How to Apply for Hospital Financial Assistance in Virginia

Hospital financial assistance is help paying your hospital bill. It is sometimes called charity care.

If the hospital is a nonprofit, it is required to have a financial assistance program. This program can reduce your bill or forgive it completely. Other hospitals might offer help too. It is always worth asking what help is available.

Many people qualify for this help. You don't have to be homeless or have no income. Working people can qualify too.

Who qualifies for financial assistance?

Every hospital has different rules. Most hospitals look at:

• Your income
• Your family size
• What you own
• Whether you have insurance

Generally, people with low incomes qualify, and many working people qualify.

Don't assume you don't qualify. Apply and let the hospital decide.

How do I find my hospital's financial assistance policy?

Every hospital is required to have a financial assistance policy. This policy should say:

• Who qualifies for help
• How much help you can get
• How to apply

Each hospital must make their financial assistance policy public. You can find it by:

• Checking the hospital's website. Look for "financial assistance," "charity care," or "help paying your bill."
• Calling the hospital billing department. Ask for a copy of their financial assistance policy.
• Asking when you get care. They should tell you about it.

What documents do I need when applying for financial assistance? 

You will need to prove your income and family size. Gather these documents:

Proof of income:

• Pay stubs from the last few months
• Tax returns from last year
• Benefit statements if you get Social Security, SSI, or other benefits
• Bank statements

Information about your family:

• How many people live in your household
• How they are related to you

Information about your expenses:

• Rent or mortgage payment
• Utility bills
• Other bills

Every hospital is different. Read the application carefully to see what they want.

When should I apply?

Apply as soon as possible.

You can apply:

• Before you get the bill
• When you get the bill
• After you get a collections letter
• Before you get sued
• Even if money is being taken out of your paycheck or bank account

The earlier you apply, the better. It's harder to get help after you're already in court.

Do I need to apply for every bill I receive? 

Yes, you need to apply and go through this process for every bill you receive. If you have a complicated illness or a long hospital stay, you may get several different bills: one from the hospital, one from the doctor, one from a specialist, and so on. Keep track of every bill you receive and apply for each one.

What if I already have a payment plan? 

Having a payment plan doesn't mean you are done. Financial assistance can reduce or completely erase your debt. A payment plan just spreads out what you owe. Always apply for financial assistance first, before you agree to a payment plan. If you already have a payment plan, you can still apply. You might qualify for complete forgiveness of the debt, a big reduction in what you owe, or better payment terms.

What if the hospital says I need to apply for Medicaid first?

Some hospitals tell people to apply for Medicaid before considering them for charity care. This is a good thing for you to look into because Medicaid might cover the entire bill.

Don't assume you don't qualify. The income limits are different for different Medicaid programs. You might qualify for one program even if you don't qualify for another. Help is available. Enroll Virginia can help you check your eligibility and apply for coverage: visit enrollva.org or call 888-392-5132.

Important: Virginia shares some information about people who apply for Medicaid with the federal government, including immigration enforcement agencies. If you are an immigrant, it’s important to understand the possible risks before you apply for benefits. If you have questions about how your information could be used, contact Enroll Virginia.

Read more: Medical Debt and Virginia Medicaid

What if I am on Virginia Medicaid? 

If you already have Virginia Medicaid, the hospital should bill Medicaid first.

For some people on Medicaid, you cannot be balance billed. This means the hospital cannot send you a bill for anything Medicaid doesn't pay. 

For other Medicaid programs, you might still get a bill for part of the cost. If this happens, apply for financial assistance.

Read more: Medical Debt and Virginia Medicaid

Should I pay my medical debt with a credit card?

Don’t put your medical debt on a credit card. If you do, you lose many of the protections that come with this kind of debt. For more information, see the National Consumer Law Center’s debt guide.

What if I'm being sued? 

If the hospital is suing you, tell the court you want to apply for financial assistance.

Read more about being sued for medical debt.

What if money is already being taken from my paycheck or bank?

Contact legal aid or a private consumer attorney right away. If the hospital did not offer you a chance to apply for financial assistance before taking money from your paycheck or bank account, this may not be allowed.

Stopping or reversing a garnishment is difficult and usually requires an attorney. This is why it is so important to respond when you are first sued. It is much harder to fix later.

In many cases, the money being taken may actually be protected. Some income cannot be garnished at all, including Social Security, unemployment, and child support. In some situations, a person may not be able to be garnished at all. This is called being "judgment proof."

You can also try to stop or reduce the amount of money being taken from you.

Read more: Can I Stop or Reduce Wage Garnishment?

What if my medical debt is very old?

In general, hospitals cannot sue you for a medical debt that is 3 years old or more, based on the due date on your last bill.

If you believe that you are being sued for a medical debt that is more than 3 years old, you should contact legal aid or a NACA attorney.

Can the hospital still report it on my credit?

In Virginia, medical providers and collection agencies trying to collect on a medical debt are not allowed to report medical debt to the consumer reporting agencies. This is true whether you apply for financial assistance or not.

If you believe that a medical provider or collection agency reported a medical debt to the consumer reporting agencies after July 1, 2024, you should report it to the consumer reporting agency and tell them to remove it from your credit. You should also contact legal aid if eligible, or a NACA consumer attorney.

If you paid for a medical bill with a credit card (or any other form of payment), it is no longer considered a medical debt. That means it can and will likely be reported to the credit bureaus.

What if I get denied?

If the hospital denies your application, ask why. They should explain their decision.

You might be able to:

• Appeal the decision
• Provide more information
• Reapply if your situation changes
• Get help from a patient advocate

Contact legal aid if you think you should have qualified.

If you were denied because the hospital said your medical debt is “too old,” you can use this sample letter to ask them to accept your application anyway. You can use this letter anytime, even if you are already late with your payment. 

What if the hospital qualifies me for partial assistance?

Some hospitals have sliding scale programs. This means:

• If you qualify for 100% financial assistance, you owe nothing
• If you qualify for 20% financial assistance, they reduce your bill by 20%

Where can I get more help?

• Find your local legal aid office: Visit virginialawhelp.org/get-legal-help or call 866-534-5243.

• Hospital financial counselors: Ask the hospital for a financial counselor. Many hospitals have financial counselors who can help you apply. They should help you for free.

• Keep reading: Dollar For is a nonprofit that has more information on charity care in Virginia.

Things to remember

• Apply for financial assistance early: Don't wait until you're being sued.

• Save everything: Make copies of your entire application and every document you submit.

• Follow up: Make sure the hospital received your application. Call to check on the status.

• Apply and find out: Don't assume you don't qualify. Many working people qualify for help.  

• Go to court: If you're being sued, go to court even if you applied for financial assistance. Tell the judge about your application.

• Know your rights: Hospitals must offer you a chance to apply before suing you or taking money from your paycheck or bank account.

• Get help if needed: Enroll Virginia can help you apply for financial assistance. They can also check if you qualify for Medicaid and help you apply for coverage. If you need help with medical debt, contact legal aid instead.