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CHRISTUS Health's Discount for
Uninsured Patients

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In keeping with the mission and core values of CHRISTUS Health, patients who are uninsured will be treated fairly and with respect at all times, regardless of their ability to pay.

Each CHRISTUS region offers discounts to the uninsured for medically necessary health services received at CHRISTUS hospitals. The discount does not apply to rehabilitation hospitals, long-term care facilities, or other entities.

CHRISTUS Health’s discount for uninsured patients allows us to provide them with prices that are similar to the prices we set for other groups including government and private payers. CHRISTUS hospitals provide this discount in order to ensure that uninsured patients receive quality medical care that takes their financial status and ability to pay into consideration.

Uninsured patients who are unable to pay for all or a portion of their treatment may apply for financial assistance 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. Preventative care can help identify diseases and chronic conditions early, before they become unmanageable. To speak to a financial counselor, please contact your local CHRISTUS facility. (You can use the facility finder to the left to locate contact information.)

For this policy, the term “uninsured patients” refers to patients who have no type of insurance and are not covered by a health insurance policy or other health benefit plan. Government-sponsored programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are considered health benefit plans. Therefore, recipients of Medicare, Medicaid and other government-sponsored programs are generally not eligible for these discounts.

However, if a patient has a health insurance policy that does not cover his or her medically necessary treatment, then that patient is deemed to be "uninsured" for that service or procedure, and eligible under the Uninsured Discount policy.

The formula for discounts for the uninsured is as follows. Application for financial assistance and proof of total family household income is required for all levels up to 401 percent of the federal poverty level.

Patient Family Income Level, based on Federal Poverty Guidelines	Patient Obligation (the percentage of the patient cost that the patient is expected to pay)	Discount (the amount of the patient cost that is discounted and not part of the patient's obligation)
Up to 200% of poverty level	No charge to patient (qualifies as charity care)	100% (the entire patient cost is waived)
201% to 300% of poverty level	Patient is expected to pay 50% of list price in most cases	50% discount off list price in most cases
301% to 400% of poverty level	Patient is expected to pay 70% of list price in most cases	30% discount off list price in most cases
Between 401% and above of poverty level	Patient is expected to pay 100% of uninsured discounted price	No additional discount off of uninsured discounted price

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

Please Note: The chart below is based on your total yearly family household income.

2009 Federal Poverty Guidelines
# of people in family	100% of Poverty Level	200% of Poverty Level	300% of Poverty Level	400% of Poverty Level
1	$10,830	$21,660	$32,490	$43,320
2	$14,570	$29,140	$43,710	$58,280
3	$18,310	$36,620	$54,930	$73,240
4	$22,050	$44,100	$66,150	$88,200
5	$25,790	$51,580	$77,370	$103,160
6	$29,530	$59,060	$88,590	$18,120
7	$33,270	$66,540	$99,810	$133,080
8	$37,010	$74,020	$111,030	$148,040
For family units with more than eight members, add $3,740 for each additional family member. (Source: U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services)

In addition, uninsured patients are provided with financial counseling, including assistance applying for local, state and federal health care programs. Uninsured patients will also be offered reasonable payment terms as part of the financial counseling process. These measures are in place to assist patients in paying their bill, as payment based on reasonable terms is expected.

CHRSITUS Health and its regions continue to work for increased access to health care and coverage for the uninsured through legislative and community advocacy.

Exclusions from discount policy
Patients whose treatment is covered by their insurance, including types of insurance that are government-sponsored like Medicare and Medicaid, are excluded. Patients who are covered by other "third party" sources of payment are excluded as well (like those who were involved in car wrecks and whose treatment will be paid by the person at fault).

This directive excludes health care services that are not considered medically necessary, are cosmetic, experimental, or part of a clinical research program.

CHRISTUS hospitals provide charity care for patients with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Therefore, they are excluded from receiving additional discounts, including the discount for the uninsured. Please click here to view information about the charity care we offer.

Click here for more information about financial assistance.

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