Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

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Montana program

Help with bills at your child’s hospital

Your child’s hospital may reduce eligible bills under its financial assistance policy, including some balances left after insurance. The hospital’s location and policy decide the rules.

What it is

Your child’s hospital may reduce eligible bills under its financial assistance policy, including some balances left after insurance. The hospital’s location and policy decide the rules.

A bill can leave a balance despite insurance. Your child’s hospital can review eligible bills under its assistance policy. The hospital’s location and policy decide which protections apply.

Eligibility rules
  • The listed hospitals are in Utah, Washington and Colorado. Their locations and policies matter even though your family lives in Montana. A Montana nonprofit hospital has a separate duty under MCA 50-5-121 to maintain a written assistance policy.
  • Each policy sets assistance conditions.
What you get
  • A written assistance policy and review of eligible bills.
  • A review of eligible balances left after insurance.
What it covers
  • Tax-exempt hospitals generally cannot start extraordinary collection actions in the first 120 days after the initial post-discharge bill. They must allow at least 240 days for an assistance application and generally give at least 30 days’ advance warning before such action. A complete timely application suspends those actions while eligibility is reviewed.
  • Independent doctor, clinic and ambulance accounts are not automatically included in a hospital award. Billing staff confirm which hospital and professional bills the policy covers.
  • Primary Children's in Salt Lake City: free care up to 250% of poverty, then discounts from 95% down to 75% as income rises to 500%. Approval lasts 12 months. Above that, a bill over a quarter of your yearly income can get a hardship review.
  • Seattle Children's: free care up to 400% of poverty, then discounts that shrink as income rises up to 600%. It answers a complete application within 14 days.
  • Sacred Heart in Spokane: the Washington policy implemented January 27, 2025 gives full help through 300% of poverty and an 80% discount at 301–400%, or the amounts-generally-billed ceiling if more favorable. It can cover eligible insured balances for at least nine months. A complete application has a 14-day response and a denial has a 30-day appeal period. Collections pause during assistance review and appeal; the policy prohibits extraordinary collection actions. Independent accounts may be excluded.
  • Children's Hospital Colorado: its main discount is for Colorado residents. A Montana family can ask about its inpatient route for incomes up to 400% of poverty, which gives partial help. University of Colorado doctors bill separately.
If you decide to apply
  1. Your social worker can help you talk with the hospital’s billing counselor about eligible bills and its assistance policy.
  2. Bring itemized bills, insurance explanations and income proof, and ask whether collections can pause during review.

The hospital, under its own policy · Official page ↗

After you ask
  • The hospital explains its timetable and whether a collections hold applies.
Good to know

Hospital help does not automatically cover every doctor or ambulance bill. The approval should identify covered accounts and dates.

Other details
  • Patient rights include information about known financial consequences of treatment choices.
  • The hospital’s location and its written policy matter, including when you have insurance. Tax-exempt hospitals must follow federal assistance and collection rules, but a pause on extraordinary collection actions is not the same as a pause on every statement or on every appeal. Your social worker can ask billing which accounts are covered and get any collection hold and appeal deadline in writing.
  • Your social worker can help review an itemized bill, insurance payments and possible assistance. A payment plan changes timing, not necessarily the amount. Court deadlines remain separate, and the hospital can explain whether collections pause during its review.

Federal background: Nonprofit hospital financial assistance.

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Could the hospital reduce our bill? What would review cover and mean for collections, and could you help us apply if worthwhile?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand what we owe and whether the hospital can help.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Ask for the policy in writing and apply before you pay.

Your social worker

The financial counsellor gives you the policy and the form.

The care team

Records and letters when the application asks for them.

Who decides
The hospital applies its own policy; the state health department enforces that one exists.
Ask the billing office
“Please send me your written financial assistance policy and application, and hold collections while it is decided. Montana law requires a nonprofit hospital to have one.”

How to apply

First step: Your social worker can help you talk with the hospital’s billing counselor about eligible bills and its assistance policy.

  1. Your social worker can help you talk with the hospital’s billing counselor about eligible bills and its assistance policy.
  2. If you decide to pursue this option, your social worker can help review the policy, eligible accounts, notices and any collection hold.
  3. If you decide to pursue this option, your social worker can help review the policy, eligible accounts, notices and any collection hold.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Ask the billing office for the written financial assistance policy and application.

What to gather

  • Every bill and the itemised charges
  • Your insurer’s explanation of benefits
  • Proof of household income

How long: The hospital sets its own timetable; ask for it in writing.

What a yes looks like

A written decision identifies reduced bills, covered dates and accounts, and any collection hold.

What a no looks like, and the next move

A written denial should identify the reason and appeal route. The hospital’s location and policy determine the complaint process.

Watch out

  • The hospital’s location and policy decide the applicable assistance schedule; income alone does not establish an award.
  • A legal adviser can review the actual debt notice, applicable state protections and deadlines.

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 11, 2026.

What it is worth

Your child’s hospital may reduce eligible balances left after insurance. Its location, written policy and review of your circumstances decide the help. Independent bills need separate review.

Legal protection: A nonprofit hospital must have a financial assistance policy consistent with federal and department standards, enforceable by the department · A participating provider cannot collect from you money the health carrier owes them · State patient rights cover the known financial implications of treatment choices

What it costs the family: None.

The eligibility facts, as published

Hospitals
nonprofit hospitals licensed in Montana
Not found
uniform income ceilings, minimum discounts, collection timelines, credit-reporting limits and interest caps were NOT FOUND

The trap: The applicable hospital policy and state requirements need checking. Montana’s written-policy statute does not itself provide an income schedule, and the listed hospitals are outside Montana.

Where I read this

← Back to your options