Madera Community Hospital
Nonprofit acute care hospital in Madera, CA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy
Madera Community Hospital likely gives free care 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. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $95,760 for 1 person, $129,840 for 2, $163,920 for 3, $198,000 for 4, $232,080 for 5 or $266,160 for 6.
The hospital makes the final decision.
| People in household | Free care up to | Discount up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $63,840 | $95,760 |
| 2 | $86,560 | $129,840 |
| 3 | $109,280 | $163,920 |
| 4 | $132,000 | $198,000 |
| 5 | $154,720 | $232,080 |
| 6 | $177,440 | $266,160 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 400% of poverty level, you pay $0 if uninsured, or insured with high medical costs
- 401% to 600% of poverty level, you pay Discounted rates (amount not stated), no more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay
- 601% to % of poverty level, you pay Case-by-case discount, such as for catastrophic illness
How to apply
- Call (209) 488-4820 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- Madera Community Hospital Financial Assistance Policy (Financial Assistance Program, effective January 1, 2025; posted to HCAI 11/06/2026)
- Bring federal income tax return (Form 1040) for the patient and spouse or domestic partner, or three months of pay stubs from within 6 months before or after the first bill.
- 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.
- Very large bills
- Insured patients up to 400% of the poverty level with out-of-pocket costs over 10% of family income get free care. Above 600%, discounts are case by case, such as for catastrophic illness.
- 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
- Medically necessary services provided by Madera Community Hospital.
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
Free care at or below 400% of the poverty level if you have no insurance, or if you have insurance and high medical costs. From 401% to 600% you can get a discount, but the policy does not say how much. Your bill can never be more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater. People who filed for bankruptcy, or who died with no estate, get full help. You get a written answer within 30 days of a complete application. Approval lasts 180 days. Appeals go in writing to Patient Financial Services within 30 days of the decision. The policy gives no deadline to apply and does not say whether savings are counted. Mail or bring the application to the Madera Community Hospital Business Office, 5258 Pirrone Court, Salida, 95368. The phone number is printed on the application, which was posted in April 2025. The state lookup page lists several policy versions. The newest is dated 11/06/2026, though the document itself says it took effect January 1, 2025.
Sources
- Free care level
Patients whose family income is at or below 400% of the FPL, and who are uninsured or have high medical costs, will receive free care.
- Discount level
above 400% of the FPL but no more than 600% of the FPL are eligible to receive services at discounted rates.
- Discount steps
Patients whose family income exceed 600% of the FPL may be eligible to receive discounted rates on a case-by-case basis
- Insured patients
Patients with insurance whose family income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) are eligible for financial assistance, including free care
- Very large bills
yearly out-of-pocket costs at the hospital that are more than 10 percent of the patient's current family income
- Documents
Three months' pay stubs from within the 6 months before or after the patient is first billed
- Languages
These notices will be made available in at least English and Spanish
- Financial counseling phone
If you have questions, please call 209-488-4820.
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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