Request for financial assistance (charity care)
Here is a letter asking the hospital for its financial assistance policy and application, with a hold on collections meanwhile. Nonprofit hospitals must have one, so it is well worth asking.
The letter
This is the draft Med Bill Check writes. On the home page you can add your details and, for a review letter, the code and amount, and it fills them in. Anything in [brackets] is for you to complete.
[Your full name] [Your address] [Your phone or email] [Today's date] Billing Department [Provider or hospital name] [Provider address] Re: Account number [account number], date of service [date of service], patient [patient name] Dear Billing Department, I would like to apply for financial assistance (charity care) for the account above. Please send me your Financial Assistance Policy, the plain-language summary, and the application form, and tell me what documents you need. Nonprofit hospitals are required to have a written financial assistance policy under federal tax rules. Please put the account on hold and do not send it to collections while my application is considered. Thank you for your help. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, [Your name]
Tips
- Under IRS rules, nonprofit hospitals accept applications for at least 240 days after the first bill after discharge.
- Nonprofit hospitals must wait at least 120 days after that first bill before extraordinary collection actions such as credit reporting or lawsuits.
- Eligible patients cannot be charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients for emergency or other medically necessary care.
Your rights
- No Surprises Act. Since 2022, most people with health insurance are protected from surprise bills for most emergency care, for out-of-network providers at in-network hospitals and surgery centers, and for air ambulances. You should only owe your in-network cost sharing. Official page
- Good Faith Estimate. If you are uninsured or not using insurance, providers must usually give you a Good Faith Estimate when you book care at least 3 business days ahead, or when you ask for one. Official page
- Bill above your estimate. If a provider bills at least $400 more than its Good Faith Estimate, you may be able to use the federal patient-provider dispute process. Start within 120 calendar days of the date on the bill. The fee is $25. Official page
- Free help. The No Surprises Help Desk answers questions about these rights on 1-800-985-3059. Official page
Other letters
Sources
- https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
- https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/billing-and-collections-section-501r6
- https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency
This is a draft for you to review, edit and send yourself. It is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Med Bill Check never sends anything for you.
Ask Med Bill Check yourself
Choose the letter, add what you know, and copy the draft to send yourself. Open Med Bill Check, free, no sign-up.
In Claude or any app that takes MCP connectors, add https://goodturn-mcp.pages.dev/medbillcheck/mcp and ask: “How do I apply for charity care at my hospital?”