Did a hospital send you a bill you cannot afford? You may not have to pay the full amount.
Many hospitals have programs that can reduce bills or forgive them entirely. These are called charity care or financial assistance programs. The catch is that the paperwork can feel like a second job.
A nonprofit called Dollar For helps people apply for this assistance, for free. Here’s how it works, who may qualify, and how to get started.
What Does Dollar For Do?
Dollar For helps patients find out whether their hospital bills may qualify for charity care.
If you appear eligible, the organization helps you prepare and submit the hospital’s financial assistance application.
Dollar For’s services are completely free. The organization is supported by donors, foundations, and companies rather than charging patients.
However, Dollar For does not pay your hospital bill directly. The hospital reviews your application and decides whether to reduce or forgive what you owe.
Dollar For focuses on hospital bills. Separate bills from doctors, specialists, or other medical providers may not be covered by the hospital’s financial assistance policy.
If you receive charity care approval, you can ask those providers whether they offer their own financial assistance or will consider your hospital’s approval letter.
What Is Charity Care, and Why Might You Qualify?
Charity care is financial assistance that reduces or eliminates hospital bills for patients who meet certain requirements.
According to Dollar For, a $15,000 hospital bill could potentially be reduced to $150 or even $0.
That is an example, not a guaranteed discount.
Each hospital establishes its own eligibility rules. Common factors include:
- Your household income
- The number of people in your household
- How old your hospital bill is
- Your insurance coverage
- Other financial circumstances required by the hospital
Under federal IRS rules, nonprofit hospitals must have written financial assistance policies covering emergency and other medically necessary care.
These policies must explain who qualifies, how to apply, and what assistance is available. Hospitals must also make the information widely accessible.
Patients who qualify for financial assistance at these hospitals cannot be charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients for covered emergency or medically necessary care.
Some for-profit hospitals also offer financial assistance. Certain states have additional requirements that apply to other types of hospitals.
There is no single national income limit for charity care. One hospital may offer free care at an income level where another offers only a discount.
If you want to understand how your income compares with federal guidelines, see our federal poverty level guide. Just remember that your hospital’s actual financial assistance policy determines whether you qualify.
Who Can Use Dollar For?
Dollar For is not just for seniors or people with disabilities.
If you have a hospital bill you cannot afford, you can use its screening tool to see whether assistance may be available.
You may qualify for hospital charity care whether you have health insurance or not. If you are insured, assistance may apply to eligible costs you still owe after insurance.
You do not necessarily have to be unemployed or have no income to qualify.
If you live alone, explain your household situation when applying. The hospital may have specific rules about whose income must be included.
Some hospitals also consider assets, residency, or other eligibility factors. Requirements are not identical everywhere.
The best approach is to check your hospital’s policy rather than assume you earn too much or do not qualify.
How Do You Apply Through Dollar For?
Dollar For provides an online process to help patients apply for hospital financial assistance.
Here’s how to get started:
- Visit Dollar For. Go to its official FAQ and eligibility page and use the screening tool to begin.
- Enter your hospital bill information. Provide the hospital, bill details, and other information requested.
- Answer questions about your household. Dollar For may ask about your income, expenses, insurance, and financial circumstances.
- Provide supporting documents. Upload the records needed for your hospital’s application.
- Watch for updates. Dollar For may contact you by email or text if it needs more information or has an update about your application.
If you have bills from more than one hospital, you may need to provide information for each hospital separately.
Dollar For may allow you to begin the process before you have gathered every document. However, missing information can delay completion or review of your application.
If your bill is approaching a deadline, start as soon as possible and ask what information is still needed.
What Documents Should You Have Ready?
Hospitals often require documents showing your income and financial situation.
Depending on the hospital, these may include:
- A recent federal income tax return
- Recent pay stubs
- Bank statements
- Social Security or other benefit award letters
- Information about your household and expenses
- A copy of your hospital bill
You may not need every document on this list.
If you do not work or do not file taxes, ask what alternative proof the hospital accepts. This might include benefit statements or a written explanation of how you support yourself.
Dollar For can help you understand the documents requested for your application.
How Long Do You Have to Apply?
This is one of the most important things to know about hospital charity care.
Under federal rules, nonprofit hospitals generally must accept and process financial assistance applications for at least 240 days after the first billing statement following your hospital care.
That is approximately eight months.
Some hospitals accept applications for older bills, so it is still worth asking even if more time has passed.
What If Your Bill Is Already in Collections?
You may still be able to apply for charity care.
Under IRS Section 501(r)(6), nonprofit hospitals must follow special rules before taking certain extraordinary collection actions.
Two important time periods are:
- 120 days: Hospitals generally cannot begin extraordinary collection actions during the first 120 days after the initial post-discharge billing statement.
- 240 days: Hospitals generally must accept and process financial assistance applications during a period lasting at least 240 days after that first statement.
Extraordinary collection actions can include certain negative credit reporting activities, debt sales, or legal collection actions.
Before initiating certain extraordinary collection actions, hospitals must also provide advance written notice, generally at least 30 days beforehand, and follow other required procedures.
These rules do not prohibit ordinary bills, reminders, or collection communications.
If you submit a financial assistance application during the application period, additional protections may apply while the hospital reviews it.
Do not ignore collection letters or assume your debt is automatically paused. Contact the hospital’s financial assistance office and ask how your application affects collection activity.
Can You Get Money Back If You Already Paid?
Possibly.
If you paid part of your hospital bill and later qualify for charity care, you may be entitled to a refund.
Under federal rules, nonprofit hospitals generally must refund payments that exceed the amount you are responsible for under the hospital’s financial assistance policy, subject to limited exceptions.
For example, if you paid $1,000 and the hospital later determines that you only owed $200 under its financial assistance policy, you may be entitled to an $800 refund.
However, approval does not automatically mean you will receive every dollar you previously paid back.
Dollar For says it can help patients request refunds when they qualify.
If you have already made payments, include that information when seeking assistance.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The timeline depends on your application, the documents needed, and how quickly the hospital reviews requests.
Dollar For may need time to prepare your application, and the hospital may request additional information before making a decision.
There is no guaranteed approval date.
Keep an eye on your email, text messages, and any correspondence from the hospital.
If you have not received an update, ask whether your application was received, whether anything is missing, and when you can expect a response.
What Are the Catches?
Dollar For can make the application process easier, but there are some limitations.
Approval is not guaranteed. The hospital makes the final decision based on its financial assistance policy.
Not every bill is covered. Hospital charity care may not include separate bills from doctors or other providers.
You may need to provide additional information. The hospital could request more documents or clarification.
Dollar For does not act as your legal representative. You may still need to communicate directly with the hospital and share updates with Dollar For.
Financial assistance rules vary. Your eligibility, the amount forgiven, and any appeal options depend on the hospital and applicable laws.
If your application is denied, ask the hospital for the reason and whether you can appeal or provide additional information.
If you believe your rights have been violated, you can also contact a legal aid organization in your state for guidance.
Is Dollar For a Good Fit If Phone Calls Are Hard?
It may be, especially if you prefer handling paperwork and questions online.
According to Dollar For’s FAQ, the organization does not answer or return phone calls. Instead, patients can contact Dollar For through its online form.
Dollar For also communicates with patients through email and text messages.
Its website provides information in English and Spanish.
This can be helpful if you live alone, have difficulty making phone calls, or simply prefer written communication.
However, you may still need to contact your hospital directly. For example, you might need to confirm that your application was received or ask about a missing document.
If phone calls are difficult, ask the hospital whether its financial assistance office can communicate with you by email, mail, or another accessible method.
Relief Recap
A hospital bill can feel overwhelming, especially when you are living on a fixed income or handling everything yourself.
But many hospitals have financial assistance programs that can reduce or forgive eligible bills, and Dollar For offers free help with the application process.
You may qualify even if you have insurance, have already made payments, or have received collection notices.
The hospital makes the final decision, and eligibility rules vary. For nonprofit hospitals, federal rules generally provide at least 240 days after the first post-discharge bill to apply, although some hospitals allow more time.
Start by visiting Dollar For to check whether your hospital bill may qualify.
If you still need help with medical expenses, our guide to 5 Steps to Unlock Grants That Pay Medical Bills explains other resources worth exploring.
