Frequently Asked Questions

How will you determine if I qualify for financial assistance or a payment plan?

You will be asked to fill out a financial aid application (link to financial aid application) and provide documentation of your financial state. Examples of documentation include income tax returns, pay stubs and bank statements. Our financial counselors will review your application and provide you with information on how we can help.

In general, patients with less than $14,000 in net assets and an income below 175 percent of the federal poverty level are likely to have 100 percent of their hospital bill covered by financial aid.

Patients with less than $14,000 in net assets and an income between 175 and 230 percent of the federal poverty level are likely to qualify for a sliding fee scale.

The size of your medical bill is factored into the decision. So, even patients who have more net assets or slightly higher incomes may qualify based on the extent of their medical expenses.

If you are struggling to pay, regardless of your income, please talk to a financial counselor. We are here to help.

Click here to download a complete copy of our financial assistance policy.

If I qualify once for financial assistance, does that cover my future medical expenses?

Approval for financial assistance covers the 6 month period prior to your application and the 6 months after your approval. For example, if you were approved on January 1, 2009 for 100 percent coverage, that would apply to all hospital bills incurred between July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. On June 30, you would have to work with a financial counselor to be re-certified for an additional 6 months.

We will, however, consider financial assistance requests for bills incurred more than 6 months prior. We invite you to talk with a financial counselor about your individual circumstances.

I received financial assistance from the hospital, but I'm still getting bills from the doctors who cared for me. What can I do?

The hospital financial assistance policy only applies to hospital invoices. Unfortunately, your hospital services may also involve a separate charge from the physician who provided care to you while you were in the hospital. Many of the physician groups will honor the financial assistance recommendation from the hospital. Others will work with you to devise a payment plan that works for you. Our financial assistance counselor can help advise you about how to make arrangements with these private groups.

Contact information for many of the physician groups who routinely bill hospital patients for services is included in our financial assistance brochure.

Click here to download a copy of our financial assistance brochure.

My loved one is currently in the hospital and worrying about paying the bills. Can we start the process now or do we need to wait and see what the charges are?

Hospitalized patients will be given the opportunity to talk with a financial counselor and case manager during their stay. Often we can get the process going right away and take away the worry that is associated with impending hospital bills. We want our patients to focus on getting well, not the cost of care.