Help Paying Your Bill (Financial Assistance)

Sutter Health is committed to providing financial assistance to qualified low-income patients and patients who have insurance that requires the patient to pay a significant portion of their care. The following is a summary of the eligibility requirements for Financial Assistance and the application process for patients who wish to seek Financial Assistance.

If you received hospital services in the Emergency Department at Sutter Lakeside Hospital or a Sutter Health Rural Health Clinic, the following categories of patients are eligible for Financial Assistance:

• Patients who have a family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level are eligible for Financial Assistance.

If you have received hospital services at any other Sutter Health hospital, the following categories of patients are eligible for Financial Assistance.

• Patients who have no third-party source of payment, such as an insurance company or government program, for any portion of their medical expenses and have a family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.
• Patients who are covered by insurance but have (i) family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level; and (ii) medical expenses for themselves or their family (incurred at the hospital or paid to other providers in the past 12 months) that exceed 10% of the patient’s family income.
• Patients who are covered by insurance but exhaust their benefits either before or during their stay at the hospital and have a family income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.

You may apply for Financial Assistance using the application form that is available from Patient Financial Services, which is located at the Patient Access/Registration Departments at the Hospital, or by calling Patient Financial Services at 855-398-1633, or on the Sutter Health or Hospital website below. You may also submit an application for financial assistance by speaking with a representative from Patient Financial Services, who will assist you with completing the application.

Financial Assistance and Discount Policy Application - English (PDF)

Sutter hospitals offer financial assistance to help low-income patients, insured patients with high medical costs and uninsured patients. Our policies provide:

• Full charity care to uninsured patients earning 400% or less of the Federal Poverty Income Guideline (FPIG).
• Hospital discounts for uninsured patients who exceed 400% of FPIG.
  • Standard Uninsured Discount — 40% reduction of Billed Charges for Inpatient Services and 20% reduction of Billed Charges for Outpatient Services.
  • Rural Uninsured Discount — 20% reduction of Billed Charges for Inpatient and Outpatient Services at rural Hospitals. Sutter Lakeside Hospital and Center for Health, Sutter Coast Hospital, and Sutter Amador Hospital are rural hospitals.
• A write-off of the Patient Responsibility amount for Hospital Services to insured patients earning 400% or less of the FPIG and with high medical costs (medical expenses over the past 12 months exceeding 10% of family income).
• Payment plans with no interest charges to all patients.

Use the links below to read the Hospital Financial Assistance Policy, offered in multiple languages. If you have difficulty opening, reviewing or navigating the policy in your language, please contact us at 855-398-1633 or via email at S3ContactCenterCBO@sutterhealth.org for translation services.

Some medical professionals who care for you in the hospital are covered by the Financial Assistance Policy for Hospitals. Those categories of providers are listed below.

• Nurses who don’t have advanced practice licenses.
• Registered nurses, including registered nurse first assistants.
• Licensed vocational nurses.
• Certified nursing assistants, medical assistants and other non-licensed assistants (e.g., dental).
• Physical therapists, occupational therapists (including hand therapists), speech-language therapists and therapy assistants.
• Pharmacists.
• Technologists or technicians — all types.
• Laboratory scientists.
• Respiratory therapists.
• Registered dietitians.
• Diabetes educators (who are typically licensed as registered dieticians or registered nurses).
• Licensed clinical social workers and licensed marriage and family therapists.
• Acupuncturists.
• Audiologists and hearing aid dispensers.
• Perfusionists.

Unless otherwise specified, the Sutter Health Financial Assistance Policy for Hospitals doesn't apply to doctors or certain other medical providers who care for you while you’re in the hospital. This includes emergency room doctors, anesthesiologists, radiologists, hospitalists, pathologists and other clinicians. These doctors will bill you separately from the hospital bill. This policy doesn't create an obligation for the hospital to pay for the services of these physicians or other medical providers.

Providers excluded from the Sutter Health Hospital Financial Assistance policy (PDF)

Sutter’s billing and collection policy is designed to protect you. It prohibits wage garnishments and bench warrants, prohibits property foreclosures and limits the cases in which liens can be filed.

Use the links below to read the Hospital Billing/Collections Policy, offered in multiple languages. If you have difficulty opening, reviewing or navigating the policy in your language, please contact us at 855-398-1633 or via email at S3ContactCenterCBO@sutterhealth.org for translation services.

Please contact Patient Financial Services at 855-398-1633 if you would like to obtain a copy of this notice in an accessible format, including but not limited to large print, braille, audio, or other accessible electronic format.

ATTENTION: If you need help in your language, please call 855-398-1633 or visit the Patient Financial Services office at the hospital. Our telephone hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Aids and services for people with disabilities, like documents in braille, large print, audio, and other accessible electronic formats are also available. These services are free.

There are free consumer advocacy organizations that will help you understand the billing and payment process. You may call the Health Consumer Alliance at 888-804-3536 or go to https://healthconsumer.org for more information. Please contact Patient Financial Services for further information.

Learn more about healthcare financial assistance available in California, including discounts and charity care programs.

• See if you qualify for free or discounted care at nearby hospitals by visiting the California Hospital Free and Discount Payment Programs website.
• Search for hospital charity care policies at the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development’s website.
• Find updated poverty guidelines at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website. 
   

The Hospital Bill Complaint Program is a state program, which reviews hospital decisions about whether you qualify for help paying your hospital bill. If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program. Go to HospitalBillComplaintProgram.hcai.ca.gov for more information and to file a complaint.

Our Low Income Uninsured Program offers the following to patients seeking medically necessary care at our medical foundations:

• Uninsured patients that earn equal to or less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Index Guidelines are eligible for free medical care.
• Uninsured low-income patients that earn more than 200% of the FPIG are eligible for a program that limits their payment liability to 30% of their annual household income.
• Uninsured patients are eligible for a 20% discount off medical services.

Medical Foundation Charity Care and Low Income Uninsured Policy (PDF)

1. Complete the confidential Statement of Financial Condition (PDF).
2. Provide the following:
   1. Two most recent pay stubs.
   2. Most recent tax return.

3. Fax the information to 801-575-1255 or mail to:

   Sutter Shared Services
   Central Billing Office
   Attn: Charity Care Team Member
   P.O. Box 619010
   Roseville, CA 95661

Our pharmacy team has knowledge of and access to some financial assistance programs. These may include manufacturer discount coupons, co-pay cards, state or federal programs, or foundation assistance. If you are eligible, we will help enroll you in these programs.