Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers (Saint Vincent's) recognizes that there are times when patients in need of care will have difficulty paying for the services provided. Saint Vincent's Financial Assistance Program provides discounts to qualifying individuals, based on your income. In addition, if you qualify, we can help you apply for free or low-cost insurance. Just call our financial counselor at (212) 604-8103, or go to the business office on the first floor of the Coleman Building, for free, confidential assistance.

• Who qualifies for a discount?
  • Financial assistance is available for patients with limited incomes/financial resources and no health insurance.
  • Everyone in New York State who needs medially necessary services can receive care and get a discount if they meet the income limits.
  • Patients/guarantors who provide required information, documentation and/or self-attestation to allow us to determine financial need.
  • You may apply for a discount regardless of immigration status.
     
• What are the income limits?
  The amount of the discount varies based on your income, assets and the size of your family.  If you have no health insurance, these are the income limits*:
  
  

  Family Size	Annual Family Income	Monthly Family Income	Weekly Family Income
  1	Up to $30,630	Up to $2,553	Up to $589
  2	Up to $41,070	Up to $3,423	Up to $790
  3	Up to $51,510	Up to $4,293	Up to $991
  4	Up to $61,950	Up to $5,163	Up to $1,191
  5	Up to $72,390	Up to $6,033	Up to $1,392
  6	Up to $82,830	Up to $6,903	Up to $1,593

                   *Based on the 2007 Federal Poverty Guideline

• What if I do not meet the income limits?
  • Saint Vincent's offers self-pay pricing for patients who have financial needs in paying their bill.
  • If you cannot pay your bill, Saint Vincent's offers a payment plan to those patients that meet the income limits. The amount you pay depends on the amount of your income.
     
• Can someone explain the discount?  Can someone help me apply?
  • Yes. Free, confidential help is available. Call (212) 604-8103.
  • If you do not speak English, someone will help you in your own language.
  • The financial Counselor can tell you if you qualify for free or low-cost insurance such as Medicaid, Child Health Plus or Family Health Plus.
  • If the financial counselor finds that you don't qualify for a low-cost insurance, you will be helped to apply for a discount.  The financial counselor will help you fill out all the forms and tell you what documents you need to bring.
    
    
•   What do I need to apply for a discount
  • Proof of identity (driver's license, permanent registration card, marriage license, birth certificate, baptismal certificate, passport, or citizenship certificate)
  • Proof of residence (rent receipt, utility bills, etc.
  •  Proof of Income (pay stubs, W-2, Social Security checks, unemployment, disability, letter of support, etc.)
  • Assets (bank accounts, real estate, etc.)
  • If you cannot provide any of these, you may still be able to apply for financial assistance.
    
    
•  What services are covered?
  • All medically necessary services provided by Saint Vincent's are covered by the discount. This includes outpatient services, emergency care and inpatient admissions.
  • Charges from private doctors who provide service in the hospital may not be covered. You should talk to private doctors to see if they offer a discount or payment plan. 
    
     
• How much do I have to pay?
  • The amount you will pay for an outpatient service or the emergency room for children and pregnant women depends on your income, but can be as little as $0.  Our financial counselor will give you the details about your specific discount(s) once your application is processed.
  • A deposit is required for any scheduled, non-emergency services.
    
     
• How do I get the discount?
  • You have to fill out the application form.  As soon as we have proof of your income, residency and assets, we can process your application for a discount that will be based on your income level.
  • You can apply for a discount before you have an appointment, when you come to the hospital to get care, or when the bill comes in the mail. You have up to 90 days after receiving the services to submit the application.

Send the completed application form to:

St. Vincent's Hospital
Patient Access Department
170 West 12 Street
New York, New York 10011
Attention: Financial Counselor

• How will I know if I was approved for the discount?
  • Saint Vincent's will send you a letter within 30 days after completion and submission of all required information and documentation, to tell you if you have been approved and the level of discount you will receive.
    
•  What if I receive a bill while I'm waiting to hear if I can get a discount?
  • You cannot be required to pay a hospital bill while your application for a discount is being considered. If your application is turned down, the hospital must tell you why in writing and must provide you with a way to appeal this decision to a higher level within the hospital.
    
• What if I have a problem I cannot resolve with the hospital?
  • You may call the New York State Department of Health complaint hotline at 1-800-804-5447.