Northwest Health- Porter: Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Can't afford a bill from Northwest Health- Porter? 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: Not published — call the billing department to ask. Northwest Health (Community Health Systems) does not publish a specific income cutoff online. A Charity Care Discount is available based on multiples of the federal poverty guidelines, decided after you apply with proof of income. Uninsured patients also receive an automatic uninsured discount, and a catastrophic-care discount may apply if your bill is very large compared to your income.
Discounted care: Not published — call the billing department to ask.
How to apply: Northwest Health - Porter
Phone: 219-983-8300 — Hospital main line - ask for patient financial services.
How to apply
- Call 219-983-8300 and ask for patient financial services, or ask for a financial counselor when you are at the hospital.
- Fill out the Financial Assistance Program application and provide documents that prove your household income.
- The hospital reviews your income against the federal poverty guidelines and tells you whether you qualify for a charity care discount.
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 Northwest Health- Porter 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.
- Northwest Health financial assistance program (system template)
- Northwest Health - Porter