Question 1

What is hospital charity care (financial assistance)?

Accepted Answer

Hospital financial assistance, often called charity care, is a hospital program that reduces or completely writes off the bill for patients whose income falls below a set level. In many states, including California, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington, nonprofit and other hospitals are required by state law to offer it, and the law sets the income thresholds and discount levels. Nonprofit hospitals nationwide must also have a written financial assistance policy to keep their federal tax-exempt status.

Question 2

How do I know if I qualify for charity care?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility is usually based on your household income compared with the Federal Poverty Level, your household size and sometimes your assets or insurance status. For example, several states require a full write-off below roughly 200% of the Federal Poverty Level and sliding-scale discounts above that. Brightbill asks for your state, hospital, insurance status, household size, income and bill amount, then estimates your likely outcome under that state's rule and shows you the statute it relied on.

Question 3

Is Brightbill's eligibility check free?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The eligibility check is completely free and anonymous. It requires no account, no sign-in, and no name, hospital records, bill number or contact details. Coming soon: Brightbill will do it for you, free: the financial assistance application to the hospital and any surprise bill dispute, followed through to the answer. Leave your email after your check and we'll tell you when it opens.

Question 4

Does Brightbill check surprise medical bills and the No Surprises Act?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Brightbill checks whether the No Surprises Act may protect you from a surprise bill involving emergency care, an out-of-network provider at an in-network facility, an air ambulance, or a bill that came in at least $400 over a written Good Faith Estimate. This check is free and anonymous, just like the charity-care check.

Question 5

Can Brightbill read my hospital bill for me?

Accepted Answer

The free check never asks for your bill. If you start a free Brightbill case, you upload your bill, insurance statement (EOB) and income documents. Brightbill reads them, checks which protections may apply to each provider on your bills, and shows what to do next. You check everything it reads, and you can delete your documents at any time.

Question 6

Can I apply for financial assistance after my bill went to collections?

Accepted Answer

Often yes. Many state charity-care laws let you apply after the bill is issued, and some require hospitals to accept applications for months or even years after the date of service, including while the account is in collections. Applying can pause collection activity and may lead to a refund if you already paid more than the law allows. The exact window depends on your state, so check the statute cited with your result.

Question 7

Does having insurance disqualify me?

Accepted Answer

No. Insured patients can still qualify. Several states require hospitals to reduce out-of-pocket amounts for insured patients whose income is low, and New York caps what some underinsured patients can be charged by reference to a Medicaid benchmark rather than the hospital's billed charges.

Question 8

Is this legal advice?

Accepted Answer

No. Brightbill is an eligibility estimate to act on, not legal advice, and it is not affiliated with any hospital. The final decision is made by the hospital reviewing your application.

Your hospital bill may be too high. The law can cut it, or erase it.