I AM A VICTIM-SURVIVOR (OR FAMILY MEMBER) WITH HOSPITAL BILLS.

IS THERE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FROM LOCAL HOSPITALS?

Many individuals don’t realize that most hospitals have policies that do not require payment for those who have below a certain income and are either not insured or under-insured (you have insurance, but still high out of pocket costs). This means that if you meet certain requirements, you may not have to pay your hospital bill. ALWAYS check with the hospital’s Financial Assistance Office to see whether you qualify before making any decisions. We’ve included links to many of the local hospital’s financial aid pages below so that you can contact them to learn more.

You will need to fill out an application with the hospital’s financial aid office.

NOTE:* The links below are included for informational purposes only and are not meant to represent financial/legal advice. Please check with the hospital’s financial assistance office to confirm their policies prior to any personal decision-making.

LOCAL HOSPITAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE POLICIES:

TIP:* For most of these you can click on “PLAIN LANGUAGE Summary of Financial Assistance Policy”.

These policies use Federal Poverty Level Guidelines to see whether you qualify - see the link below. You can enter your income before taxes (gross) each month into the calculator below, and it will tell you what percentage of the federal poverty level it is. Most of these policies will over significant financial assistance for your hospital bills if you are at or below 200% (some use 250%) of the federal poverty level (FPL).

For example, according to University Medical Center New Orleans’ policy, “If you and/or the responsible party’s income combined is at or below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, you will have no financial responsibility for the care given by University Medical Center New Orleans. If you fall between 251% and 400%, you may get discounted rates for the care received.” Source

REMEMBER*: This information is for planning purposes only, and you should ALWAYS contact the hospital’s financial aid office and make sure you fill out an application to determine whether you qualify for aid.