The Fineprint
A Step-By-Step Instruction Guide to Applying for Hospital Charity Care Programs
Step 1: Confirm that you are eligible
Guidelines for eligibility vary from hospital to hospital. Key things that are typically important to know if one is eligible are:
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What are the income requirements to qualify?
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What is the deadline for the application?
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Who is important to contact if you have questions?
Step 2: Obtain the application
Most hospitals have a formal Financial Assistance Policy (FAP) and an application to fill out when applying for their charity care program. Applications are typically available from:
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The hospital’s billing department
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The hospital’s financial counseling office
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The hospital’s website
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Simply searching up the hospital’s name and adding the words “financial assistance” in a search engine also typically provides general information about the hospital’s charity care program. Generally, you can apply via:
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Mail
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In person with a financial counselor
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Online via a patient portal (Ex. MyChart)
Step 3: Fill Out the Application and Provide Required Documentation
Applications will typically ask for:
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The patient’s name and date of birth
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Who is responsible for paying the bill and their contact information
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Members of the household
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Income of each person of the household and their place of occupation
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Monthly expenses of the household
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The amount of money saved in investments and bank accounts
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If anyone in the family receives public assistance
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Moreover, hospitals often require additional documentation for a financial screening, such as:
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Photo ID
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Proof of address (Ex. utility bill, lease agreement)
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Proof of income (Ex. recent pay stubs, social security, pension, Federal Income Tax Return, etc.)
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Proof of assets (Ex. recent bank statements)
Step 4: Submit the application
Submit the fully completed application as per instructions (via mail or online). The processing time generally takes 2-6 weeks. To follow up, check the status of your pending application and if approved, the charity care coverage can apply to current outstanding bills and typically stays within effect for a period of time.