# Ascension Sacred Heart Bay

Hospital in Panama City, FL. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $39,900 for 1 person, $54,100 for 2, $68,300 for 3, $82,500 for 4, $96,700 for 5 or $110,900 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $56,498 for 1 person, $76,606 for 2, $96,713 for 3, $116,820 for 4, $136,927 for 5 or $157,034 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $39,900 | $56,498 |
| 2 | $54,100 | $76,606 |
| 3 | $68,300 | $96,713 |
| 4 | $82,500 | $116,820 |
| 5 | $96,700 | $136,927 |
| 6 | $110,900 | $157,034 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 250% of poverty level, patient pays nothing (100% discount)
- 251% to 300% of poverty level, patient pays 10% of the bill (90% discount)
- 301% to 354% of poverty level, patient pays 18% of the bill (82% discount)

## How to apply

- Call 866-869-9677 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap-application/runningfile_flpen_english_financial-assistance-application.pdf)
- [Financial Assistance Policy (7/1/24)](https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf)
- [Plain language summary](https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/plain-language-summary/runningfile_flpen_english_exhibit-c-summary-of-financial-assistance-policy.pdf)
- The policy gives 240 days to apply. Ask the billing office which date the count starts from.
- Bring proof of income (for example 3 most recent pay stubs, latest tax return, Social Security or pension award letter, or unemployment benefits), proof of assets (for example bank statements from the last 3 months, stocks, bonds, trust funds), bills for outstanding medical and pharmacy costs, if asking for help based on medical debt, Medicaid approval or denial letter, if you have one.
- Residency. Lives in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Gulf, Franklin or Bay County, Florida, or is continuing care that already qualified at another Ascension facility
- Savings and property. The policy counts savings or property, not only income.
- Very large bills. Income above 400% of poverty level can still get help if total medical debt (to Ascension and other providers) equals or exceeds household income
- Languages. English, French, Haitian Creole, Spanish, Tagalog

## If you have insurance

Insured patients can also apply for help with deductibles and copays.
Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.

## What is covered

Covered. Emergency and other medically necessary care, including care from doctors the hospital employs and behavioral health. Scheduled future care must be approved by the hospital's chief medical officer to count as medically necessary.

Not covered. Care that is not emergency or medically necessary is not covered. Some doctors who work in the hospital are not covered, so check the list of covered providers. If your insurance treats the hospital as out of network, help may be reduced or denied.

## Notes

Free care up to 250% of the poverty level. At Ascension Sacred Heart Bay, the sliding discount runs from 251% to 354% of the poverty level (90% off, then 82% off). The policy text says the sliding scale reaches 400%, but the table for this hospital stops at 354%, so this page uses 354%. Call to ask about incomes between 354% and 400%. Apply within 240 days of the first bill after discharge to get the full benefit. You can still apply later, but then help only covers what you have not paid yet. Uninsured patients must work with a financial counselor to apply for Medicaid or other programs first. Ascension may also approve help without an application by checking public records. A denial can be appealed within 14 days. Patients who do not qualify still get an uninsured discount and may get a prompt pay discount. Assets above 250% of your poverty level amount can make you ineligible. The billing office says the uninsured discount is 60% for hospital bills.

## Sources

- Free care level https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Patients with income less than or equal to 250
- Free care level https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > will be eligible for 100% charity care on that portion of the charges for services for which the Patient is responsible
- Discount level https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Patients between 301% FPL and 354% FPL will receive 82% assistance
- Discount steps https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Patients between 251% FPL and 300% FPL will receive 90% assistance
- Insured patients https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > on that portion of the charges for services for which the Patient is responsible following payment by an insurer, if any
- Asset test https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > if such Patient is deemed to have sufficient assets to pay pursuant to an “Asset Test.”
- Residency https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Financial assistance described in this section is limited to Patients that live in the Community
- Residency https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola to include Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, d/b/a Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast to include Okaloosa and Walton counties
- Residency https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf to include Gulf and Franklin counties, and Bay County Health System to include Bay County
- Very large bills https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > A Patient will be eligible for financial assistance pursuant to the Means Test if the Patient has excessive total medical debt
- Very large bills https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > that is equal to or greater than such Patient’s household’s gross income
- Deadline https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > submits a financial assistance application (an “Application”) on or prior to the 240th day after the Patient’s first discharge bill
- Documents https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap-application/runningfile_flpen_english_financial-assistance-application.pdf
  > you will need to provide verification of your household’s income and verification of all assets owned by any household member
- Covered facility https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/florida/flpen/fap/runningfile_flpen_english_policy-600-financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Bay County Health System, LLC d/b/a Ascension Sacred Heart Bay

Last checked 2026-11-11.

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