HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital

Nonprofit critical access hospital in Oconto Falls, WI.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital 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 $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 200% of poverty level, you pay nothing (100% discount)
• 200.1% to 300% of poverty level, you pay 10% of the bill (90% discount)
• 300.1% to 400% of poverty level, you pay 20% of the bill (80% discount)

How to apply

1. Call 833-464-1778 and ask for financial assistance.
2. Application form
3. Financial Assistance Program Policy
4. Plain language summary
5. Bring completed application, proof of income (pay stubs, tax return or W-2, or benefit letter), one month of bank statements for each account, statement of assets, proof of residency (state ID or driver's license, or utility bill).
6. The policy gives 240 days to apply. Ask the billing office which date the count starts from.

Savings and property

The policy counts savings or property, not only income.

Very large bills

Medical debt above 20% of yearly family income can be written off, if the patient tells HSHS and it is verified

Languages

English, Spanish, Hmong

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 at HSHS hospitals, including balances left after insurance pays.

Not covered

Elective, cosmetic and other care that insurance usually does not pay for. Doctors who are not HSHS doctors may bill separately and may not follow this policy. HSHS posts a list of providers who do and do not honor the policy on hshs.org.

Notes

HSHS uses one policy for all its hospitals, with different top income limits in Illinois and Wisconsin. Significant assets, worth more than 6 times the poverty level, generally make a patient ineligible. People enrolled in programs like SNAP, WIC, TANF or LIHEAP may be approved for a full write-off without income proof. Patients may be asked to apply for Medicaid or other programs first. A denial can be appealed within 30 days. The 2026 plain language brochure lists a 25% of income yearly cap, while the policy itself says 20%. Ask the business office which applies. The local business office for this hospital is 920-846-3444.

Sources

• Free care level

  Below 200% of FPL are eligible to receive a 100% discount.

• Discount level

  Above 300% of FPL but equal to or less than 400% are eligible to receive an 80% discount.

• Discount steps

  Above 200% of FPL but equal to or less than 300% are eligible to receive a 90% discount.

• Insured patients

  Financial assistance will be extended to uninsured and underinsured patients, or a patient’s guarantor, who meet specified criteria

• Asset test

  Available assets of patients will be considered in determining eligibility for financial assistance under the Financial Assistance Program.

• Very large bills

  Catastrophic medical debt is defined as medical debt more than 20% of the annual income of the patient’s family.

• Deadline

  ends on the later of the 240th day after the date the first post-discharge statement for the care is provided

• Documents

  Checking/Savings = 1 month of complete (all pages) bank statement for each account.

• Financial counseling phone

  Toll Free – (833) 464-1778

• Covered facility

  HSHS St. Clare Memorial Hospital – Oconto Falls

• Local business office phone

  Phone: 920-846-3444

Last checked. 2026-11-11