administration
Charity Care
無償医療（チャリティケア） (mushō iryō (chariti kea))
Charity care is free or reduced-cost medical care provided by hospitals to patients who cannot afford to pay. Non-profit hospitals are required by federal law to have written financial assistance policies (FAPs) and must provide charity care as a condition of their tax-exempt status. Eligibility is typically income-based, often using a percentage of the federal poverty level. Patients must apply — charity care is not automatic — and may need to provide income documentation. Applications can often be submitted after receiving care.
The ACA strengthened requirements for non-profit hospitals to publicize and apply their financial assistance policies consistently.
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Charity Care |
| Japanese (日本語) | 無償医療（チャリティケア） |
| Chinese (中文) | 慈善医疗 |
| Korean (한국어) | 무료 의료 지원 |
| Portuguese | Atendimento Gratuito |
| Spanish | Atención de Caridad |
| Filipino | Charity Care |
| Thai | การดูแลสุขภาพแบบการกุศล |
| Vietnamese | Chăm sóc từ thiện |
| Romanization | mushō iryō (chariti kea) |
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Browse US healthcare guides →Last reviewed: September 2026