Rutherford Regional Medical Center: Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Can't afford a bill from Rutherford 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 for emergency and other medically necessary care if you don't have insurance and your family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines.
Discounted care: A sliding-scale discount of 100% down to 60% if your income is between 200% and 300% of the federal poverty guidelines.
How to apply: Rutherford Regional Health System: Patient financial information
Phone: 828-286-5000 — Patient Financial Services (financial counselors at 288 South Ridgecrest Ave., Rutherfordton).
How to apply
- Check the income limits above — free care is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, with discounts up to 300%.
- Download or pick up the financial assistance application from the hospital's patient financial information page.
- Fill out the application and attach proof of income and other documents it asks for.
- Mail or hand-deliver the completed application to Rutherford Regional Health System, Attn: Financial Counselors, 288 South Ridgecrest Ave., Rutherfordton, NC 28139; allow 30 days for a 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 Rutherford 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.
- Lifepoint Health financial assistance policy — plain language summary (system-wide)
- Rutherford Regional Health System patient financial information page
- Rutherford Regional Health System financial assistance application (PDF, phone)