El Centro Regional Medical Center: Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Can't afford a bill from El Centro Regional 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 if your household income is at or below 100% of the federal poverty level (small copays may apply: $50 per emergency visit, $100 per inpatient day up to $1,000).
Discounted care: Discounted care if your household income is between 101% and 400% of the federal poverty level — your bill is reduced to what Medicare would pay; 50% off charges at 401-500% of the poverty level and 35% off above 500%.
How to apply: El Centro Regional Medical Center: Financial assistance
Phone: 760-339-7300 — Patient accounting (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm).
How to apply
- Check the income limits above — the free and discounted tiers are based on your household income compared to the federal poverty level.
- Fill out the financial assistance application (in English or Spanish, available on the patient financial services page).
- Submit the completed application to the hospital's patient accounting department at 1271 Ross Ave., El Centro, CA 92243, or call 760-339-7300 to ask about submitting it.
- The hospital reviews your application and notifies you of the decision.
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 El Centro Regional 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.
- El Centro Regional Medical Center financial assistance, discount payment and billing and collection policy (hospital site)
- El Centro Regional Medical Center patient financial services page