Carolina East Medical Center: Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Can't afford a bill from Carolina East Medical Center? You may not have to pay all of it. Nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance — here are this hospital's actual income limits and how to apply, taken from its own published policy.
Quick facts
Free care: Free care (100% charity discount) if your household gross income from all sources is below 200% of the current federal poverty guideline.
Discounted care: Sliding-scale discounts of about 69% to 75% off if your household gross income is between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty guideline. You must first exhaust other payment options, including a Medicaid eligibility assessment.
How to apply: CarolinaEast: Financial assistance handout
Phone: 252-633-8701 — CarolinaEast Medical Center Business Office — call to apply for financial assistance.
How to apply
- Check the income limits above — free care goes up to 200% of the federal poverty guideline, with sliding discounts up to 300%.
- Call the Business Office at (252) 633-8701 or visit in person to start your application — help is also available by email at [email protected].
- Provide financial documents such as your tax return, pay stubs, or Social Security statement, and complete a Medicaid eligibility check first.
- Submit your application — if approved, it stays active for one year from the application date.
Good to know
- You can apply up to 240 days after your first bill — even if the bill already went to collections.
- A new bill means a new application — you can apply more than once. More in our guide You Might Not Have to Pay That Hospital Bill.
- Whatever remains after assistance can still be negotiated: How to Negotiate a Hospital Bill.
- Free help applying: Dollar For walks you through it at no cost.
See what Carolina East Medical Center charges
Check if you qualify at other hospitals
Sources
- Policy details above come from the hospital's own published materials, linked below. Policies change — if a link breaks or a number looks off, call the hospital and please tell us.
- CarolinaEast: Financial Assistance Handout Summary, effective 6/2/2025 (PDF)
- CarolinaEast: Financial Assistance Handout (PDF)