Essentia Health Fosston

Nonprofit critical access hospital in Fosston, MN.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

Essentia Health Fosston likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $31,920 for 1 person, $43,280 for 2, $54,640 for 3, $66,000 for 4, $77,360 for 5 or $88,720 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $47,880 for 1 person, $64,920 for 2, $81,960 for 3, $99,000 for 4, $116,040 for 5 or $133,080 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

Discount steps

• 0% to 200% of poverty level, you pay nothing (100% discount)
• 201% to 300% of poverty level, you pay 50% of charges (50% discount)

How to apply

1. Call 800-985-4675 and ask for financial assistance.
2. Application form
3. Financial Assistance Program (Policy #002578)
4. Plain language summary
5. Bring federal tax return, last 2 months of pay stubs or other income proof, 2 most recent months of bank and other account statements, proof of residency (mortgage statement, utility bill or lease), Medicaid approval or denial letter if uninsured, letter explaining how you support yourself if you have no income.
6. 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.

Residency

Must live in an Essentia Health service area for full coverage; people from outside it get help only for emergency care

Savings and property

The policy counts savings or property, not only income.

Very large bills

Bills over $5,000 for people above the income limit; patient pays no more than 20% of yearly income; once in a lifetime

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 and medically necessary hospital and clinic care at Essentia Health, including bills from Essentia doctors. Approval lasts 12 months.

Not covered

Retail pharmacy, eyeglasses, hearing aids, cosmetic care, assisted living, skilled nursing and some other services are not covered. Doctors and groups that are not part of Essentia Health bill separately. Insured patients who go out of network get help only for emergency care.

Notes

These income levels took effect July 1, 2026. Approval covers eligible bills for 12 months, and you need to reapply each year. Insured patients must use Essentia as an in-network provider for ongoing help. If you have no insurance, you will be asked to apply for Medicaid first. Return the application and papers within 30 days of when it was sent to you. A decision can take up to 45 business days, and collections are paused while your complete application is reviewed. Appeals must be in writing within 3 months. Uninsured patients get a discount at any income. At Minnesota hospitals, uninsured patients with household income under $125,000 are not charged more than the lowest private insurer rate. Payment plans are available. You can apply by mail, by email to FinancialAssistanceAppinfo@EssentiaHealth.org, or in MyChart.

Sources

• Free care level

  Fully discounted care is provided when gross income is at or below 200% of the FPG.

• Discount level

  Partially discounted care (50% adjustment) is provided when gross income is between 201% and 300% of the FPG.

• Insured patients

  financial assistance to eligible patients who are uninsured or underinsured

• Asset test

  Whose Liquid Assets do not exceed Seventy-Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000) for household of one (1)

• Residency

  Patients who live outside a designated Essentia Health service area will not be eligible for full program coverage

• Very large bills

  Patient, or their Guarantor will pay no more than 20% of annual income on all eligible charges.

• Catastrophic threshold

  does not qualify but has a balance greater than Five Thousand Dollars ($5000)

• Documents

  Documentation is required for all wage earners contributing to your household.

• Financial counseling phone

  For questions regarding our Financial Assistance Program, you can call us at 800-985-4675

• Covered facility

  Essentia Health Fosston

• Mn uninsured limit

  not to charge a patient whose annual household income is less than $125,000 for any uninsured service

Last checked. 2026-11-11