Norton Healthcare Financial Assistance: Free Care to 350% FPL (2026 Guide)
Norton Healthcare, Louisville's second-largest private employer with over 14,500 employees, offers 100% free care for patients with household income at or below 350% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). That means a family of 4 earning up to $115,500 per year qualifies for a full write-off. Norton expanded this threshold from 300% to 350% FPL in 2023. The policy covers 6 hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana, plus cancer centers, immediate care clinics, and diagnostic centers.
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Quick Facts
100% Free Care (0-350% FPL)
Full write-off for patients with household income at or below 350% FPL. One of the highest thresholds in the South. No separate discount tier.
Family of 4: Up to $115,500/year
A family of 4 earning up to approximately $115,500 per year qualifies for 100% free care. This surprises most people.
6 Hospitals + Clinics
Covers all Norton hospitals in Louisville and Madison, Indiana, plus Norton Cancer Institute, Immediate Care Centers, and Diagnostic Centers.
240-Day Application Window
You have 240 days from the date of service to submit your application. Do not wait until a bill goes to collections.
Expanded After Investigative Reporting
Norton expanded eligibility from 300% to 350% FPL in 2023 after investigative reporting revealed aggressive collection practices. Norton filed 8,730 collection lawsuits in Jefferson County from 2017-2023 and suspended all new lawsuits in August 2023.
Eligibility Calculator (2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines)
For a household of 1: You qualify for 100% free care if your annual household income is at or below $55,860 (350% FPL).
100% FPL for household of 1 = $15,960 | 350% FPL = $55,860
| Household Size | 350% FPL (Max Income for Free Care) | Discount Level |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $55,860/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
| 2 people | $75,740/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
| 3 people | $95,620/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
| 4 people | $115,500/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
| 5 people | $135,380/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
| 6 people | $155,260/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
| 7 people | $175,140/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
| 8 people | $195,020/yr | 100% Free Care (Full Write-Off) |
Additional Requirements
- Asset limit: Must be under 200% of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) guidelines.
- Medicaid screening: You must first be screened for Medicaid, CHIP, or subsidized coverage before your financial assistance application is processed.
- Citizenship: Asked on the application but not a strict barrier to receiving assistance.
- No residency requirement: Norton does not have a specific residency requirement.
- No separate discount tier: Unlike many systems, Norton does a full write-off at 350% FPL rather than offering a sliding scale.
- Apply within 240 days of the date of service.
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Get Help with Your BillCovered Facilities
Norton Healthcare Hospitals (6)
Additional Covered Facilities
The financial assistance policy applies to all Norton Healthcare entities. Contact Norton at (502) 479-6300 to confirm coverage for your specific facility.
Documents You Will Need
Required Documents
- 3 months of bank statements for ALL household accounts (checking AND savings)
- Proof of income (pay stubs, benefit letters, etc.)
- Last year's tax return (may be requested)
- Government-issued photo ID
Pre-Screening Requirement
- Must be screened for Medicaid
- Must be screened for CHIP (children)
- Must be screened for subsidized coverage (Marketplace plans)
- Norton will help facilitate this screening
Important: The 3-month bank statement requirement for ALL accounts is unusually burdensome compared to other health systems. Start gathering these documents immediately. Missing or incomplete bank statements are a common reason for application delays.
How to Apply (Step by Step)
Check Your Eligibility
You qualify for 100% free care if your household income is at or below 350% FPL. For a single person, that is approximately $55,860/year. For a family of 4, approximately $115,500/year. Your assets must also be under 200% of DSH guidelines.
Get Screened for Public Programs
Norton requires you to be screened for Medicaid, CHIP, or subsidized coverage before processing your financial assistance application. Call (502) 479-6300 to start this process. Norton staff will help facilitate the screening.
Gather Your Documents
Collect 3 months of bank statements for ALL household accounts (checking and savings), proof of income, and your most recent tax return. This is the most time-consuming step, so start early.
Submit Your Application
You can submit by:
- Phone: (502) 479-6300 or (800) 874-3979
- Email: financialassistance@nortonhealthcare.com
- Mail: SBO Financial Assistance, Dept. 14-7, P.O. Box 35070, Louisville, KY 40232-9972
- Website: nortonhealthcare.com
Follow Up
Call (502) 479-6300 to confirm receipt and check status. Keep copies of everything you submit. Apply within 240 days of your date of service.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Missing the deadline: Apply within 240 days of your date of service (not your first bill).
- Incomplete bank statements: You need 3 months for ALL accounts. Missing even one savings account can delay your application.
- Skipping Medicaid screening: Norton will not process your financial assistance application until you complete the public program screening.
- Ignoring bills while waiting: Contact Norton to let them know you are applying so your account is flagged appropriately.
- Waiting until a lawsuit is filed: Although Norton suspended new lawsuits in August 2023, apply for financial assistance as early as possible to protect yourself.
Important Notes: Collection History and Kentucky Protections
Norton Healthcare Collection History
- Norton filed 8,730 collection lawsuits in Jefferson County from 2017 to 2023.
- For comparison, Baptist Healthcare filed 1,164 and UofL Health filed just 21 in the same period.
- Norton suspended all new lawsuits in August 2023 following investigative reporting.
- Norton also expanded eligibility from 300% to 350% FPL in 2023.
- If you have an existing judgment from a Norton lawsuit, that judgment remains enforceable.
Kentucky Legal Protections (and Risks)
- 15-year statute of limitations on judgments: Kentucky has one of the longest judgment enforcement periods in the country. A hospital judgment can follow you for 15 years.
- $5,000 homestead exemption: Kentucky's homestead exemption is one of the lowest in the country, protecting only $5,000 in home equity from creditors.
- Apply for financial assistance before a judgment: Because of the low homestead exemption and long judgment period, applying for financial assistance before any legal action is critical.
- Wage garnishment: Kentucky allows wage garnishment for medical debt judgments.
Why This Matters
Given Norton's aggressive collection history and Kentucky's weak debtor protections, applying for financial assistance as early as possible is the single most important step you can take. Even though Norton has suspended new lawsuits, there is no guarantee they will not resume. The 240-day application window is your best protection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for Norton Healthcare financial assistance?
Patients with household income at or below 350% FPL qualify for 100% free care (full write-off). For a single person, that is approximately $55,860/year. For a family of 4, approximately $115,500/year. Assets must be under 200% of DSH guidelines. There is no separate discount tier.
What is the asset limit?
Your assets must be under 200% of Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) guidelines. This is why Norton requires 3 months of bank statements for all household accounts. The asset test is in addition to the income test.
Why does Norton need 3 months of bank statements for ALL accounts?
Norton uses bank statements to verify both income and assets. They need to confirm your assets are under the DSH threshold. This requirement is unusually thorough compared to other health systems, which often only ask for pay stubs or tax returns.
Does Norton Healthcare still sue patients?
Norton suspended all new collection lawsuits in August 2023 after investigative reporting revealed they had filed 8,730 lawsuits in Jefferson County from 2017-2023. However, there is no permanent policy prohibiting future lawsuits. Existing judgments remain enforceable. Apply for financial assistance as early as possible.
Do I need to be a U.S. citizen to qualify?
Citizenship is asked on the application but is not a strict barrier to receiving financial assistance. Do not let citizenship concerns prevent you from applying.
Is there a residency requirement?
Norton Healthcare does not have a specific residency requirement for financial assistance eligibility.
Collections Policy
Aggressive Collection History
Norton Healthcare filed 8,730 lawsuits against patients in Jefferson County District Court between January 2017 and October 2023, far exceeding peers (Baptist Health: 1,164; University of Louisville: 21). An LPM investigative report found many patients sued were likely eligible for free or discounted care under Norton's own policy.
- 8,730 lawsuits (2017-2023): Most litigious hospital system in Louisville
- Wage garnishment: Confirmed. Patients reported falling behind on other bills and skipping medical appointments due to garnishment.
- Judgment liens: Permitted under policy. Kentucky judgment liens last 10 years with one 5-year renewal.
- Credit reporting: Used after financial assistance determination process
- Debt sales: Policy explicitly permits selling patient debt to third parties
Post-Investigation Changes
Following the November 2023 LPM investigation, Norton suspended new collection lawsuits. The investigation documented patients sued multiple times and garnished employees stating "you either die or you get buried in bills." The Turner v. Norton Healthcare case reached the Kentucky Supreme Court in 2023.
Kentucky Protections
- No medical debt credit reporting ban: Kentucky does not restrict hospitals from reporting medical debt
- Wage garnishment: Permitted up to 25% of disposable earnings or the amount exceeding 30x federal minimum wage
- Homestead exemption: $5,000 (one of the lowest in the nation)
- Judgment liens: 10 years + one 5-year renewal (reduced from 15 years in June 2023)
- 5-year statute of limitations: On written contracts in Kentucky
Already in collections? Read our full 7-step collections playbook for strategies to resolve medical debt, dispute errors, and negotiate settlements.
Contact Information
Financial Assistance Phone
Email and Mail
Official Resources
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Start Your Free Case ReviewThis guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Information is based on publicly available Norton Healthcare financial assistance policies as of 2026. Eligibility requirements, income thresholds, and application processes may change. Norton Healthcare suspended new collection lawsuits in August 2023, but this does not constitute a permanent policy. Always verify current requirements directly with Norton Healthcare at (502) 479-6300 or visit nortonhealthcare.com/patient-resources/billing-information/financial-assistance/.