Wisconsin free, discounted, and charity hospital care
Many Wisconsin and Milwaukee hospitals and clinics have made it easier for patients to apply for free medical care. Below you will find information on the various assistance and charity programs offered to people in need. As one example, Columbia St. Mary's has taken steps to make it easier for individuals to apply for charity health care and financial assistance, such as using information available from a credit agency for automatic qualification in their programs. Another example is ProHealth Care, which has made its charity policy more generous.
As another example of a program becoming more generous, Wheaton Franciscan recently spent $6.8 million more to provide cash grants and financial assistance to patients in its last fiscal year.
Several hospital and local systems, such as Columbia St. Mary's, already have policies on financial assistance and cash grants that are broader than those required under the state of Wisconsin and federal government legislation. Some local Milwaukee systems and hospital have had to make slight changes in their reimbursement and charity policies, such as increasing the amount of the discount available to patients with household incomes between 200% and 400% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Milwaukee Wisconsin hospital charity programs
Columbia St. Mary's: This facility provides a 20% discount to uninsured patients and an additional 20% if the medical or hospital bill is paid in full within 30 days of the service. If the patient meets this Wisconsin’s hospitals net asset guidelines, people with household incomes at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines will receive free health care. In addition, families and individuals who have incomes between 200% and 300% of the government poverty guidelines are billed on a sliding scale. The last program offered is for all uninsured patients, and they will be eligible for health care assistance on a sliding scale tied to the size of the medical bill incurred as well as their household income.
Aurora Health Care: This local hospital gives 15% discount to uninsured patients on their hospital and medical bills and they also offer an additional 10% if the bill is paid within 30 days of the service. Patients with a total household income that is at or below 400% of the federal government poverty guidelines will also be able to receive assistance. For uninsured patients with catastrophic or sky high medical bills, the maximum payment is 10% of their income for five years. Any balance on their account, or any medical debts incurred, will be forgiven after five years.
Children's Hospital and Health System: This hospital gives a 40% discount to uninsured patients on their hospital. Also, if eligible patients meet certain net asset and household income guidelines, people with household incomes at or below 350% of the poverty level are eligible for additional assistance and lower rates based on a sliding fee scale.
Froedtert & Community Health: This Milwaukee Wisconsin based hospital provides up to a 20% discount to uninsured patients and an additional 20% if they prepay the estimated amount of the bill that results from their stay. Or patients may receive a 10% if they pay within 15 days. In addition, if the patient meets meet net asset guidelines, people with household incomes below 200% of the federal government poverty guidelines receive free health and medical care. Patients with household incomes between 200% and 400% of the federal government poverty levels are also eligible for assistance on their hospital bills based on a sliding scale. The health care system also expects to put in place a charity program or sliding-scale discount for patients with incomes between 200% and 400% of the government poverty guidelines.
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare: Provides at maximum a 45% discount to uninsured patients and those who can’t afford to pay their medical bills. If the patient meets certain guidelines on their household income and net assets, these individuals with household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level receive free health and medical care. Those patients with household incomes between 200% and 400% of the federal government poverty guidelines are eligible for assistance on their medical and health care bills based on a sliding scale. The maximum payment for an uninsured patient qualifying for charity care from this hospital is capped at 15% of gross income of the applicant.
ProHealth Care: Provides a 20% discount to under as well as uninsured patients, which is comparable to that given to health insurance plans in the area. People with household incomes of less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and who also have less than $100,000 in home equity and other assets to their name are eligible for free medical care. Those with total household incomes from between 200% to 400% of the federal government poverty guidelines are eligible for sliding-scale discounts on their medical bills that are ranging anywhere from 95% to 5%. A patient's maximum out-of-pocket costs are limited to 15% of their families gross income.
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