Medical Debt Charity Care Eligibility
Medical Debt Charity Care Eligibility Calculator
What this calculator does
Nonprofit hospitals must provide financial assistance. This calculator compares your income to the federal poverty level for your household size.
The math, with a worked example
Income percentage = (income ÷ (FPL base × household size)) × 100. Under 200% usually qualifies. A $35,000 income for a 2-person household is about 119% of FPL, likely qualifying for charity care.
Why this matters
Hospitals with charity-care programs routinely wipe or slash bills for patients under an income threshold, and most eligible patients never apply. At $35,000 for a household of 2 — about 119% of the federal poverty level — the worked example likely qualifies outright.
Methodology and transparency
Income percentage = your income ÷ (federal poverty guideline base × household size) × 100, compared against the common 200% threshold. The FPL figures come from the HHS poverty guidelines published annually in the Federal Register; the 200% cutoff is typical but each hospital sets its own policy — nonprofit hospitals must publish theirs, so ask for the financial assistance policy by name. Everything runs in your browser; no data is sent or stored.
Last reviewed: 2026-08-08
Common questions
Is this a guarantee?
No. Each hospital has its own policy. This is a rough estimate.
What if I already have a bill?
Contact the hospital's financial assistance office and ask for a charity care application.