# St. Joseph's Behavioral Health Center

Hospital in Stockton, CA. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

St. Joseph's Behavioral Health Center likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $39,900 for 1 person, $54,100 for 2, $68,300 for 3, $82,500 for 4, $96,700 for 5 or $110,900 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $79,800 for 1 person, $108,200 for 2, $136,600 for 3, $165,000 for 4, $193,400 for 5 or $221,800 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $39,900 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $54,100 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $68,300 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $82,500 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $96,700 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $110,900 | $221,800 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 250% of poverty level, patient pays $0 (100% discount)
- 251% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays No more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater, and no more than AGB (uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs)
- 401% to 500% of poverty level, patient pays No more than AGB (uninsured patients only)

## How to apply

- Call (209) 461-5281 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=02bab3ea-6bb8-4c8c-8b22-ab607bc3a94d)
- [CommonSpirit Health Financial Assistance (Governance Policy Finance G-003, effective July 1, 2026), with Addendum G-003A-1 Financial Assistance - California (effective January 1, 2026)](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f)
- 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.
- Bring income tax returns or recent pay stubs (the only income proof the hospital may ask for), a written explanation if you have no income.
- Residency. None for care at a California hospital. People who live outside the U.S. need approval from the hospital's chief financial officer unless the visit is urgent or emergent.
- Savings and property. The policy counts savings or property, not only income.
- Very large bills. Income at or below 400% of the poverty level and yearly out-of-pocket costs at the hospital over 10% of family income (or over 10% with proof of medical expenses paid in the past 12 months). This qualifies for the discount. If what you still owe after a discount is over 30% of family income, a hardship discount can lower it to 30%.

## 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 care in the hospital, including care by physicians employed by the hospital organization or a related entity.

Not covered. Emergency physicians bill separately and must give their own discounts up to 400% of the poverty level. Other physicians may not be covered; the hospital posts a list of covered and non-covered providers. Elective and cosmetic care is not covered.

## 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.

How to apply. 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

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/frequently-asked-questions/, 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.

How to apply. 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.

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/, 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.

How to apply. 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

Source https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c7bdd7eb-bcc0-4a84-bcab-a21b5e578d9c, checked 2026-11-10

## Notes

Free care at or below 250% of the poverty level, for uninsured patients and insured patients with high medical costs. Up to 400%, uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs pay no more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay. Uninsured patients between 401% and 500% pay no more than the amount generally billed to insured patients. If you still owe more than 30% of your family income after a discount, ask about the extra hardship discount. There is no deadline to apply. Discounted bills come with an interest-free payment plan on request. You need a balance of at least $10. The main policy says the hospital may consider monetary assets. The California addendum says the hospital may accept asset papers and cannot require them, and the application says asset proof is helpful and optional. You get an answer within 30 days. To dispute a denial, call the Customer Service Manager at 800-400-3045 or write to the Financial Assistance Center, PO Box 213008, Stockton, CA 95213-9010. St. Joseph's Medical Center and St. Joseph's Behavioral Health Center in Stockton list the same financial counselor number. The contact page in the filed policy names this hospital in its title, but one sentence says the contact information is for Mercy General Hospital, which looks like a template leftover.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > Charity Care (Up to 250% of the FPL)
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > Any Uninsured Patient who has a Family Income above 400% but at or below 500% of FPL is eligible to receive Discounted Care
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > would in good faith expect to receive for providing services from Medicare or Medi-Cal, whichever is greater
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > including, without limitation, any Uninsured patient or Patient with High Medical Costs, is eligible to receive Charity Care
- Asset test https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > In determining eligibility, CommonSpirit Hospital Organization may consider the ‘monetary assets’ of the patient’s Family.
- Residency https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > unless the visit is urgent or emergent or occurs within a California Hospital Facility.
- Very large bills https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > annual out-of-pocket costs incurred by the individual at the hospital that exceed the lesser of 10% of the patient’s current Family Income
- What is not covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > Any emergency physician who provides emergency medical services at a CommonSpirit Hospital Organization with an emergency care facility will provide discounts to Uninsured patients
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > documentation requested from the patient shall be limited to income tax returns or recent pay stubs.
- Application deadline days none https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > shall not impose time limits for applying for Charity Care or Discounted Care
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > Call the financial counselor of the Hospital Facility at: (209) 461-5281
- Facility named in policy https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=4a75caa7-5d6e-4b55-8444-eb59a97e043f
  > SUBJECT: Hospital Facility Financial Assistance Contact Information St. Josephs Behavioral Health Center

Last checked 2026-11-10.

HTML page https://hospitalaid.org/hospitals/st-josephs-behavioral-health-center-stockton-ca/
Report an error corrections@hospitalaid.org