John C Fremont Healthcare District
Critical access hospital in Mariposa, CA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy and the state program
John C Fremont Healthcare District 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.
| People in household | Free care up to | Discount up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $177,440 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 200% of poverty level, you pay $0 (100% written off)
- 201% to 225% of poverty level, you pay 10% of the bill (90% discount)
- 226% to 250% of poverty level, you pay 25% of the bill (75% discount)
- 251% to 275% of poverty level, you pay 50% of the bill (50% discount)
- 276% to 350% of poverty level, you pay 75% of the bill (25% discount)
How to apply
- Call (844) 288-2028 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- Financial Assistance Program, Policy F-3 (dated 03/12/2019, board adopted 4/24/2019; on file with HCAI 03/12/2019)
- Bring 3 current pay stubs, last year's income tax return, latest bank statement, letters of denial or approval for Medi-Cal, Covered California, or other benefits, letters denying unemployment, if any, written statements from employers or welfare agents, if any.
- 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.
- Savings and property
- The policy counts savings or property, not only income.
- Very large bills
- Above 350% of the poverty level, a catastrophic medical event may be considered case by case, generally when the patient owes more than $30,000
- 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
- Necessary inpatient, outpatient, and emergency hospital services, plus the district's clinics and skilled nursing unit listed on its hospital license.
- Not covered
- Care that is entirely elective, for comfort or convenience.
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.
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
Program source, 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.
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.
Program source, 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.
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
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Notes
This policy is old. It is dated 2019 and the state still lists that version as current. Some parts may be out of date with California law. Free care at or below 200% of the poverty level. From 201% to 350% the bill is cut on a sliding scale, from 90% off down to 25% off. Other parts of the same policy say discounts end below 300%. Above 350% help is only for a catastrophic medical event, usually a bill over $30,000. The policy reviews all assets for Medicare patients, and the application asks for a bank statement and savings. California has barred counting most assets since 2025. The application also asks you to allow a credit report. Homeless patients and patients who died with no estate get free care. Medi-Cal patients' unpaid denied days and services are written off. Appeals go in writing to the Patient Financial Services Director, then to the CEO.
Sources
- Free care level
If the patient's family income is 200% or less of the established poverty income level
- Discount level
If the patient's family income is between 201% and 350% of the established poverty income level
- Discount steps
201% - 225% 90% 226%- 250% 75% 251%-275% 50% 276%-350% 25%
- Insured patients
Insured patients who are unable to pay patient liabilities after their insurance has paid, or those who experience high medical costs may also be eligible
- Asset test
Any evaluation for financial assistance relating to patients covered by the Medicare Program must include a reasonable analysis of all patient assets
- Very large bills
any account with a patient liability for services rendered that exceeds $30,000 may be considered for eligibility as a catastrophic medical event.
- What is not covered
Necessary services are defined as any hospital inpatient, outpatient, or emergency medical care that is not entirely elective for patient comfort and/or convenience.
- Documents
3 current pay stubs from all employers with year to date gross
- Documents
Copy of latest bank statement
- Languages
These notices shall be posted in English and Spanish
- Financial counseling phone
please contact Patient Accounts Department at 844-288-2028.
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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