes to collections and a judgment is obtained against you, your wages cannot be garnished beyond 20%. Wisconsin also has a $75,000 homestead exemption protecting equity in your primary residence.
I came from out of state for specialty care. Am I eligible?
Yes. Froedtert is a major referral center, and patients from across Wisconsin and Upper Michigan regularly come for complex care including cancer treatment, transplants, and trauma. Out-of-area patients are eligible for the same financial assistance program as local patients. Contact Patient Financial Services at (414) 805-3666 to begin the process.
Related Guides
Your state provides additional protections for medical bills beyond what Froedtert & MCW offers through its financial assistance program. You may also find nearby health system guides helpful.
Last updated: May 2026. Information is based on publicly available Froedtert & MCW financial assistance policies. Always confirm current eligibility requirements directly with Froedtert Patient Financial Services at (414) 805-3666.