Hospital charity care in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not set a single statewide income cutoff the way California or New York do. Federal IRS 501(r) rules for nonprofit hospitals do most of the work, and large systems (UPMC, Penn Medicine, Temple, AHN, Geisinger) set their own — often generous — thresholds. Notification requirements and pending legislation are also important.
Limited mandate
Pennsylvania requires hospitals to have a financial assistance policy but does not dictate specific FPL percentages for free or discounted care statewide.
IRS 501(r)
Every nonprofit hospital must maintain a written FAP, publicize it, limit charges to AGB for eligible patients, and follow the 240-day application window.
Often generous
UPMC, Penn Medicine, Temple, and others frequently offer free care well above 200% FPL and discounts higher — always check the specific hospital.
Uniform application bills
Legislation has been introduced to standardize applications and improve transparency; watch for updates.
What actually determines eligibility in Pennsylvania
Because there is no single state income mandate, your hospital’s published Financial Assistance Policy is the controlling document:
| Typical hospital tier (examples) | Common benefit |
|---|---|
| Under 200% FPL (~$31,920 for 1 / $66,000 for 4) | Often 100% free care at many large systems |
| 200–300% or 400% FPL | Sliding-scale discount (varies widely by hospital) |
| Medical hardship / catastrophic | Many hospitals have additional pathways when bills are large relative to income |
| Above hospital cutoff | Uninsured discount, payment plans, or negotiation |
Real-world variation is high: one hospital may give full free care at 300% FPL while another stops at 200% or requires a hardship showing. Always download the actual FAP for the facility that billed you.
What patients can rely on in Pennsylvania
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Federal right
Federal 501(r) full suite
Written FAP, plain-language summary, free copies, 240-day application period, AGB limit, and reasonable efforts before extraordinary collection actions.
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Required
Notification of assistance
Hospitals (especially those receiving certain state funds) must notify patients of charity care options before aggressive collection.
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Important
No statewide income floor
Unlike CA, IL, or NY, there is no universal FPL percentage every hospital must honor. Hospital policy rules.
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Protected
Wage garnishment limits
Pennsylvania has strong protections against excessive wage garnishment for medical debt in many cases.
Check Medicaid and CHIP first
Pennsylvania expanded Medicaid. If you or your children may qualify, apply — it is usually better coverage than charity care alone. Hospitals must help screen for public programs.
How to look up a specific hospital’s rules
Search “[hospital name] financial assistance policy” or “charity care.” Major systems post clear FAPs and applications (UPMC, Penn Medicine, Temple Health, AHN, Geisinger, WellSpan, etc.). Call the billing department and ask for the Financial Assistance Policy and application form — they are required to provide them free of charge.
Where this page’s claims come from
- Dollar For — Pennsylvania Charity Care Law summary
- IRS Section 501(r)
- Spotlight PA reporting on Pennsylvania hospital financial assistance variation (2025 reporting, still current)
- Pennsylvania General Assembly bills on hospital-based financial assistance (ongoing)
General information, not legal advice
Hospital policies differ significantly across Pennsylvania. Always confirm with the specific hospital’s financial assistance office and download their current FAP.