Help with paying hospital bills in California
There are a number of programs available in California that will help pay for existing hospital bills or that will ensure qualified residents get a reduced rate for any upcoming needs. Among the options include the state of CA law that requires every hospital to offer free charity care or bills to eligible patients and to cap reasonable payment plans so monthly payments do not exceed ten percent of family income. Learn more about those resources, and others in California, that will help pay hospital costs.
There are also county laws around what a hospital may or may not change, debt relief options and so many others both statewide and offered locally. Enforcement of many of the state regulations moved to the state’s Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) department in 2024, and a 2025 law blocks medical debt from credit reports.
Programs offered directly by hospitals in California
Hospitals must publish a financial assistance policy for all people, screen patients for discounts (or a free charity option), and may not force you to apply for Medi-Cal or other government health insurance in CA before they screen you for the hospital’s own discount. Eligibility commonly reaches up to four hundred percent of the federal government poverty level, and hospitals in California cannot count your assets when deciding on discounted payment. If you qualify, your charge is discounted to a significantly more affordable rate and any payment plan is limited by law.
- To apply for these specific hospital assistance programs, start at the hospital’s billing or patient financial services office. They can be called over the phone too - dial the main number and ask for billing or financial office. Once in contact, ask for a charity care or financial assistance application.
- You can also look up a hospital’s policy and contacts on HCAI’s “Hospital Billing Policies” page (Health Care Access and Information and link is here https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-fair-pricing-policy-lookup/). This approach will allow you to apply directly. If a hospital ignores the rules or sends you to collections without processing your application, file a complaint with HCAI’s Hospital Bill Complaint Program.
If you cannot pay the full balance of the hospital stay, California’s “reasonable payment plan” rules apply. By statute, monthly payments on a hospital plan cannot be more than ten percent of your family’s monthly income after essential living expenses (food, utilities, housing, etc.).
Government benefits that help with hospital bills
California also tightened collections around debt. As of 2025, providers and collectors are barred from reporting medical debt to credit bureaus. In addition to that, there are other new limits apply to liens and collections. For additional consumer protections and help if a collector is contacting you, see the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation’s medical debt rights page here https://dfpi.ca.gov/news/insights/medical-debt-collection-know-your-rights/.
Get state insurance coverage going forward, and sometimes retroactively. As of January 1, 2024, full-scope Medi-Cal (Californians version of Medicaid) covers income-eligible adults of any age regardless of immigration status. Hospitals can also enroll people temporarily through Hospital Presumptive Eligibility, which can wipe out recent bills if coverage is approved.
- Qualified hospitals can enroll patients into immediate temporary Medi-Cal while a full application is processed, which can wipe out recent bills if eligibility is confirmed. Apply online or by phone through Covered California at 800-300-1506, or apply with your county social services office.
Counties also operate safety-net programs that reduce or forgive medical (hospital) bills for uninsured residents. Many counties also partner with community health centers through CA to offer medical care. These vary by county and even city. It can be a good idea to ask the hospital billing department about these options or social services. Examples include the following. Use BenefitsCal.com to apply for Medi-Cal and other county help statewide.
- San Francisco residents can enroll in Healthy San Francisco at 415-615-4555.
- In dozens of other counties, the County Medical Services Program provides coverage and assistance; call 916-649-2631 or visit their site to apply locally.
Non-profit organizations that help people in CA that have hospital bills past due
If a bill remains and you need help negotiating, free advocates are available as well as credit counseling agencies. The Health Consumer Alliance (HCA) runs a statewide helpline that helps patients appeal denials, correct hospital bills, and access financial assistance at 888-804-3536. This is a statewide service. HCA is aso as a statewide consumer resource if a hospital denies aid or violates billing rules.
For budgeting and debt-management help with medical collections, BALANCE, a California nonprofit formerly known as Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco, offers counseling at 800-777-7526;. Lower income families in CA can get free advice from the non-profit. You can also search for other credit counseling agencies in CA listed on our site for help.
When you’re insured (whether private health insurance or government plans like Medicare or Medi-Cal) and a plan refuses payment or balance bills you, contact the Department of Managed Health Care’s Help Center at 1-888-466-2219 or website here https://www.dmhc.ca.gov/AbouttheDMHC/ContactUs.aspx. They help people contest incorrect, or illegal, hospital bills. The government will offer for free assistance and to file a complaint or request an Independent Medical Review.
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