In Marion County, one in five families has medical debt in collections. Hospitals in Indianapolis have programs to help you pay your bills and save money on upcoming medical care. Mirror Indy is sharing a series of how to get that assistance at each hospital.
Here’s how to get help paying for care from Eskenazi Health, Community Health, IU Health and Ascension St. Vincent, plus general tips about how the process works.
Tips for getting assistance with your medical bills
Apply for financial assistance before you need it.
It can be an overwhelming process, so if you can, start it before you’re in the hospital receiving care. Even if you have insurance, some things won’t be covered, and you can talk through that with a financial counselor. Or, if you have a loved one in the hospital and you want to know how to help, think about helping them with an application for help paying their bills.
Read the plain language summary of the hospital’s financial assistance policy.
It breaks down who’s eligible, how that hospital decides how much of a discount to give and how to apply for help. If you have specific questions, search for them in the full policy.
Gather your documents before you apply.
Here’s what you usually need: proof of your income, proof of assets and any medical bills you haven’t paid. For proof of income, you can use things like a pay stub, last year’s tax return or a receipt for unemployment benefits. To show your assets, gather bank statements from the last three months and documents that show any investments.
Talk to a financial counselor.
Different hospitals have different names for them, but you can meet with a counselor in-person or over the phone, and they’ll walk you through an application. If you don’t qualify for financial assistance at the hospital, they’ll help you figure out other programs to apply for.
How to get help paying for your medical bills at Eskenazi Health
Start by meeting with a financial counselor. You can call 855-202-1053 to set up an appointment. They’ll walk you through all your options.
If you need help paying for services from your primary care physician, there’s a sliding scale for how much you’ll pay, based on your household size and income. There’s also a financial assistance program for hospital bills, which can include discounts on prescriptions.
How to get help paying for your medical bills at Community Health
Community Health has three different ways to help you. They offer interest-free payment plans, which everyone automatically qualifies for. There’s also a financial assistance program based on how much money you make and how many people live in your home.
For medications, you can talk to a medication assistance counselor, who will refer you to low-cost programs, find you coupons or help you switch to generic medicines.
How to get help paying for your medical bills at IU Health
Talk to a financial counselor, who will guide you through the options and the process. You can call them at 888-531-3004.
The financial assistance program is based on how much money you make compared to federal poverty levels. There’s discounts if you do or don’t have insurance. If you already qualify for programs like SNAP or Medicaid, you automatically qualify for discounts on your bills.
How to get help paying for your medical bills at Ascension St. Vincent
Ascension St. Vincent offers sliding scale discounts based on how your income compares with the federal poverty level. You can download and print an application, then Ascension St. Vincent asks that you mail it, for security reasons. If you have questions, call 317-338-2358 to talk to a financial counselor.
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Mirror Indy reporter Sophie Young covers services and resources. Contact her at sophie.young@mirrorindy.org.
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