Sycamore Shoals Hospital

Nonprofit acute care hospital in Elizabethton, TN.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

Sycamore Shoals Hospital likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $35,910 for 1 person, $48,690 for 2, $61,470 for 3, $74,250 for 4, $87,030 for 5 or $99,810 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $71,820 for 1 person, $97,380 for 2, $122,940 for 3, $148,500 for 4, $174,060 for 5 or $199,620 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

Discount steps

• 0% to 225% of poverty level, you pay nothing (100% financial assistance), unless assets over $25,000
• 225% to 450% of poverty level, you pay partial discount on a sliding scale by income (exact percentages not published in the policy)

How to apply

1. Call (888) 288-5174 and ask for financial assistance.
2. Application form
3. Financial Assistance Policy - Ballad Health (PFS-400-003-BH, effective April 29, 2025)
4. Plain language summary
5. Bring application for financial assistance, last two years of federal tax returns (or IRS form 4506-T if you did not file), W-2 and last 3 pay stubs, benefit letters (Social Security, disability, pension), if any, most recent checking, savings and health savings account statements, stocks, bonds, CDs and mutual fund statements, if any, most recent mortgage statement, if you own your home, food stamp approval letter, if any, Medicaid approval or denial letter.
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

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 care and other medically necessary hospital care at Ballad Health hospitals and Ballad Health clinics.

Not covered

Elective procedures are covered only case by case. Outside doctors and other providers may bill separately and are not covered by a Ballad application. Ask for the Provider Participation List to see who is covered.

Notes

One Ballad Health policy covers all of its Tennessee and Virginia hospitals. The policy lists Sycamore Shoals Hospital by the short name SSH. Free care counts household income and also savings, checking, stocks and bonds, and property other than your home. Assets over $25,000 can affect free care. Insured patients may also apply. Apply within 240 days of the first bill after you leave the hospital. You get 30 days after applying to send missing papers. Collection actions stop while a complete application is reviewed. If you are approved, payments made in the 240 days after the first bill can be refunded. Medicaid patients in some situations, and deceased patients with no estate, may get full help without the paperwork. Specialty pharmacy medicines use a separate process (call 1-888-952-3773). A denial can be appealed with the appeal form on the financial assistance page. Help line is (888) 288-5174, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Sources

• Free care level

  FAP-Eligible Individuals having annual Household Income below 225% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines will be eligible for 100% financial assistance

• Discount level

  Household Income between 225% and 450% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines

• Discount steps

  may be eligible for a partial discount, based on a sliding scale of income, on AGB charges.

• Insured patients

  FAP-Eligible Individual means an Uninsured, Underinsured or Insured Patient who may be eligible for financial assistance under this Policy

• Asset test

  will be eligible for 100% financial assistance, unless their Asset Value exceeds $25,000.

• Deadline

  apply for financial assistance up to two hundred forty (240) days from the date of the first post-discharge billing statement.

• Documents

  Last two years of Federal Tax Returns are required. If you did not file taxes, you must provide a 4506-T form from the IRS.

• Languages

  the Financial Assistance Application, and this Plain Language Summary are available in English and Spanish.

• Financial counseling phone

  call 888-288-5174 Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

• What is not covered

  This policy does not apply to elective procedures except on a case-by-case basis as may be determined in the sole discretion of Ballad Health.

• Covered facility

  Tennessee: BRMC, FWCH, GCH, HCH, HCMH, HVMC, IPCH, JCCH, JCMC, SSH, UCH, WPH

Last checked. 2026-11-11