CHRISTUS Health is a Catholic, faith-based, non-profit health care system dedicated to improving the health of the people in the communities it serves. Because of this, CHRISTUS Health has a policy in place to provide care for patients in need of financial assistance.Patients with family incomes at or below 200 percent of applicable federal poverty guidelines are eligible for charity care. In addition, patients with significant medical bills and income above 200 percent of applicable federal poverty guidelines may be eligible for charity care as well. To qualify for charity care, you will need to apply for financial assistance and provide proof of income.

• You can find a list of documents that prove total family income here.
• You can also view the information you will need to complete a financial assistance application here.

Patients who are unable to pay for all or a portion of their treatment may apply for charity care by talking with a financial counselor at a CHRISTUS hospital. These counselors will first help you apply for government assistance if you are eligible. Enrolling in government programs is best, as they may help you improve your health by providing things like preventative care in order to identify diseases and chronic conditions early. To speak to a financial counselor, please contact your local facility. (You can use the facility finder to the left to locate contact information.)CHRISTUS hospitals post notices about the Charity Care Program in their Emergency Departments and Business Offices, including how a patient may apply for charity care.

How do I know what percentage of the federal poverty level I fall under?

2009 Federal Poverty Guidelines (Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)