Van Diest Medical Center: Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Can't afford a bill from Van Diest 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: Not published — call the billing department to ask. Van Diest offers free or discounted care on a sliding scale based on family size and income. Its FAQ says the Financial Assistance Program is for households below 225% of the federal poverty level (or enrolled in state or federal assistance), but the exact income cutoff for fully free care is not published online.
Discounted care: Discounted care on a sliding scale based on family size and income if your household income is below 225% of the federal poverty level. If you are over the income guidelines but your medical bills equal or exceed 20% of your household's annual income, you get a 20% discount.
How to apply: Van Diest Medical Center: Financial assistance
Phone: 515-832-7715 — Patient Accounts / Financial Counselor.
How to apply
- Check the income limits — the Financial Assistance Program is for households below 225% of the federal poverty level or enrolled in state or federal assistance.
- Download the financial assistance application from the hospital's payments and financial assistance page.
- Fill it out and attach proof of income: your most recent federal and state tax returns with W-2s, two recent pay stubs, and any other income documents.
- Mail or hand-deliver it to: Van Diest Medical Center, Financial Counselor, 2350 Hospital Drive, PO Box 0430, Webster City, IA 50595-0430. You will get a written decision within about 15 working days.
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 Van Diest 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.
- Van Diest Medical Center: Financial Assistance Information Sheet
- Van Diest Medical Center: Payments and Financial Assistance
- Van Diest Medical Center: Patient FAQs