New York Hospital Charity Care (2026): NY Eligibility, Statutes, and How to Apply
New York's Hospital Financial Assistance Law (HFAL) applies to every hospital that receives Indigent Care Pool funds — which is most of them.
Quick answer
New York eligibility floor: 300% FPL minimum for Indigent Care Pool hospitals (sliding-scale discounts mandatory). Statute: N.Y. Public Health Law § 2807-k (Hospital Financial Assistance Law / HFAL). The federal 501(r) framework also applies to every nonprofit hospital, with the 240-day retroactive window for refunds. New York's HFAL imposes a mandatory sliding-scale discount for any hospital that receives Indigent Care Pool funding. Hospitals must publish their financial assistance policy in 6+ languages. Collection actions during a pending application are prohibited.
Need help applying?
If you'd rather not file the application yourself, Dollar For is a nonprofit that handles charity care applications for free. They're the most credible name in the space and they cover New York.
What New York Hospitals Are Required to Do
New York's HFAL imposes a mandatory sliding-scale discount for any hospital that receives Indigent Care Pool funding. Hospitals must publish their financial assistance policy in 6+ languages. Collection actions during a pending application are prohibited. Patients should always check the specific hospital's posted Financial Assistance Policy for the current eligibility cutoffs and AGB rate. State and federal protections operate side-by-side; you typically benefit from whichever is more generous.
Federal IRS 501(r) sets the baseline: every nonprofit hospital must publish a Financial Assistance Policy (FAP), evaluate eligible patients without charging more than "Amounts Generally Billed" (AGB), and accept retroactive applications up to 240 days after the first post-discharge bill. New York state law layers on top of 501(r) and frequently goes further.
Top New York Hospital Systems
These are the largest healthcare systems in New York. Each publishes a Financial Assistance Policy on its website. Search the system name plus "Financial Assistance Policy" to find the current eligibility cutoffs and AGB rates.
- Northwell Health
- NewYork-Presbyterian
- Mount Sinai Health System
- NYU Langone
- Montefiore Health System
NY AG's Healthcare Bureau actively investigates HFAL violations. Community Service Society of NY publishes a hospital-by-hospital scorecard of HFAL compliance.
How to Apply for New York Charity Care, Step-by-Step
1. Find the FAP
Search "[hospital name] Financial Assistance Policy." Every nonprofit hospital must publish one. The FAP includes eligibility cutoffs, the application form, required documents, and the AGB rate.
2. Gather documents
Most New York hospitals require: most recent tax return, last 2-4 pay stubs, current bank statements, government ID, household composition documentation. Some require an asset declaration.
3. Submit the application
Most accept online submission, fax, or mail. Always send via a method that produces a receipt. If submitting by mail, certified mail with return receipt protects you against "we never received it" denials.
4. Track the deadline
Federal 501(r) gives you 240 days from the first post-discharge bill. New York state programs sometimes go longer (New Jersey: 2 years; Massachusetts: 10 days backdating from receipt). Mark your calendar at the 200-day mark for federal claims.
5. Request reconsideration if denied
Denials are appealable. Common denial reasons that can be overcome: incomplete documentation (just resubmit), borderline income (request the catastrophic-care exception if your bill exceeds 10-25% of annual income), or asset test failure (challenge based on the specific hospital's policy text).
6. Escalate if the hospital won't engage
File a complaint with the New York Attorney General, Healthcare Bureau. If the hospital is nonprofit and you believe they're violating 501(r), file IRS Form 13909. New York has its own enforcement mechanisms layered on top.
Pause collections during your application
Under 26 CFR § 1.501(r)-6, a pending charity care application pauses extraordinary collection actions: the hospital cannot send your account to collections, sue you, or report the bill to credit bureaus during the determination period. If they do, that's a 501(r) violation reportable to the IRS.
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