# Dameron Hospital

Hospital in Stockton, CA. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

Dameron Hospital likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $23,780 for 1 person, $32,244 for 2, $40,707 for 3, $49,170 for 4, $57,633 for 5 or $66,096 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.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,780 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $32,244 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $40,707 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $49,170 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $57,633 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $66,096 | $177,440 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 149% of poverty level, patient pays $0 (income below 150%, insured or uninsured)
- 150% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays What Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater, and never more than the AGB (amount generally billed)

## How to apply

- Call (209) 461-3147 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=d96f4316-9c97-430f-b8f8-05be179d914f)
- [Charity Care/Discounted Payment Policy (PolicyStat 21283386, last revised 8/18/2026, status pending)](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3cff4457-d0fb-4eb9-91ff-61d8d6bf0591)
- We do not have the deadline yet. Apply as soon as you get a bill, and ask the billing office to pause collections while you apply.
- Bring recent pay stubs from within 6 months before or after the first bill, or recent income tax returns (your choice of one).
- Savings and property. The policy looks at income only, not savings or property.
- Very large bills. Out-of-pocket costs at the hospital over 10% of family income, for patients up to 400% of the poverty level
- Languages. English, Spanish

## 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 care and all other medically necessary hospital services, including medicines and supplies the hospital provides.

Not covered. Doctors and other professionals who bill separately are not covered. The policy lists ambulance, anesthesiology, emergency physicians, hospitalists, pathology, radiology, surgeons, and many other specialties.

## State program in California

### Hospital Fair Pricing Act (Health and Safety Code 127400 et seq.)

Every licensed general acute care, acute psychiatric, and special hospital in California must have a charity care policy and a discount payment policy. A patient can ask for help if they are uninsured (self-pay) or have high medical costs, and their family income is not more than 400% of the federal poverty level. Hospitals may choose to help people with higher incomes. With a discount, the bill is capped at about what Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater. You can apply at any time, even after a bill goes to collections. Immigration status does not affect eligibility.

Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.

Applies to each licensed general acute care hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, and special hospital in California.

How to apply. Apply to the hospital's financial assistance office. Each hospital's policies and applications are posted on its website and on HCAI's Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Lookup (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-fair-pricing-policy-lookup/).

> Is a self-pay patient OR a patient with high medical costs; AND Patient's family income is not more than 400 percent of the federal poverty

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/frequently-asked-questions/, checked 2026-11-10

### Hospital Bill Complaint Program (HCAI)

A free state program at HCAI. If a hospital wrongly denied you financial assistance, did not tell you about its programs, or sent you to collections the wrong way, you can file a complaint online (English and Spanish) or by mail (many languages). You must have applied to the hospital first for HCAI to review an eligibility decision. If HCAI finds you paid too much, the hospital must refund you within 30 days. It covers problems on or after January 1, 2022. It does not handle general billing disputes, price transparency, Good Faith Estimates, or bills from emergency room doctors.

Applies to complaints about any hospital covered by the Hospital Fair Pricing Act.

How to apply. File online through the Patient Complaint Portal (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/should-i-file-a-complaint/) or mail the Patient Complaint Form to Department of Health Care Access and Information, Hospital Bill Complaint Program, 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 1101, Sacramento, CA 95833.

> If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program.

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/, checked 2026-11-10

### Emergency physician discount rule

Most hospital policies cover only the hospital's own bill. Emergency room doctors often bill separately. California law also requires an emergency physician to give discounts to uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs whose family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Ask the doctor group's billing office for its discount policy. HCAI's complaint program does not handle emergency doctor bills.

Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.

Applies to emergency physicians who provide emergency medical services in a California hospital that provides emergency care.

How to apply. Ask the emergency physician group named on the bill for its discount payment policy.

> an emergency physician who provides emergency medical services in a hospital that provides emergency care is also required by law to provide discounted care

Source https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c7bdd7eb-bcc0-4a84-bcab-a21b5e578d9c, checked 2026-11-10

## Notes

Free care if family income is below 150% of the poverty level, with or without insurance. From 150% to 400%, uninsured patients pay no more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay. Insured patients with high medical costs pay the lesser of what is left after insurance or that same amount. Savings and bank accounts are not counted. There is no deadline to apply, even after a bill goes to collections. Collections stop while your application is pending. You do not have to apply for Medi-Cal first, but you may be screened for it. Payment plans are interest free. Apply by mail or in person at Patient Accounting, 525 West Acacia Street, Stockton, CA 95203. The copy filed with the state is marked status pending, with a last revised date of 8/18/2026.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=d96f4316-9c97-430f-b8f8-05be179d914f
  > Charity Care (free care): patients whose family income is below 150 percent of the federal poverty level.
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3cff4457-d0fb-4eb9-91ff-61d8d6bf0591
  > Self-Pay Patients whose documented income is between 150 percent and 400 percent, inclusive, of the Federal Poverty Level
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3cff4457-d0fb-4eb9-91ff-61d8d6bf0591
  > Medicare or Medi-Cal, whichever is greater, and in no event more than the "amounts generally billed"
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3cff4457-d0fb-4eb9-91ff-61d8d6bf0591
  > Financially Qualified Patients who are unable to pay, regardless of insurance status, provided that the patient's income falls below 150 percent
- Asset test https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3cff4457-d0fb-4eb9-91ff-61d8d6bf0591
  > Monetary assets shall not be considered in determining eligibility for Charity Care or Discounted Payment.
- Very large bills https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3cff4457-d0fb-4eb9-91ff-61d8d6bf0591
  > Annual out-of-pocket costs incurred by the individual at the Hospital that exceed the lesser of 10 percent of the patient's current family income
- What is not covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=3cff4457-d0fb-4eb9-91ff-61d8d6bf0591
  > separately billed by professionals or physicians, rather than by the hospital facility itself, are not covered by this Policy.
- Deadline https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=d96f4316-9c97-430f-b8f8-05be179d914f
  > You may apply at any time. There is no deadline to apply
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=d96f4316-9c97-430f-b8f8-05be179d914f
  > To show your income, provide only ONE of the following, whichever you choose
- Languages https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=d96f4316-9c97-430f-b8f8-05be179d914f
  > All documents are also available in Spanish.
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=d96f4316-9c97-430f-b8f8-05be179d914f
  > Free help completing this application is available. Call (209) 461-3147 or visit the Patient Accounting Department.

Last checked 2026-11-10.

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