Sutter Lakeside Hospital: Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Can't afford a bill from Sutter Lakeside Hospital? 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 400% of the federal poverty level and you have no insurance.
Discounted care: Discounted care if you have insurance, your household income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, and your family's medical bills from the past year add up to more than 10% of your family income — Sutter writes off what you owe for hospital services.
How to apply: Sutter Health: Financial assistance
Phone: 855-398-1633 — Patient Financial Services. A representative can help you fill out the application.
How to apply
- Check the income limits above — you'll need your family size and total household income.
- Get the financial assistance application from Patient Financial Services at the hospital (Patient Access/Registration desk), by calling 855-398-1633, or on Sutter's website.
- Fill it out and send it back with proof of income, such as a recent pay stub or last year's tax return.
- Sutter reviews your application and sends you a written decision. If you disagree with the decision, you can file a dispute with Patient Financial Services.
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 Sutter Lakeside Hospital 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.
- Sutter Health: Help Paying Your Bill — Financial Assistance (iMediCare, Sutter's billing office)
- Sutter Health: Billing and Collections Policy for Sutter Hospitals (PDF)