UnityPoint Health Financial Assistance: Free Care at 200% FPL + Sliding Scale to 300% FPL (2026 Guide)
UnityPoint Health is a major Midwest nonprofit health system operating 32 hospitals across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Their financial assistance program offers 100% free care for patients at or below 200% FPL and sliding scale discounts for patients between 201% and 300% FPL. Both insured and uninsured patients are eligible. UnityPoint also uses presumptive eligibility screening to proactively identify patients who may qualify.
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Quick Eligibility Summary
Who Qualifies for UnityPoint Health 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, meaning your entire bill 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. This applies to all UnityPoint hospitals and employed physicians across all three states.
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 decreases gradually as your income increases within this range. For a single person, 300% FPL is approximately $47,880/year. Your exact discount will be calculated based on your specific income and household size.
Both Insured and Uninsured Patients Qualify
You do not need to be uninsured to apply. If you have insurance but are struggling with out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copays, or coinsurance, you may still qualify for UnityPoint financial assistance. This is especially relevant for patients with high-deductible health plans who meet the income guidelines.
Presumptive Eligibility (Automatic Screening)
UnityPoint Health uses data screening tools to proactively identify patients who are likely to qualify for financial assistance. This is called presumptive eligibility, and it means some patients receive automatic charity care without needing to submit a full application.
How presumptive eligibility works:
- UnityPoint screens patient accounts using third-party data sources
- If the screening indicates you likely qualify, charity care may be applied automatically
- You may receive a notice that your bill has been reduced or written off
- If you are not flagged automatically, you can still apply directly
- Presumptive eligibility is especially helpful for patients who are unaware of the program
Key point: Do not assume presumptive screening will catch your account. If you believe you qualify, always apply directly. The screening process may miss eligible patients, and a direct application ensures your case is reviewed.
Need Help with a UnityPoint Bill?
CareRoute can help you understand your options, draft appeal letters, and navigate the financial assistance application process. Our tools are designed to help patients advocate for themselves effectively.
Try Bill DefenseUnityPoint Health Iowa Facilities
UnityPoint Health-Des Moines
Des Moines metro area
Includes Iowa Methodist Medical Center, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, and Methodist West Hospital
Blank Children's Hospital
Des Moines (part of UnityPoint-Des Moines)
Pediatric specialty hospital with additional children's assistance programs
UnityPoint Health-Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids area
St. Luke's Hospital serving the Eastern Iowa corridor
UnityPoint Health-Waterloo
Waterloo/Cedar Falls area
Allen Hospital serving the Cedar Valley region
UnityPoint Health-Quad Cities
Davenport/Bettendorf area
Trinity Regional Medical Center serving the Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities
UnityPoint Health-Fort Dodge
Fort Dodge area
Trinity Regional Medical Center serving Northwest Iowa
All Iowa UnityPoint facilities follow the same financial assistance policy. Many serve smaller rural communities where awareness of financial assistance programs tends to be lower. If you received care at any Iowa UnityPoint location, you can apply for assistance.
UnityPoint Health Illinois and Wisconsin Facilities
UnityPoint Health-Peoria
Peoria, Illinois
Methodist Medical Center and Proctor Hospital serving Central Illinois
UnityPoint Health-Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Meriter Hospital serving the greater Madison area
Illinois and Wisconsin UnityPoint locations follow the same core financial assistance policy. However, each state has different consumer protection laws that may provide additional rights. See the state-specific links below for details.
Three-State Protection Overview (Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin)
UnityPoint Health operates across three states, each with different medical debt laws. Understanding your state's protections can give you significant leverage when dealing with medical bills, whether or not you qualify for financial assistance.
Iowa
- Unlimited homestead exemption protects your home from medical debt judgments regardless of value
- Annual wage garnishment caps make collection impractical for many patients
- 20-day written cure notice required before a creditor can accelerate debt or take action
- One of the strongest consumer protection environments for medical debt in the country
Illinois
- Strong consumer protections for medical debt
- Illinois Fair Patient Billing Act limits collection practices by hospitals
- Nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance and cannot pursue extraordinary collection actions without first screening for eligibility
- Wage garnishment protections for lower-income workers
Wisconsin
- BadgerCare Plus provides Medicaid coverage that may eliminate or reduce your bill entirely
- 20% wage garnishment cap limits how much can be taken from your paycheck
- Homestead exemption protects up to $75,000 of home equity
- Community property rules may affect how medical debt is shared between spouses
Iowa Unlimited Homestead Protection (Key Insight)
If you are an Iowa patient, your home has extraordinary protection from medical debt. Iowa is one of only a handful of states with an unlimited homestead exemption. This means your primary residence is completely shielded from medical debt judgments, regardless of how much your home is worth.
What this means for UnityPoint patients in Iowa:
- Even if your financial assistance application is denied, UnityPoint cannot force the sale of your home to collect medical debt
- A $500,000 home receives the same protection as a $100,000 home
- This applies to your primary residence (the home you live in and occupy)
- Combined with Iowa's annual garnishment caps, many medical debts become effectively uncollectible
- This does not eliminate the debt, but it severely limits what a creditor can actually do
Important: Iowa also requires a 20-day written cure notice before any creditor (including a hospital) can accelerate a debt or take collection action. If you receive a collection notice, verify that this 20-day notice was properly provided.
Blank Children's Hospital (Additional Pediatric Programs)
Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines is part of the UnityPoint Health system and specializes in pediatric care. Beyond the standard UnityPoint financial assistance policy, Blank Children's offers additional programs specifically for families with children needing medical care.
What parents should know:
- The standard UnityPoint FA policy (free care at 200% FPL, sliding scale to 300% FPL) applies to all children's services
- Additional pediatric-specific assistance programs may be available beyond the standard policy
- Iowa Medicaid and CHIP (hawk-i) may cover children in families with higher incomes than adult Medicaid
- Social workers at Blank Children's can help connect families with community resources and charitable organizations
- Ask specifically about "children's programs" when contacting patient financial services, as these may not be automatically offered
Tip: If your child needs ongoing care at Blank Children's Hospital, ask the social work team to do a comprehensive benefits screening. They can identify all programs your family may qualify for, including state programs, charitable grants, and hospital-specific assistance.
UnityPoint Health Plan Members
UnityPoint Health operates its own health plan in some markets. If you are a UnityPoint Health Plan member receiving care at a UnityPoint facility, internal assistance options may be available beyond the standard financial assistance policy. Contact your plan representative in addition to hospital patient financial services to explore all options.
How to Apply for UnityPoint Health Financial Assistance
Check If You Were Screened Automatically
UnityPoint uses presumptive eligibility screening. Review your bill or account statements to see if any charity care has already been applied. If your bill shows a reduced amount or a charity care adjustment, you may have already been approved through automatic screening. If not, proceed with a direct application.
Contact Patient Financial Services
Call (515) 241-6212 or visit the patient financial services office at your UnityPoint facility. Explain that you need help paying your bill and want to apply for financial assistance. The representative will walk you through the process and tell you what documents are needed.
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, government-issued ID, and your UnityPoint medical bills or account numbers. If you recently lost a job or had a change in circumstances, bring documentation of that change.
Complete and Submit the Application
Fill out the UnityPoint Health financial assistance application form. Attach all supporting documents. Keep copies of everything you submit, including a record of the date you submitted the application. If you need help completing the form, the patient financial services team can assist you.
Receive Your Determination
UnityPoint Health will review your application and notify you of the decision. If approved for free care (at or below 200% FPL), your entire balance will be written off. If approved for sliding scale assistance (201-300% FPL), the applicable discount will be applied. Follow up within 2 weeks if you have not received a response.
A Note for Rural Iowa and Illinois Communities
Many UnityPoint facilities serve smaller towns and rural areas where awareness of hospital financial assistance programs is often low. If you live in a rural community and received care at a UnityPoint hospital or clinic, you have the same right to apply for financial assistance as patients at the larger urban facilities. The same income guidelines and application process apply regardless of which UnityPoint location you visited. Spread the word to neighbors and community members who may not know these programs exist.
If Your Application Is Denied
If UnityPoint Health denies your financial assistance application, you have several options depending on which state you are in:
- 1.Request a written explanation of the denial reason. You need to understand exactly why your application was denied in order to address the issue.
- 2.Appeal the decision. Ask patient financial services about the appeal process. Provide additional documentation that addresses the specific denial reason.
- 3.Request a payment plan. Even without charity care approval, UnityPoint may offer interest-free or reduced payment plans that make your balance manageable.
- 4.Iowa patients: Remember your homestead protection. Your home cannot be taken to satisfy a medical debt judgment. Iowa's garnishment caps also limit what can be collected from wages. This gives you significant negotiating leverage.
- 5.Iowa patients: Verify the 20-day cure notice. Iowa law requires creditors to provide 20 days written notice before accelerating a debt. If UnityPoint or a collector failed to provide this notice, their collection action may be invalid.
- 6.Wisconsin patients: Check BadgerCare Plus eligibility. Wisconsin's Medicaid expansion through BadgerCare Plus may cover your care retroactively if you were eligible at the time of service.
- 7.Contact your state Attorney General if you believe the denial violates nonprofit hospital obligations. UnityPoint Health must comply with IRS 501(r) requirements as a tax-exempt organization.
Denied? Let Us Help You Appeal
CareRoute can help you draft an appeal letter, identify the right state-specific provisions to cite, and build a compelling case for why your application should be reconsidered.
Start Your Appeal with Bill DefenseContact Information
You can reach UnityPoint Health Patient Financial Services through the following channels:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who qualifies for free care at UnityPoint Health?
Patients with household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualify for 100% free charity care at all UnityPoint Health 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.
Does UnityPoint offer discounted care above 200% FPL?
Yes. Patients with household income between 201% and 300% FPL qualify for sliding scale discounts. The discount amount decreases gradually as income increases within this range. For a single person, 300% FPL is approximately $47,880/year. Contact patient financial services for details on the exact discount at your income level.
Can insured patients qualify for UnityPoint financial assistance?
Yes. Both insured and uninsured patients are eligible. If you have insurance but are struggling with out-of-pocket costs like deductibles, copays, or coinsurance, you may still qualify if your household income meets the guidelines. This is especially useful for patients with high-deductible health plans.
What is presumptive eligibility?
UnityPoint Health uses data screening tools to proactively identify patients who are likely to qualify for financial assistance. If their system flags you as eligible, charity care may be applied automatically. However, not all eligible patients are caught by screening, so you should always apply directly if you believe you qualify.
Does Iowa protect my home from medical debt?
Yes. Iowa has an unlimited homestead exemption, meaning your primary residence is fully protected from medical debt judgments regardless of its value. Iowa is one of only a few states with this level of protection. Even if your UnityPoint financial assistance application is denied, creditors cannot force the sale of your Iowa home to collect medical debt.
Does Blank Children's Hospital have extra help for kids?
Yes. Blank Children's Hospital, part of UnityPoint Health-Des Moines, offers additional pediatric-specific assistance programs beyond the standard financial assistance policy. Parents should ask specifically about children's programs when contacting patient financial services. Iowa's hawk-i (CHIP) program may also provide coverage for children in families with higher incomes.
Which states have UnityPoint Health hospitals?
UnityPoint Health operates 32 hospitals across Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Major Iowa locations include Des Moines (Iowa Methodist, Iowa Lutheran, Blank Children's), Cedar Rapids, Waterloo, Quad Cities, and Fort Dodge. Illinois locations include Peoria. Wisconsin locations include Madison (Meriter Hospital).
What is the Iowa 20-day cure notice?
Iowa law requires creditors (including hospitals and collection agencies) to provide 20 days of written notice before accelerating a debt or taking collection action. This means UnityPoint or any collector acting on their behalf must send you a written notice and wait 20 days before escalating. If they fail to do this, their collection action may be legally invalid.
Is UnityPoint Health a nonprofit hospital system?
Yes. UnityPoint Health is a nonprofit health system. As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, they are required by IRS Section 501(r) to maintain a financial assistance policy, make it widely available, and limit charges for assistance-eligible patients. This federal requirement applies to all 32 UnityPoint hospitals across all three states.
How does UnityPoint compare to SSM Health?
Both UnityPoint Health and SSM Health are major Midwest nonprofit systems. They have different financial assistance thresholds and serve overlapping geographies. If you have received care at both systems, you can apply for financial assistance at each one separately. See our SSM Health financial assistance guide for comparison.
Related Guides
Your state provides additional protections for medical bills beyond what UnityPoint Health offers through its financial assistance program. Each of the three states where UnityPoint operates has different rules.
Last updated: May 2026. Information is based on publicly available UnityPoint Health financial assistance policies. Always confirm current eligibility requirements directly with your UnityPoint facility.