St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

Children's hospital in Philadelphia, PA.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children 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.

Yearly household income, before taxes, using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines (free up to 200%, discount up to 400% of poverty level).
People in householdFree care up toDiscount 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

  • 201% to 250% of poverty level, you pay 90% off the Medicare rate, at most $300 per visit
  • 251% to 300% of poverty level, you pay 80% off the Medicare rate, at most $500 per visit
  • 301% to 350% of poverty level, you pay 70% off the Medicare rate, at most $1,000 per visit
  • 351% to 400% of poverty level, you pay 50% off the Medicare rate, at most $2,000 per visit

How to apply

  1. Call (484) 628-5683 and ask for financial assistance.
  2. Application form
  3. Patient Financial Assistance
  4. Plain language summary
  5. Bring current pay stubs or employer letter, W-2s and/or 1099s, unemployment or workers compensation approval or denial, government agency income verification, full tax return with Schedule C if self-employed, most recent bank statements for all open accounts.
  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.
Languages
English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese

If you have insurance

If you have insurance, ask whether this policy helps with deductibles and copays. Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.

What is covered

Covered
Emergency and medically necessary care at the hospital and by Tower Health Medical Group providers
Not covered
Providers not employed by the hospital or Tower Health Medical Group; cosmetic procedures use a self-pay fee schedule

State program in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid)

State health coverage. Adults 19 to 64 qualify with income at or below 133% of the poverty level. Most hospital financial assistance policies in the Philadelphia area require you to apply for Medical Assistance first. This is insurance, not a hospital discount program, so it sets no hospital charity care threshold.

Applies to people, not hospitals. We have not confirmed whether it applies to for-profit hospitals like this one. Ask the billing office.

Apply online through COMPASS or at your County Assistance Office. Hospital financial counselors can help you apply.

Adults ages 19-64 with incomes at or below 133 percent of the Federal Income Poverty Guidelines (FPIG)

Program source, checked 2026-11-10

Hospital Uncompensated Care Program (Tobacco Settlement Act, Act 77 of 2001, Chapter 11)

A state program that pays eligible hospitals for part of the uncompensated care they give, including charity care. It pays hospitals, not patients. The law defines charity care by each hospital's own charity care policy and sets no patient income limit. Whether the program is still funded today was not checked.

Applies to eligible hospitals (payments to hospitals). We have not confirmed whether it applies to for-profit hospitals like this one. Ask the billing office.

Patients do not apply. Apply to the hospital's own financial assistance program.

provided free or at a reduced rate to patients who cannot afford to pay but who are not eligible for public programs

Program source, checked 2026-11-10

Notes

You will be helped to apply for Medicaid first. Above 400% of the poverty level, the uninsured rate (25% of amounts generally billed) applies. Approval lasts one year from the first date of service. Bank statements are used to check assets; no dollar limit is stated. CMS lists this hospital as proprietary (for-profit), but it posts a full financial assistance policy on the Tower Health site; the policy lists 215-427-8442 for paper copies.

Sources

  • Free care level
    = < 200% FPL 100% financial assistance $0
  • Discount level
    For patients above 400% of the FPL, the uninsured rate applies.
  • Discount steps
    between 351% up to 400% FPL 50% allowance on MCR FFS $2,000
  • Asset test
    Most recent bank statements for all open accounts (for asset verification only).
  • Deadline
    patients are eligible to request consideration of financial assistance within 240 days from first patient statement date.
  • What is covered
    St. Christopher Hospital Per IRS Section 501(r)(4), providers delivering emergency or other medically

Last checked. 2026-11-10

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