VHS offers a Financial Assistance Program to assist those who are truly unable to pay for emergency or medically necessary care. The purpose of VHS Financial Counselors is to serve as guides to patients and guarantors in need of assistance. Financial Counselors are available to answer questions, work with patients and caregivers to identify the programs that are most appropriate for each patient’s particular needs and ability to pay, to assist in the Financial Assistance Application process, to assist with the application, enrollment, or referral to the various government assistance or insurance programs that may be appropriate to the patient’s needs, as well as to establish payment plans for those who do not qualify for Financial Assistance or any other program.
It is strongly recommended that patients and caregivers concerned about their ability to pay for medically necessary services contact the VHS Financial Counselors at the earliest opportunity, including prior to future, expected medically necessary services, in order that the Financial Assistance or other assistance programs can be in place to cover the greatest amount of care possible and to avoid unnecessary self-pay billing and collection activity.
For patients who are not eligible for Medical Assistance or other assistance programs, Financial Assistance is available and generally based on family income. A 100% Financial Assistance discount is available for patients who have a combined family income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). For families with incomes between 200% and 300% of FPL, partial Financial Assistance is available on a sliding-scale. For families with incomes above 300%, up to 500% of FPL, Catastrophic Financial Assistance discounts are available if medical bills exceed 30% of family income. Patients who are eligible for partial Financial Assistance and Catastrophic Financial Assistance will be billed no more than the Amounts Generally Billed (AGB) billed to insured individuals. Please see the full FAP and explanation of how AGB and partial discounts are calculated, as well as the current AGB rate. Financial Assistance awards may be reduced if significant assets, as described in the full FAP, are available to help cover the cost of medical care.
All United States citizens, permanent U.S. residents, and individuals who intend to stay in the U.S. as permanent residents are eligible for Financial Assistance. Patients who do not intend to remain permanently in the U.S., or are in the U.S. on a student visa or tourist visa are not eligible for VHS Financial Assistance. Regardless of residency status, all patients are expected comply with the screening and application processes of any local, state (including any state programs for which in they may be eligible, whether in the state of patient's current location or in the state of permanent residence), or federal programs that would cover the cost of the same medical care, including traveler health programs or any organizational programs, such as those administered by foreign governments or international organizations/corporations for affiliated persons
Patients and caregivers are encouraged to contact:
