The state attorney general's office has a new, online guide to help New Yorkers get financial assistance if they cannot afford their hospital bills.
Under the state's public health law, all hospitals are required to offer financial assistance to eligible patients if they have difficulty covering the costs of their emergency or medically necessary non-emergency care.
But the AG's office claims many people are unaware of this protection at a time when hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are facing higher insurance premiums and gaps in their health coverage due to federal cuts.
Patients may be eligible for hospital financial assistance if they are uninsured or underinsured. There are also income requirements.
Patients with household incomes of up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify for a discount on their hospital bills. That translates to up to $63,840 for a single person or $132,000 for a family of four.
Free hospital care must be given to eligible patients whose annual income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or $31,920 for a single person and $66,000 for a family of four.
According to the guidance, hospitals may not ask about a patient's immigration status or consider their immigration status as a factor in deciding whether the patient qualifies for financial aid.
Patients have the right to appeal a rejected application. They may also file an appeal requesting a larger amount of assistance.
