Hospital financial assistance in Oregon
Oregon law requires nonprofit 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 58 Oregon hospitals and shows the statute behind every answer.
Free and anonymous: no account, no sign-in, no bill number.
Free-care income limits in Oregon (2026 guidelines)
Annual household income at 200% of the Federal Poverty Level: at or below these figures, Oregon law requires nonprofit hospitals to write off the bill 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 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Nonprofit hospitals in Oregon
Up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
Bill written off in full
Applies only to nonprofit hospitals under ORS 442.614; Oregon has no state-law discount mandate for for-profit hospitals.
ORS 442.614
200%–300% of the Federal Poverty Level
At least 75% off the bill
Applies only to nonprofit hospitals under ORS 442.614; minimum discount, hospital policy may be more generous.
ORS 442.614
300%–350% of the Federal Poverty Level
At least 50% off the bill
Applies only to nonprofit hospitals under ORS 442.614; minimum discount, hospital policy may be more generous.
ORS 442.614
350%–400% of the Federal Poverty Level
At least 25% off the bill
Applies only to nonprofit hospitals under ORS 442.614; minimum discount, hospital policy may be more generous.
ORS 442.614
What Oregon 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 Oregon law sets a higher limit, the law applies. Policies can change after a filing, so the hospital's current written policy decides.
| Hospital | Free care up to | Discounted care up to | Asset test | Presumptive eligibility | Tax year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good Samaritan Regional Medical CenterCorvallis | 250% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Hillsboro Medical CenterHillsboro | 300% | 400% | Yes | Not stated | 2024 |
| Legacy Meridian Park Medical CenterTualatin | 300% | 400% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Peace Harbor Medical CenterFlorence | 300% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Peacehealth Cottage Grove Community Medical CenterCottage Grove | 300% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Sacred Heart Medical Center - RiverbendSpringfield | 300% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Saint Alphonsus Medical Center OntarioOntario | 200% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Salem Health West ValleyDallas | 200% | 400% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Salem HospitalSalem | 200% | 400% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Samaritan Albany General HospitalAlbany | 250% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Samaritan Lebanon Community HospitalLebanon | 250% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Samaritan North Lincoln HospitalLincoln City | 250% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Samaritan Pacific Community HospitalNewport | 250% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Santiam Hospital & ClinicsStayton | 250% | 400% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Sky Lakes Medical CenterKlamath Falls | 250% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| St. Alphonsus Medical Center - Baker CityBaker City | 200% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
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.
Oregon hospitals covered in detail
33 Oregon hospitals with their own page.
- Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Corvallis
- Hillsboro Medical Center, Hillsboro
- Kaiser Foundation Hospital Westside, Hillsboro
- Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center, Clackamas
- Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, Tualatin
- Legacy Silverton Medical Center, Silverton
- Mercy Medical Center, Roseburg
- Peace Harbor Medical Center, Florence
- Peacehealth Cottage Grove Community Medical Center, Cottage Grove
- Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Hood River
- Providence Medford Medical Center, Medford
- Providence Milwaukie Hospital, Milwaukie
- Providence Newberg Medical Center, Newberg
- Providence Portland Medical Center, Portland
- Providence Seaside Hospital, Seaside
- Providence St Vincent Medical Center, Portland
- Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, Oregon City
- Sacred Heart Medical Center - Riverbend, Springfield
- Saint Alphonsus Medical Center Ontario, Ontario
- Salem Health West Valley, Dallas
- Salem Hospital, Salem
- Samaritan Albany General Hospital, Albany
- Samaritan Lebanon Community Hospital, Lebanon
- Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital, Lincoln City
- Samaritan Pacific Community Hospital, Newport
- Santiam Hospital & Clinics, Stayton
- Shriners Hospital for Children - Portland, Portland
- Sky Lakes Medical Center, Klamath Falls
- St Anthony Hospital, Pendleton
- St Charles Madras, Madras
- St Charles Medical Center - Bend, Bend
- St Charles Medical Center Prineville, Prineville
- St. Alphonsus Medical Center - Baker City, Baker City
Every other Oregon hospital is in the checker too, including hospitals in Albany, Ashland, Astoria, Baker City, Bandon, Bend, Burns, Clackamas.
If an Oregon hospital does not follow the law
Oregon complaints are handled by Oregon Health Authority. Brightbill will soon prepare that complaint for you, free.
Common questions
Who qualifies for free hospital care in Oregon?
At nonprofit hospitals, under ORS 442.614, a household with income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level qualifies to have the bill written off in full. Using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, that is about $31,920 a year for a household of one and about $66,000 a year for a household of four.
What if my income is above the free-care limit in Oregon?
Oregon rules still reach higher incomes. 200%–300% of the Federal Poverty Level: at least 75% off the bill. 300%–350% of the Federal Poverty Level: at least 50% off the bill. 350%–400% of the Federal Poverty Level: at least 25% off the bill. The protections run up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Which Oregon hospitals have to offer financial assistance?
Oregon's charity care law (ORS 442.614) applies to nonprofit hospitals and their affiliated clinics. Nonprofit hospitals nationwide must also have a written financial assistance policy to keep their federal tax exemption. Brightbill tracks 58 Oregon hospitals.
Is the Oregon eligibility check free?
Yes. The Brightbill eligibility check is free and anonymous. It needs no account and no sign-in, and never asks for your 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.
Can I still apply after my Oregon bill has gone to collections?
Often yes. Many state charity-care laws let you apply after the bill is issued, and applying can pause collection activity or lead to a refund if you already paid more than the law allows. The exact window is set by ORS 442.610, 442.614, and Oregon Health Authority handles complaints when a hospital does not follow it.
Does the No Surprises Act protect me in Oregon?
Yes. The federal No Surprises Act applies in every state, including Oregon. If you have health insurance, it protects you from surprise out-of-network bills for emergency care, for care from out-of-network doctors at an in-network hospital or surgery center (unless you signed a valid consent for certain non-emergency care), and for air ambulance flights: you owe only your in-network share. If you are uninsured or paying yourself, you can ask for a written Good Faith Estimate before scheduled care, and if the final bill is at least $400 more than that estimate you can dispute it through the federal process within 120 days of the bill. Brightbill's free check covers both charity care and these protections.
Can Brightbill send the letters for me?
Soon. Brightbill's full service opens soon, and it will be free. When it opens: Brightbill applies to the hospital for financial assistance, follows up, reads the reply and checks the decision against the law and the hospital's own policy. For a surprise bill or a bill above your Good Faith Estimate, it walks you through the government dispute form step by step, writes any letter your case needs, sends it with your approval and tracks the deadlines. It sends by email first. If an office only accepts mail, Brightbill mails it at no cost (the application and one follow-up for each provider). For charity care, you check and sign once and Brightbill sends the application, follows up and asks you before any appeal or complaint. For a surprise bill, you approve each letter before it is sent. Letters go from a secure case address, so the reply comes back to you and into your case. The free check stays free and anonymous.
Does Brightbill give legal advice about Oregon hospital bills?
No. Brightbill is an eligibility estimate to act on, not legal advice, and it is not affiliated with any hospital. It shows the statute behind every result so you can check it yourself; the hospital's financial assistance office makes the final decision.
Takes about two minutes.
Legal basis: ORS 442.610, 442.614 requires nonprofit Oregon hospitals to offer charity care and discount payment to eligible patients.
This is an estimate, not legal advice. Each hospital's financial assistance office makes the final decision. Terms · Health Data Privacy Policy.