US Medical Term · administration
Hospital Financial Assistance
Asistencia Financiera Hospitalaria
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Hospital Financial Assistance |
| Spanish (Español) | Asistencia Financiera Hospitalaria |
| Chinese (中文) | 医院财政援助 |
| Korean (한국어) | 병원 재정 지원 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Hỗ trợ tài chính bệnh viện |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Hospital Financial Assistance |
| Portuguese (Português) | Assistência Financeira Hospitalar |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ความช่วยเหลือทางการเงินของโรงพยาบาล |
| Japanese (日本語) | 病院財政支援 |
What it means
Hospital financial assistance programs, also called charity care programs, provide free or discounted care to patients who cannot pay their medical bills. Under the ACA, non-profit hospitals must have written financial assistance policies (FAPs), publicize them, make plain-language summaries available, and not charge patients who qualify for assistance more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients. Applications are typically income-based. Hospitals must provide financial assistance applications before sending bills to collections.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I cannot pay my hospital bill in full — how do I apply for financial assistance?
No puedo pagar mi factura del hospital en su totalidad — ¿cómo solicito asistencia financiera?
The hospital social worker helped me complete the financial assistance application.
El trabajador social del hospital me ayudó a completar la solicitud de asistencia financiera.
My income qualifies me for financial assistance that covers 80 percent of my bill.
Mis ingresos me califican para asistencia financiera que cubre el 80 por ciento de mi factura.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Related guide
→ US Guide: hospital financial assistance and charity careSources
Last reviewed: September 2026