Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital

Nonprofit acute care hospital in Nashville, TN.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital 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 $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for 2, $109,280 for 3, $132,000 for 4, $154,720 for 5 or $177,440 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

Discount steps

• 0% to 250% of poverty level, you pay nothing (100% discount)
• 251% to 300% of poverty level, you pay 14% of the bill (86% discount)
• 301% to 350% of poverty level, you pay 19% of the bill (81% discount)
• 351% to 400% of poverty level, you pay 21% of the bill (79% discount)

How to apply

1. Call 800-242-7416 and ask for financial assistance.
2. Application form
3. Financial Assistance Policy (July 1, 2025)
4. Plain language summary
5. 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.
6. The policy gives 240 days to apply. Ask the billing office which date the count starts from.

Residency

Lives in one of 13 Middle Tennessee counties (Cannon, Davidson, DeKalb, Hickman, Humphreys, Montgomery, Putnam, Rutherford, Sumner, Warren, White, Williamson, Wilson), 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 the same discount as 400% if total medical debt (to Ascension and other providers) equals or exceeds household income

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, and 79% to 86% off from 251% to 400%. Approved patients may be charged a small flat fee (the greater of $20 or 10% of what they owe, never more than the insured rate). Under Tennessee law, an uninsured patient is never charged more than 175% of the cost of care. 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.

Sources

• Free care level

  Patients with income less than or equal to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level income (“FPL”), will be eligible for 100% charity care

• Discount level

  Patients with incomes above 250% of the FPL but not exceeding 400% of the FPL, will receive a sliding scale discount

• Insured patients

  on that portion of the charges for services for which the Patient is responsible following payment by an insurer, if any

• Asset test

  if such Patient is deemed to have sufficient assets to pay pursuant to an “Asset Test.”

• Residency

  Financial assistance described in this section is limited to Patients that live in the Community

• Very large bills

  A Patient will be eligible for financial assistance pursuant to the Means Test if the Patient has excessive total medical debt

• Very large bills

  that is equal to or greater than such Patient’s household’s gross income

• Deadline

  submits a financial assistance application (an “Application”) on or prior to the 240th day after the Patient’s first discharge bill

• Discount steps

  Patients between 351% FPL and 400% FPL will receive 79% assistance

• Residency

  “Community” means the twelve (13) Counties of Middle Tennessee which include: Cannon, Davidson, Dekalb, Hickman, Rutherford, Warren, White, Montgomery, Putnam, Sumner, Williamson, Wilson, and Humphrey.

• Covered facility

  Saint Thomas West, dba Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital

• Documents

  Copies of 3 most recent paystubs from employer

Last checked. 2026-11-11