Tax-exempt hospitals are legally required to offer financial assistance policies to qualifying patients. Under 26 U.S.C. 501(r), non-profit 501(c)(3) hospitals must maintain written charity care programs.
Federal regulations grant patients a 240-day application window starting from the date of the first post-discharge billing statement. Hospitals are prohibited from extraordinary collection actions for at least the first 120 days.
Approved financial assistance caps charges at Amounts Generally Billed to insured patients. Qualifying patients are never required to pay full chargemaster rates.
Submitting a financial assistance application pauses aggressive collections while eligibility is reviewed.
What reason did a hospital give when you asked about financial assistance, if you ever applied?
(For educational purposes only. Not financial advice.)
