Hospital Charity Care
While the true essence of the frugal philosophy, is to achieve financial freedom through conservative spending and resisting peer pressure and popular fads, for many, frugality is introduced in times of need. A rough economic situation, international outsourcing, and the collapse of the manufacturing sector, have all resulted in what is going to be hard times for a lot of people. Fortunately, if you’re out of work and looking to make ends meet, there should be a bit of solace in knowing that many hospitals and many states have charity care programs so at the very least, you needn’t worry about your families health.
In this series of articles, we’ll be looking into all the resources needed to help your family get medical care if you can either, not afford health insurance or already don’t have health insurance. These articles will go state by state, starting with the most populated, California.
So What is Hospital Charity Care?
Hospital Charity Care programs provide medical assistance to people have no health insurance, are under insured, or who have a financial need in some way that prevents them from being able to pay for health care. Depending on the level of need, health care can be either free, provide at cost or discounted.
How is the Level of Assistance Determined?
This varies by state of course but for many states, assistance levels are based on the federal poverty level as seen below:
| Family | PERCENTAGE OF FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL (2010) Annual Income |
||||||||
| Size | 100% | 150% | 200% | 250% | 300% | 350% | 400% | ||
| 1 | $10,830 | $16,245 | $21,660 | $27,075 | $32,490 | $37,905 | $43,320 | ||
| 2 | $14,570 | $21,855 | $29,140 | $36,425 | $43,710 | $50,995 | $58,280 | ||
| 3 | $18,310 | $27,465 | $36,620 | $45,775 | $54,930 | $64,085 | $73,240 | ||
| 4 | $22,050 | $33,075 | $44,100 | $55,125 | $66,150 | $77,175 | $88,200 | ||
| 5 | $25,790 | $38,685 | $51,580 | $64,475 | $77,370 | $90,265 | $103,160 | ||
| 6 | $29,530 | $44,295 | $59,060 | $73,825 | $88,590 | $103,355 | $118,120 | ||
| 7 | $33,270 | $49,905 | $66,540 | $83,175 | $99,810 | $116,445 | $133,080 | ||
| 8 | $37,010 | $55,515 | $74,020 | $92,525 | $111,030 | $129,535 | $148,040 | ||
In California for example, a single individual with an income below 350% of the federal poverty level, could qualify for assistance.
So with that in mind, let’s jump into state number one: California.
Charity Care California
Under Assembly Bill (AB) 744, chapter 755, (2006) all hospitals in the state of California are required to provide free or discounted health care to patients that meet certain requirements. Eligibility requirements are based on income as compared to the Federal Poverty Level Guidelines (FPG) and the existence or lack there of, of a health [...]
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