Hospital financial assistance in New Jersey

New Jersey law requires acute care hospitals to reduce or write off bills for patients whose household income falls below set levels. This is usually called charity care. Below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level the bill must be written off in full. Brightbill tracks 69 New Jersey hospitals and shows the statute behind every answer.

Free-care income limits in New Jersey (2026 guidelines)

Annual household income at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level: at or below these figures, New Jersey law requires the bill to be written off in full.

Household of 1

$31,920

Household of 2

$43,280

Household of 3

$54,640

Household of 4

$66,000

Household of 5

$77,360

Household of 6+

$88,720

Discounts and payment protections continue above this level, up to 300% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Acute care hospitals in New Jersey

• Up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level

  Bill written off in full

  New Jersey Charity Care: free care. Applies to New Jersey acute-care hospitals under the state Charity Care program.

  N.J.A.C. 10:52-11.8

• 200%–300% of the Federal Poverty Level

  Hardship route: bills above 30% of household income

  Medical hardship: for applicants in the 200-300% FPL band, if qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses at this hospital exceed 30% of gross annual income, the amount above that 30% threshold is covered at 100%.

  N.J.A.C. 10:52-11.8(d)

• 200%–225% of the Federal Poverty Level

  At least 80% off the bill

  New Jersey Charity Care: 80% discount; the patient is responsible for no more than 20% of the bill.

  N.J.A.C. 10:52-11.8

• 225%–250% of the Federal Poverty Level

  At least 60% off the bill

  New Jersey Charity Care: 60% discount; the patient is responsible for no more than 40% of the bill.

  N.J.A.C. 10:52-11.8

• 250%–275% of the Federal Poverty Level

  At least 40% off the bill

  New Jersey Charity Care: 40% discount; the patient is responsible for no more than 60% of the bill.

  N.J.A.C. 10:52-11.8

• 275%–300% of the Federal Poverty Level

  At least 20% off the bill

  New Jersey Charity Care: 20% discount; the patient is responsible for no more than 80% of the bill.

  N.J.A.C. 10:52-11.8

What New Jersey nonprofit hospitals reported to the IRS

Nonprofit hospitals that file IRS Form 990 report their financial assistance policy every year on Schedule H. These are the income limits each one reported in its most recent filing, as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level. Where New Jersey law sets a higher limit, the law applies. Policies can change after a filing, so the hospital's current written policy decides.

Source: IRS Form 990 Schedule H, Part V, from the IRS e-file data, most recent filing since 2022 for each hospital. "Presumptive eligibility" means the hospital reported deciding eligibility for some patients without an application before starting collection actions. "Not stated" means the filing gave no figure or left the box unchecked.

New Jersey hospitals covered in detail

48 New Jersey hospitals with their own page.

• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center - City Campus, Atlantic City
• AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center - Mainland Campus, Pomona
• Bayonne University Hospital, Bayonne
• Bayshore Medical Center, Holmdel
• Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, Paramus
• CentraState Medical Center, Freehold
• Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains
• Englewood Hospital, Englewood
• Hackensack Meridian Health Pascack Valley Medical, Westwood
• Hackensack Meridian Mountainside Medical, Montclair
• Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack
• Hackettstown Medical Center, Hackettstown
• Heights University Hospital, Jersey City
• Hoboken University Hospital, Hoboken
• Hunterdon Medical Center, Flemington
• Inspira Medical Center Elmer, Elmer
• Inspira Medical Center Mannington, Salem
• Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill, Mullica Hill
• Inspira Medical Center Vineland, Vineland
• Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital, Cherry Hill
• Jefferson Stratford Hospital, Stratford
• Jefferson Washington Township Hospital, Turnersville
• Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune
• JFK University Medical Center, Edison
• Morristown Medical Center, Morristown
• Newton Medical Center, Newton
• Ocean University Medical Center, Brick
• Old Bridge Medical Center, Old Bridge
• Overlook Medical Center, Summit
• Palisades Medical Center, North Bergen
• Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center, Plainsboro
• Raritan Bay Medical Center, Perth Amboy
• Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank
• Saint Clare's Hospital, Dover
• Saint Clare's Hospital - Denville, Denville
• Saint Michael's Medical Center, Newark
• Saint Peter's University Hospital, New Brunswick
• Secaucus University Hospital, Secaucus
• Shore Medical Center, Somers Point
• Southern Ocean Medical Center, Manahawkin
• St Mary's General Hospital, Passaic
• University Hospital, Newark
• Valley Hospital, Paramus
• Virtua Mount Holly Hospital, Mount Holly
• Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Camden
• Virtua West Jersey Hospital Marlton, Marlton
• Virtua Willingboro Hospital, Willingboro
• West Jersey Hospital, Voorhees

Every other New Jersey hospital is in the checker too, including hospitals in Atlantic City, Bayonne, Belleville, Brick, Camden, Cape May Court House, Cherry Hill, Denville.

If a New Jersey hospital does not follow the law

New Jersey complaints are handled by New Jersey Department of Health: Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program (Charity Care Unit). Brightbill will soon prepare that complaint for you, free.

Common questions