How do I ask a hospital about financial assistance (charity care)?

Short answer: many hospitals offer free or discounted care based on income. Ask the billing office or a financial counselor for the hospital's financial assistance policy and application. You can apply even after you get a bill, and even if you have insurance. Whether you qualify depends on the hospital's policy.Source: hospitalbillchecker.com/your-rights, section 2

What the rules say

• Nonprofit hospitals (tax-exempt under IRS Section 501(c)(3)) must have a written financial assistance policy under Section 501(r) of the tax code. They must make it widely available, including on their website and with a plain-language summary.Source: IRS Section 501(r), via hospitalbillchecker.com/your-rights, section 2
• For patients who qualify, nonprofit hospitals may not charge more for emergency or other medically necessary care than the amounts generally billed to people with insurance.Source: IRS Section 501(r), via hospitalbillchecker.com/your-rights, section 2
• Nonprofit hospitals must accept applications for at least 240 days after the first billing statement following discharge. They must also make reasonable efforts to check eligibility before taking certain collection actions, such as reporting to credit bureaus.Source: IRS Section 501(r), via hospitalbillchecker.com/your-rights, section 2
• Some states have their own charity care laws that also apply to for-profit hospitals. For-profit hospitals may also have voluntary programs, so it's worth asking.Source: hospitalbillchecker.com/your-rights, section 2

Steps

1. Look on the hospital's website for "financial assistance" or "charity care". Nonprofit hospitals must post their policy.
2. Ask the billing office or a financial counselor for the application.
3. Note the date of your first bill after discharge. For nonprofit hospitals, the application window is at least 240 days from that date.
4. Keep copies of everything you send.

Next step