Hospital financial assistance in Vermont
Vermont law requires hospitals to reduce or write off bills for patients whose household income falls below set levels. This is usually called charity care. Below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level the bill must be written off in full. Brightbill tracks 14 Vermont hospitals and shows the statute behind every answer.
Free and anonymous: no account, no sign-in, no bill number.
Free-care income limits in Vermont (2026 guidelines)
Annual household income at 250% of the Federal Poverty Level: at or below these figures, Vermont law requires the bill to be written off in full.
- Household of 1
- $39,900
- Household of 2
- $54,100
- Household of 3
- $68,300
- Household of 4
- $82,500
- Household of 5
- $96,700
- Household of 6+
- $110,900
Discounts and payment protections continue above this level, up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Hospitals in Vermont
Up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level
Bill written off in full
Applies to all VT-licensed hospitals, nonprofit and for-profit; no rural or critical-access carve-out.
18 V.S.A. §9482(b)(2)
0% of the Federal Poverty Level and above
Monthly payments capped at 5% of monthly household income
Separate payment-plan right available regardless of income: monthly payments on qualifying medical debt cannot exceed 5% of gross monthly household income, and no prepayment penalties or interest may be charged.
18 V.S.A. §9483(d)
Up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level
Hardship route: bills above 20% of household income
Catastrophic-cost protection: for household income up to 600% FPL, if this facility's bills exceed 20% of household income, the facility must reduce the total amount due to 20% of household income. This app flags eligibility for this protection but does not calculate the exact reduced amount; contact the hospital's financial assistance office to apply it.
18 V.S.A. §9482(b)(2), catastrophic protection clause
250%–400% of the Federal Poverty Level
At least 40% off the bill
Minimum discount; hospital policy may be more generous.
18 V.S.A. §9482(b)(2)
What Vermont 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 Vermont 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brattleboro Memorial HospitalBrattleboro | 250% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Copley HospitalMorrisville | 300% | 600% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Gifford Medical CenterRandolph | 200% | 300% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Grace Cottage HospitalTownshend | 250% | 400% | Yes | Not stated | 2024 |
| North Country Hospital and Health CenterNewport | 250% | 400% | Yes | Not stated | 2024 |
| Northeastern Vermont Regional HospitalSaint Johnsbury | 200% | 400% | Not stated | Yes | 2024 |
| Northwestern Medical Center IncSaint Albans | 400% | 400% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Porter Hospital IncMiddlebury | 250% | 400% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Southwestern Vermont Medical CenterBennington | 250% | 400% | Yes | Yes | 2024 |
| Springfield HospitalSpringfield | 250% | 400% | Yes | Not stated | 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.
Vermont hospitals covered in detail
13 Vermont hospitals with their own page.
- Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro
- Central Vermont Medical Center, Barre
- Copley Hospital, Morrisville
- Gifford Medical Center, Randolph
- Grace Cottage Hospital, Townshend
- Mt Ascutney Hospital, Windsor
- North Country Hospital and Health Center, Newport
- Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital, Saint Johnsbury
- Northwestern Medical Center Inc, Saint Albans
- Porter Hospital Inc, Middlebury
- Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Bennington
- Springfield Hospital, Springfield
- Univ. of Vermont - Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington
Every other Vermont hospital is in the checker too, including hospitals in Barre, Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, Middlebury, Morrisville, Newport, Randolph.
If a Vermont hospital does not follow the law
Vermont complaints are handled by Vermont Division of Licensing and Protection. Brightbill will soon prepare that complaint for you, free.
Common questions
Who qualifies for free hospital care in Vermont?
Under 18 V.S.A. §§9481-9483, a household with income up to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level qualifies to have the bill written off in full. Using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, that is about $39,900 a year for a household of one and about $82,500 a year for a household of four.
What if my income is above the free-care limit in Vermont?
Vermont rules still reach higher incomes. 0% of the Federal Poverty Level and above: monthly payments capped at 5% of monthly household income. Up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level: hardship route: bills above 20% of household income. 250%–400% of the Federal Poverty Level: at least 40% off the bill. The protections run up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level.
Which Vermont hospitals have to offer financial assistance?
Brightbill tracks 14 hospitals in Vermont. The Vermont rule applies to hospitals in the state, and nonprofit hospitals nationwide must also have a written financial assistance policy to keep their federal tax exemption.
Is the Vermont 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 Vermont 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 18 V.S.A. §§9481-9483, and Vermont Division of Licensing and Protection handles complaints when a hospital does not follow it.
Does the No Surprises Act protect me in Vermont?
Yes. The federal No Surprises Act applies in every state, including Vermont. 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 Vermont 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: 18 V.S.A. §§9481-9483 requires Vermont 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.