Nonprofit financial assistance
Charitable hospitals that are tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) must keep a written financial assistance policy. Ask for it by name.
Section 501(r) of the tax code applies to hospitals that are tax-exempt charities under 501(c)(3). Those hospitals have to keep a written financial assistance policy, offer a plain-language summary, limit charges for patients the policy covers, and make reasonable efforts to see if you qualify before they use extraordinary collection actions. A for-profit hospital is not under 501(r). It may still have a charity policy, and you can still ask.
This check does not decide whether you qualify. The hospital’s policy does.
Ask for the Financial Assistance Policy and the plain-language summary, and ask billing to hold collections while the application is pending. Do not start a payment plan on the full charge until they answer.
501(r) does not bind a for-profit hospital. Ask anyway for a charity, hardship, or self-pay discount, and ask them to put the answer in writing. The figure review is still useful if the line items do not add up.
Look the hospital up on its own site or ask billing: “Are you a 501(c)(3) hospital, and where is the financial assistance policy?” Write down the answer. Then come back and pick the matching choice.