March 2009 : Vol. 3, No. 1
Charity Care
Charity Care Policy
A patient will be eligible for Financial Assistance if the patient:
- has limited or no health insurance;
- applies for but is deemed ineligible for governmental assistance (for example Medicare, Medicaid or State-Administered General Assistance);
- cooperates with the Hospital in providing the requested information;
- demonstrates “financial need” or is deceased with no estate, no guarantor and no health insurance. In addition, a patient will be eligible for Financial Assistance in the event Danbury Hospital administration, in its discretion, deems such eligibility appropriate under a patient’s unique circumstances.
Financial need: There are two ways a patient may be deemed to have financial need:
- Indigency/Financial Hardship: If it is determined that the patient’s income and available assets are below certain federal poverty guidelines (“income” includes salaries, legal judgments, unemployment compensation, dividends, and interest checks; “assets” include savings, certificates of deposit, individual retirement accounts and property other than a patient’s primary residence) such a patient will be designated as “indigent” or as having a “financial hardship.” If a patient’s income and assets combined are below 400% of the federal poverty guidelines, the patient will receive some form of Financial Assistance. The Financial Assistance may be either a complete waiver of all patient responsibility or a discount or reduced patient obligation, depending on the patient’s income.
- If a patient’s income and assets combined falls below 250% of the federal poverty guidelines, the patient will have no financial responsibility for the care provided by the Hospital. This means that both the services as well as the co-payment and deductible amounts are completely waived.
- If a patient’s income and assets combined falls between 251% and 400% of the federal poverty guidelines, the patient is eligible for Financial Assistance in the form of reduction in charges.
- Medical Hardship: In addition to income and assets, Danbury Hospital will also consider Financial Assistance where a patient’s medical bills are of such an amount that payment threatens the patient’s financial survival.
To determine whether a patient is eligible for Financial Assistance, the patient will be required to complete the Patient Financial Worksheet. The Hospital will assist patients with this form as requested by the patient.
Because a patient is not eligible under this policy until s/he has applied for and been deemed ineligible for federal and state governmental assistance programs, Danbury Hospital’s Financial Counseling Department will assist patients in enrolling in federal and state governmental assistance programs.
Trained financial counselors and other personnel may be contacted at (203) 739-7773 or (203) 730-5800 for any assistance required in completing the Application for Financial Assistance or with any other materials required by the Hospital under this Policy. Financial Counselors are located at the Hospital at the 5th floor Business Unit.