CATEGORY | HEALTH CARE |
SERVICE/SUPPORT TYPE | Charity Care |
AGENCY | Reimbursement by federal and state government to non-profit agencies varies |
COST | Health care is provided for free, or at a reduced cost, to people with limited income who would otherwise be unable to pay for their treatment, often at tax-exempt charitable hospitals, although different states have different rules about income and eligibility guidelines |
ELIGIBILITY SUMMARY | Varies by state/location, usually through non-profit health care institutions |
WEB LINK | See How to Obtain Charity Care: https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-do-i-obtain-charity-care-1738515 |
APPLICATION | Contact your state’s hospital association, reach out to the state insurance department, or speak with a social worker or financial assistance counselor at the hospital. |
ADDITIONAL INFO | See How to Obtain Charity Care: “The Affordable Care Act implemented some new rules that apply to tax-exempt charitable hospitals [26 U.S. Code 501(r)] in an effort to ensure that patients’ bills aren’t sent to collections until after the hospital determines whether the patient is eligible for charity care (Para. 2)”. https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-do-i-obtain-charity-care-1738515 The Evolution of Charity Care Program to Support Enrollment in Health Coverage https://www.chcs.org/media/Charity-Care-Enrollment-Brief_071916.pdf FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: Hospital Charity Care & Community Benefits https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2019R1/Downloads/CommitteeMeetingDocument/182234 |