Many hospitals offer free or discounted care to people with limited income. Learn how it works and how to ask for it. Compare each system's published income limits with yours.
What it is
Hospital financial assistance is free or discounted care for people who meet a hospital's rules and cannot pay all or part of a bill (IRS guidance on financial assistance policies).
Nonprofit hospitals with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status must have a written financial assistance policy. The rule is section 501(r)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRS). The policy must say who can get help, whether the help is free or discounted, how charges are figured, and how to apply. It must cover all emergency and other medically necessary care at the hospital (IRS). Read more in the IRS page on requirements for 501(c)(3) hospitals.
Each hospital sets its own limits. Many state income as a percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). A limit of 200% FPL means income up to twice the poverty guideline for your household size. The guidelines come from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
How to ask
Ask the hospital's billing office or admissions desk for its financial assistance policy, the application form, and a plain-language summary. Nonprofit hospitals with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status must post these on their websites and give you paper copies free if you ask (IRS).
Look at your bill. Those hospitals must put a notice about financial assistance on it, with a phone number and a website (IRS).
Read the income limits and the list of papers the application asks for. If English is not your first language, ask for the documents in your language. Those hospitals must translate them into the main languages spoken in their communities (IRS).
Apply as soon as you can, and ask what the deadline is. Ask the billing office to confirm in writing that it received your application.
Hospital systems
Each card summarizes one hospital system's published policy. Read the full policy before you apply.
Income comparisons use the limits each system publishes. They are not an eligibility decision. The hospital decides, and its policy may also look at residency, assets, and insurance.
Discounts: At 200% to 325% FPL, eligible uninsured patients pay no more than the amount generally billed, and may use a payment plan.
Residency: Free care is for Georgia residents. Discounts cover residents of Brooks, Grady, Mitchell and Thomas counties, plus counties with no hospital offering the service.
If you have insurance: Uninsured patients may qualify. Insured patients under 200% FPL count as medically indigent. For other insured patients, copays and deductibles are not covered.
Assets: For free care, asset checks apply to Medicare enrollees. For discounts at 200% to 325% FPL, assets besides your home must be under $50,000.
Approval without an application: Archbold may screen patients electronically and approve help without an application. Approved accounts are not sent to collections.
Services covered: Covers medically necessary and emergency care at Archbold hospitals. Surgeons, anesthesiologists, radiologists and pathologists bill separately. Elective and cosmetic care is usually excluded.
Hospitals:Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center (Rome) · Atrium Health Floyd Polk Medical Center (Cedartown) · Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center (Centre, Alabama) · Atrium Health provider-based practices
Discounts: Uninsured patients at 301% to 400% FPL may get a 75% discount off gross charges. All uninsured patients also get an automatic 50% discount.
High medical bills: If you do not qualify for financial assistance, a hardship discount may apply when your balance after insurance is at least 10% of household income.
Residency: Permanent residents of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Illinois or Wisconsin who got care at an Atrium, Advocate or Aurora hospital.
If you have insurance: Uninsured patients may qualify. Insured patients at or below 300% FPL may get in-network balances covered after insurance pays, once they have a bill.
Assets: Eligibility compares total household income with the federal poverty level. No asset limit is published.
Approval without an application: Uninsured patients with low-balance outpatient accounts may be approved automatically, using a third-party estimate of poverty, without an application.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary care at Floyd hospitals. Excludes independent groups on Atrium's list, like Rome Radiology and Floyd EMS.
Hospitals:Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center (Macon) · Atrium Health Navicent Baldwin (Milledgeville) · Atrium Health Navicent Peach (Byron) · Atrium Health Navicent Rehabilitation Hospital (Macon) · Atrium Health provider-based practices
Discounts: Uninsured patients at 301% to 400% FPL may get a 75% discount off gross charges. All uninsured patients also get an automatic 50% discount.
High medical bills: If you do not qualify for financial assistance, a hardship discount may apply when your balance after insurance is at least 10% of household income.
Residency: Permanent residents of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Illinois or Wisconsin who got care at an Atrium, Advocate or Aurora hospital.
If you have insurance: Uninsured patients may qualify. Insured patients at or below 300% FPL may get in-network balances covered after insurance pays, once they have a bill.
Assets: Eligibility compares total household income with the federal poverty level. No asset limit is published.
Approval without an application: Uninsured patients with low-balance outpatient accounts may be approved automatically, using a third-party estimate of poverty, without an application.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary care at Atrium hospitals and provider-based practices. Cosmetic surgery and non-participating providers are not covered.
Hospitals:Children's at Arthur M. Blank Hospital (Atlanta) · Children's at Scottish Rite Hospital (Atlanta) · Children's at Meridian Mark (Atlanta) · Children's Physician Group practices (metro Atlanta, Athens, Columbus, Macon, Thomasville) · Children's Urgent Care Centers (Alpharetta, Canton, Chamblee, Cumming, Dacula, Duluth, Kennesaw, Stockbridge) · Marcus Autism Center (Atlanta)
Discounts: Discounts may be 75% at 401% to 500% FPL and 50% up to 600%. Applying requires a balance of at least $500 after insurance.
High medical bills: If the balance is more than 5% of reported household income, you may be considered for a Catastrophic Care Discount.
Residency: Georgia residents are prioritized. Out-of-state and international patients may be considered based on clinical need and an administrative review.
If you have insurance: Insured and uninsured patients may qualify. Discounts apply after insurance pays. You are expected to apply for Medicaid, PeachCare or other coverage.
Assets: Eligibility is based on household income and family size. The policy and application do not mention an asset test.
Approval without an application: Children's may approve a discount without an application, using public-assistance enrollment, visit information or collections experience. Uninsured patients can be considered for presumptive charity.
Services covered: Covers medically necessary care billed by Children's. Excludes transplants, outside physicians' bills, Hughes Spalding, Cardiology, and services not billed to your in-network plan.
Discounts: At 201% to 380% FPL, charges are reduced on a sliding scale. The posted policy gives no discount percentages.
Residency: The application asks for proof of Georgia residency, such as a utility bill, lease, or recent bank statement.
If you have insurance: Offered to uninsured and underinsured patients for emergency and medically necessary care. May not apply if liability or workers' compensation covers the care.
Assets: The application asks for bank balances, other income and property value. The policy publishes no asset limit.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary care, including ER physicians, anesthesiologists, radiologists, hospitalists, oncologists and Sterling Physician Group specialists. Excludes cosmetic and already-discounted services.
Not confirmed: Help with very high bills and approval without an application.
Hospitals:Emory University Hospital (Atlanta) · Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital (Tucker) · Emory University Hospital Midtown (Atlanta) · Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital (Atlanta) · Emory Johns Creek Hospital · Emory Decatur Hospital · Emory Hillandale Hospital (Lithonia) · Emory Rehabilitation Hospital (Atlanta) · Emory Long-Term Acute Care (Decatur) · Emory Hospital Warner Robins (called Houston Hospital - Warner Robins in the policy) · Emory Hospital Perry (called Houston Hospital - Perry in the policy) · Doctors of The Emory Clinic and Emory Specialty Associates
Discounts: Uninsured patients at 201% to 350% FPL may get 100% assistance. Above 350%, a 65% self-pay discount may apply. That is not financial assistance.
High medical bills: Above 225% FPL, patients with large bills after insurance may be approved case by case, capping what they owe at 20% of annual income.
If you have insurance: Medicaid patients get 100% off non-covered charges. Others may qualify up to 200% FPL, insured or not, and up to 350% FPL if uninsured.
Assets: Eligibility is based on family income compared with FPL. No asset limit is published. Bank statements are one accepted proof of income.
Approval without an application: Medicaid patients are presumed eligible for non-covered charges. Emory also screens patients using public records. Approval from that screen covers the current visit only.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary care at Emory hospitals. Excludes cosmetic surgery, infertility care and hearing aids. Transplants and bariatric surgery are reviewed individually.
Hospitals:Grady Memorial Hospital (Atlanta) · Grady neighborhood health centers · Children's at Hughes Spalding (Atlanta) · Participating physician groups and advanced practice providers
Discounts: Copays replace full charges for eligible patients. Fulton residents up to 250% FPL pay $20 for outpatient care, $100 for emergency care and $200 for inpatient care. DeKalb residents and those at 251% to 400% FPL pay more.
High medical bills: After a hospital stay of 10+ days, or repeated stays that prevent work, Grady may temporarily pay insurance premiums if coverage is at risk.
Residency: Fulton or DeKalb residents (30+ days, proof needed) may qualify for covered care. People from other counties can get only emergency care, related stays and follow-up visits.
If you have insurance: Use commercial or other third-party coverage first and apply for programs you qualify for, like Medicaid. Medicare deductibles, coinsurance and uncovered services are reviewed.
Assets: The application says Grady may verify employment, salary and assets and get a credit report. No asset limit is published.
Approval without an application: At registration, Grady's software checks income. Patients it finds at or below 400% FPL may qualify automatically. If it cannot tell, you may apply.
Services covered: Covers medically necessary care. Excludes elective cosmetic or plastic surgery, visitor visa (B-1/B-2) patients, and accounts with unresolved insurance or liability claims.
Discounts: Charges may be reduced 80% at 125% to 150% FPL, 70% up to 200%, and 65% up to 250%. Income above 250% does not qualify.
Residency: Residents of Whitfield, Murray, Gordon and Catoosa counties. Applications from outside this area may be reviewed for extenuating circumstances.
If you have insurance: Uninsured and underinsured patients may qualify. You need proof you are not eligible for Georgia Medicaid. Balances from not following plan rules may not count.
Assets: Eligibility uses adjusted gross income, including business and investment income, and household size. No asset test is published.
Approval without an application: Homeless patients, patients in an approved bankruptcy estate and SNAP recipients may be considered eligible without complete documentation.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary services billed by Hamilton. Excludes fees from physicians who bill separately. The policy's Attachment IV lists those providers.
Discounts: At 201% to 400% FPL with a balance over $1,500, an expanded policy may reduce what you owe. The page gives no percentages.
High medical bills: Some locations may add criteria such as high medical costs or more lenient income levels. Ask the hospital.
If you have insurance: Help is for patients who do not qualify for state or federal aid. Insurance must pay first. No discount applies while a payer owes.
Assets: Medicare patients need independent income and resource verification. No other asset rules are published.
Services covered: Charity covers non-elective care. The separate uninsured discount excludes elective cosmetic procedures and flat-rate package procedures.
Not confirmed: Residency rules, approval without an application, and an online application form.
Hospitals:Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville · Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton · Northeast Georgia Medical Center Barrow (Winder) · Northeast Georgia Medical Center Habersham (Demorest) · Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lumpkin (Dahlonega) · Georgia Heart Institute · Northeast Georgia Physicians Group · Gainesville Emergency Department Services and Gainesville Radiology Group
Discounts: At 301% to 400% FPL, balances are reduced 75%. Uninsured patients may also get self-pay and prompt-pay discounts. The policy gives no percentages.
Residency: Emergency care has no residency rule. Other medically necessary care requires living in NGHS's service area, which the policy lists by ZIP code.
If you have insurance: Insured and uninsured patients may qualify for hospital balances. Insured patients get no help with physician balances at NGPG, Georgia Heart Institute or PSA.
Assets: The policy applies when net available assets are not sufficient, but sets no asset limit. Applicants may need to send bank statements.
Approval without an application: NGMC may approve 100% assistance without an application using criteria like propensity-to-pay scoring or SNAP, WIC, or free school lunch enrollment.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary care at NGMC hospitals, Georgia Heart Institute, NGPG physicians and Gainesville ED and radiology groups. Cosmetic and experimental care excluded.
Hospitals:Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (Albany) · Phoebe Sumter Medical Center (Americus) · Phoebe Worth Medical Center (Sylvester) · Phoebe Physician Group doctors who see patients in Phoebe facilities
Discounts: Discounts off gross charges run from 97% at 201% FPL to 66% (Memorial), 69% (Sumter) or 58% (Worth) at 400% FPL.
High medical bills: Phoebe's web page lists a 25% to 100% discount if a bill exceeds 25% of gross annual income. The 2026 policy does not mention it.
Residency: Be a legal resident of a service-area county, or transferred in for higher-level care. Existing Georgia patients of Phoebe Physician Group meet this anywhere.
If you have insurance: For uninsured and under-insured patients. The FAQ excludes Medicaid-eligible patients and PeachCare children. The application asks you to seek Medicare or Medicaid first, if available.
Assets: Assets count as a factor per the plain-language summary, but no asset limit is published. The application asks for bank, retirement and land details.
Approval without an application: Phoebe may use data scores to find patients likely to qualify for charity care, even if they did not apply.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary non-elective care at Phoebe hospitals and by Phoebe Physician Group doctors, not independent doctors. Elective plastic surgery is excluded.
Discounts: The policy's only tier is 100% off at or below 300% FPL. Piedmont's summary mentions an automatic uninsured discount but gives no amount.
High medical bills: Piedmont's summary mentions hardship assistance for insured and uninsured patients who cannot pay a balance. No income limit is published.
Residency: Current Georgia residents. Residents of named Alabama counties (Columbus hospitals) and South Carolina counties (Augusta, McDuffie hospitals) also qualify.
If you have insurance: The policy covers uninsured patients. Piedmont's page says "uninsured or underinsured", and its summary mentions separate hardship help for insured patients.
Assets: Policy bases eligibility on gross household income. The application asks about savings and 401K/IRA balances, but no asset limit is published.
Approval without an application: Georgia residents at or below 300% FPL may be approved through a third-party public-records screen, which can be the only documentation, regardless of insurance.
Services covered: Covers emergency care and other medically necessary care at Piedmont hospitals and employed physicians. Athens Community Care Clinic also includes routine and screening care.
Discounts: At 301% to 400% FPL, approved patients are charged no more than the amount generally billed, and may need a payment plan.
Residency: The application asks for proof of residency, but the policy does not name a required county or state.
If you have insurance: Uninsured and under-insured patients may qualify. Assistance never applies to the part an insurer or health plan must pay.
Assets: The application asks you to list assets such as boats, CDs, and stocks. The policy does not publish an asset limit.
Approval without an application: SGMC may screen you automatically and write off charges for that visit without an application. This applies to that visit only.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary hospital care. Excludes cosmetic, experimental and non-covered services. Radiology, anesthesia and ER physician bills are separate.
Hospitals:Southeast Georgia Health System Brunswick Campus (Brunswick) · Southeast Georgia Health System Camden Campus (St. Marys) · Endoscopy Center (Brunswick) · SGHS MRI & Imaging (Brunswick) · SGHS Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Centers (Saint Simons Island and Brunswick) · Southeast Georgia Physician Associates physicians, for care in the hospital setting
Counties:Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Glynn, McIntosh, Wayne
Discounts: Over 125% and under 200% FPL, gross charges may be reduced 80%. From 200% to under 300% FPL, they may be reduced 70%.
High medical bills: Patients who do not qualify and owe the health system more than $10,000 may be considered for reduced cost. Full financial disclosure is required.
Residency: Must be a legal resident of Glynn, McIntosh, Brantley, Camden, Wayne or Charlton County to qualify.
If you have insurance: Uninsured and underinsured patients may qualify. Medicare, Medicaid and other insured patients may get help only with amounts they owe, like copays and deductibles.
Assets: The application asks for bank balances and property. Catastrophic review requires full disclosure of assets, income, debt and expenses. No asset limit is published.
Approval without an application: SGHS may presume eligibility from programs like Social Security disability or a public-records income estimate. If under 100%, you may apply for more.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary hospital-setting care, including SGHS physician group services. Excludes office visits, immediate care and independent groups like Alta Anesthesia.
Discounts: Above 200% FPL, uninsured patients get 85% off, with no income limit stated. Insured patients get 15% to 95% off after insurance, up to 450%.
High medical bills: SJ/C reserves the right to extend financial assistance in circumstances outside its listed eligibility criteria.
Residency: Non-emergency care requires living in SJ/C's service area, a ZIP code list covering parts of Georgia and South Carolina.
If you have insurance: Uninsured and insured patients may qualify. Insured patients may get a sliding scale after insurance pays. Medicaid or EBT enrollment may qualify you automatically.
Assets: Personal assets are considered. The application asks about home value and bank statements. The policy sets no asset limit.
Approval without an application: A presumptive charity discount may be applied to a balance using poverty-level data from a scoring vendor, at the end of self-pay billing.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary care at SJ/C hospitals and practices. Excludes Chatham Radiologists, Georgia Emergency Physicians, Pathology Associates, ambulance services and others.
Hospitals:Tift Regional Medical Center (Tifton) · Tift Regional Medical Center, West Campus (Tifton) · Southwell Medical (Adel) · Southwell clinics in Ashburn, Nashville, Sylvester, Ocilla and Valdosta
Discounts: Uninsured patients get 85% off at 201% to 300% FPL and 75% up to 400%. Underinsured patients get 50% and 35% off after insurance.
High medical bills: Income above 400% FPL may qualify for discounts case by case when medical expenses are catastrophic.
If you have insurance: Open to uninsured and underinsured patients who are not eligible for a government program. Underinsured patients get smaller discounts on the balance after insurance.
Assets: Above 126% FPL, assets other than your primary home count. Net assets over $125,000 may lead to denial, per the application.
Approval without an application: Southwell may approve a full write-off without an application based on life circumstances, such as WIC, food stamps, or homelessness.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary care at listed Southwell sites. Usually excludes cosmetic, bariatric, weight loss, chiropractic, reproductive and pregnancy services, and independent physicians.
Hospitals:Wellstar Cobb Medical Center (Austell) · Wellstar Douglas Medical Center (Douglasville) · Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center (Marietta) · Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center (Augusta) · Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center (Roswell) · Wellstar Paulding Medical Center (Hiram) · Wellstar Spalding Medical Center (Griffin) · Wellstar Sylvan Grove Medical Center (Jackson) · Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center (LaGrange) · Wellstar Windy Hill (Marietta) · Wellstar Roosevelt rehabilitation and long-term acute care (Warm Springs)
Discounts: Patients pay 3% of the amount generally billed (AGB) at 126% to 200% FPL, 10% at 201% to 250%, and 20% at 251% to 300%.
High medical bills: Under its medical indigency rule, if bills above 20% of household income exceed your qualifying assets, Wellstar may choose to discount up to 100%.
If you have insurance: Wellstar's FAQ says insured and uninsured patients can apply. Insured patients owe copays, coinsurance and deductibles, capped at no more than the amount generally billed.
Assets: At 201% to 300% FPL, assets may need to be within 200% of billed charges. Retirement accounts, your home and main car do not count.
Approval without an application: Wellstar may approve accounts without an application, using credit-based scoring, enrollment in similar government programs, or estimated income at or below 300% FPL.
Services covered: Covers emergency and medically necessary hospital care. Doctors' professional fees and providers on the policy's Appendix A exclusion list are not covered.
Keep every bill, statement, letter, and receipt. Keep a copy of your application and anything you send with it. Photos of papers taken with your phone work well.
Write down the date, the name of each person you talk to, and what they say. Bring these notes if you call again.
