How many hospitals provide free care?
In the U.S., around 3,000 non-profit hospitals out of about 5,700 hospitals offer free care through a program called Financial Assistance Program (FAP). Non-profit hospitals must provide charity care as required by federal law. Additionally, there are about 2,000 for-profit hospitals that also have financial assistance options, bringing the total to around 5,000 hospitals that can help.
How many people can get free or discounted care?
About 100 million people might qualify for free or discounted care at non-profit hospitals across the United States.
Do financial assistance policies cover co-pays, coinsurance, or deductibles?
It depends on the hospital's policy. Some financial assistance programs cover these costs, while others do not or are unclear about it. These programs can also help with denied claims or claims when someone does not have insurance.
Is there a minimum or maximum limit on financial assistance?
Most non-profit hospitals have a minimum amount of $1,500 to apply for financial assistance. They typically do not cover routine check-ups or preventive care. There is no maximum limit on how much help you can get.
What is the federal poverty level (FPL) and why is it important?
The federal poverty level (FPL) is set every year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It depends on how much money a household makes and how many people live there. Many non-profit hospitals provide free care to people making below 200% of the FPL. Hospitals may give discounts to those making between 201% and 400% of the FPL, but the closer you get to 400%, the smaller the discount becomes.
What is catastrophic financial assistance coverage?
If a medical bill is more than 20% of your total household income, many hospitals consider that a serious hardship, and you might qualify for financial help. Different hospitals might have different percentages, so check their policies for details.
How long do I have to apply for financial assistance after receiving care?
You have 240 days to apply for financial assistance after you receive care.
What does the amount generally billed (AGB) mean, and why is it important?
AGB is a confusing term because it actually means the average amount that hospitals get paid for a service. For example, if a medical service costs $10,000, the AGB might be around $2,500. This means hospitals usually receive about 25% of what they charge. Some financial assistance programs state that if your income is between 201% and 400% of the FPL, you won't have to pay more than this average amount for care.
My hospital sent me a big bill and said I owe them money. What should I do?
Call CareGuide Advocates at 888-221-1140. They can help you handle unfair hospital billing. If you apply for financial assistance, the hospital can't send you to collections. If you haven't received a detailed bill, they still can’t send you to collections. CareGuide Advocates will communicate with the hospital on your behalf, as allowed by consumer protection laws.
What if my income is too high to qualify for financial assistance? Can Hospital Bill Eraser help?
Yes! CareGuide Advocates can help you negotiate your hospital bill, even if you make a lot of money. They use special techniques and a pricing database to make sure you don’t overpay. Let them work for you so you can pay less on your hospital bills.
Money Map
What is Money Map?
Money Map is like your trusty guide for finding affordable healthcare options. Whether you need blood tests, imaging, surgery like GI scopes, or urgent care, Money Map helps you discover low-cost providers so you can get the care you need without breaking the bank.
Why was Money Map developed?
That's a great question! Did you know that the same procedure in the same insurance network can have prices that vary by over 1,000%? For example, a CT scan can cost anywhere from $400 to $4,000, all in the same city. A blood test might run you $50 or up to $500! So, just staying in-network doesn’t always mean you’ll save money—this is where Money Map steps in to help you find the best price for your routine healthcare needs.
How much can I save when using Money Map?
Using Money Map can lead to some significant savings! On average, you could save around $150 per blood draw, $700 for an MRI or CT scan, and even $2,000 for certain surgeries, like a GI scope. Plus, if you choose urgent care over an ER visit, you could save around $2,000. These numbers come from analyzing billions of dollars in claims, so they’re pretty reliable!
How does a medical facility become a Money Map provider?
Our Advocates do some pretty thorough research. They dive into our pricing database and call each provider every year to find out who runs the place, handles the billing, and what billing codes they use. Since we know a lot about medical billing, we ask the right questions to make sure only the most qualified providers get listed on Money Map. If a provider isn’t willing to share the info we need, they don't make the cut!
Are doctors listed on Money Map?
Not exactly. Choosing a doctor is a personal decision, and we don’t want to step in on that. Plus, office visits usually cost between $100 and $200, which isn't too bad. Our focus is really on the pricier care, like blood work and imaging, where you can find major savings.
Is pricing for care listed on Money Map?
Nope, you'll find that we don’t list specific prices on Money Map. Our Advocates use a different tool called the Pricing Portal to find out what the best pricing options are, so they can help secure the best deals for you.
Feel free to ask more questions if you're curious—helping you navigate healthcare is what we're here for!
I still need to understand what this means.
Visit our website for more information about the hospital bill saving benefit.
Here are some numbers to help you understand:
Here are the tools that help you save more within the benefit:
