# Tahoe Forest Hospital

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

Tahoe Forest Hospital 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.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is 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 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 200% of poverty level, patient pays $0 for emergency services; non-emergency care is capped at the Medicare amount, with more help at the hospital's discretion
- 201% to 215% of poverty level, patient pays 10% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 216% to 230% of poverty level, patient pays 20% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 231% to 245% of poverty level, patient pays 30% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 246% to 260% of poverty level, patient pays 40% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 261% to 275% of poverty level, patient pays 50% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 276% to 290% of poverty level, patient pays 60% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 291% to 305% of poverty level, patient pays 70% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 306% to 320% of poverty level, patient pays 80% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 321% to 335% of poverty level, patient pays 90% of the Medicare amount (emergency services)
- 336% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays 100% of the Medicare amount (all medically necessary services)

## How to apply

- Call (530) 582-6458 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=fe9712fa-23e4-4e9d-93cb-ed81e1239516)
- [Financial Assistance Program Full Charity Care and Discount Payment Policies, ABD-09 (posted to HCAI 07/27/2026)](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925)
- 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 recent pay stubs from within 6 months before or after the first bill, or income tax returns for the year first billed or the 12 months before.
- Very large bills. Patients who do not qualify may get case-by-case help for a catastrophic illness, based on the bill, family income, and assets
- 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 inpatient, outpatient, and emergency services on the Tahoe Forest Hospital license, plus Incline Village Community Hospital, clinics, and therapy programs. Clinics, home health, hospice, and the skilled nursing unit have their own discount tables.

Not covered. Elective services that are not medically necessary are 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 200% of the poverty level applies to emergency services. For other medically necessary hospital care, everyone at or below 400% has their share of the bill capped at what Medicare would pay, and any further help is up to the hospital. For emergency care from 201% to 400% you pay a share of the Medicare amount on a sliding scale, from 10% up to 100%. If you have insurance, you pay no more than the gap between what insurance paid and the Medicare amount. You may be asked to take part in Medi-Cal screening. There is no deadline to apply. You can ask for a second look in writing within 60 days of the decision, and the Chief Financial Officer decides. The policy does not say whether savings count, except for catastrophic cases. Visit Financial Counseling at 10121 Pine Avenue, Truckee, CA 96161, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > the patient will be granted Full Charity Care for Emergency Services provided.
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > If the patient's family income is 400% or less of FPL and meets all other Financial Assistance Program qualification requirements
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > 201 – 215% 10% 216 – 230% 20% 231 – 245% 30%
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > if covered by third party insurance and unable to pay the patient liability amount owed after insurance has paid its portion of the account
- Very large bills https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > consideration of the individual's family income and assets as reported at the time of occurrence.
- What is not covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > This does not include elective services.
- Deadline https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > Eligibility for discounted payments or charity care shall be determined at any time, and there are no time limits for applying.
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > documentation of income shall be limited to recent pay stubs or income tax returns.
- Languages https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > These notices shall be posted in English and Spanish
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=9c215661-0117-4510-88e3-d527e34e2925
  > If assistance is needed, patients can call 530-582-6458 or visit 10121 Pine Avenue Truckee, CA 96161.

Last checked 2026-11-10.

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