UC Health Financial Assistance in Cincinnati: How the Discount Tiers Work
UC Health's financial assistance isn't one flat discount. It's a ladder. The lower your family income, the bigger the cut, from 75% off at the top of the range to a bill that's fully written off at the bottom. Here's how the tiers work at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, West Chester Hospital and Daniel Drake Center, what proof UC Health wants, and the deadlines that matter if a bill is already in collections.
AT A GLANCE
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Where the policy applies
UC Health's Charity Care and Financial Assistance Policy covers all UC Health locations. It names four entities:
University of Cincinnati Medical Center
West Chester Hospital
Daniel Drake Center for Post-Acute Care
University of Cincinnati Physicians Company (the physician practices)
The application letter says assistance applies to "certain hospital, physician, and pharmacy charges" at a UC Health hospital or UC Health physician's office. Most doctors who work in UC Health facilities are covered, but not all of them. UC Health posts two lists on its financial assistance page, one of covered providers and one of non-covered providers (both dated July 2026). If a bill comes from a group with a different name, check the non-covered list before you assume it's included.
Some things are never covered, according to the application letter: cosmetic charges, transplants and related charges, durable medical equipment, home health care, transportation and third-party skilled nursing services.
UC Health strives to ensure that the financial capacity of any person in need of health care services does not prevent the person from seeking or receiving care. (UC Health Charity Care and Financial Assistance Policy)
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How much of the bill comes off
The core of the policy is a three-step discount tied to the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) that HHS publishes each January:
Family income | Share of charges discounted |
|---|---|
At or below 150% of FPG | 100% |
Above 150% up to 300% of FPG | 80% |
Above 300% up to 400% of FPG | 75% |
To get any of these discounts, the policy says UC Health must find that you meet Ohio's Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) residency rules, that you supplied everything requested, and that you don't have other assets that could pay the bill.
There's also a separate rule for the lowest incomes. Ohio residents who aren't on Medicaid and whose income is at or below the poverty line get "basic, medically necessary hospital-level services" free under Ohio Administrative Code 5160-2-17. That care follows Ohio Medicaid's hospital benefit, except transplants. UC Health may require you to apply for Medicaid first.
The 2026 dollar limits
UC Health's plain-language summary turns those percentages into yearly income caps using the 2026 guidelines:
Family size | Poverty guideline | 100% off up to | 80% off up to | 75% off up to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $15,960 | $23,940 | $47,880 | $63,840 |
2 | $21,640 | $32,460 | $64,920 | $86,560 |
3 | $27,320 | $40,980 | $81,960 | $109,280 |
4 | $33,000 | $49,500 | $99,000 | $132,000 |
5 | $38,680 | $58,020 | $116,040 | $154,720 |
6 | $44,360 | $66,540 | $133,080 | $177,440 |
7 | $50,040 | $75,060 | $150,120 | $200,160 |
8 | $55,720 | $83,580 | $167,160 | $222,880 |
The application letter lists the top (400%) limit for larger families too: $245,600 for nine people and $268,320 for ten, plus $22,720 for each person beyond ten.
A worked example (our own math from the table): a family of three with $75,000 a year is above $40,980 but under $81,960, so it lands in the 80% tier. A $10,000 hospital bill would drop to about $2,000 before any payment plan.
Who counts as family
The application counts the patient, a spouse, and natural or adopted children under 18 living in the home. Ohio doesn't recognize "legal separation" for this purpose. Until a divorce, dissolution or annulment is final, a separated spouse still counts, and so does their income.
Income means gross, pre-tax money: wages, rental income, unemployment, Social Security, public assistance and similar payments.
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Rules that can block approval
The policy and the website add conditions on top of income:
Other payers first. You must have used up insurance, public assistance, lawsuits or third-party liability before charity care applies.
Medicaid cooperation. You have to cooperate with a Medicaid application and be found ineligible. Assistance doesn't cover balances caused by not answering your insurer's or Medicaid's requests for information.
Medicaid members. The summary says Medicaid recipients aren't eligible, and help can't be used for services when your Medicaid plan is out of network for UC Health.
Assets. Your checking and savings balances are reviewed.
Medical necessity. The care has to be non-elective and medically necessary.
Residency. You must prove where you live. The FAQ adds that the Hamilton County Tax Levy covers Hamilton County residents for services at University of Cincinnati Medical Center, as long as they show they lived in the county at the time of service.
Financial assistance isn't health insurance, and approval covers only balances a third party didn't pay.
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What to send
The application packet asks for one document from each of three categories.
Category | Accepted examples |
|---|---|
Proof of income | Pay stubs for the 3 or 12 months before the date of service; an employer letter on letterhead; a Social Security or other benefit letter; a court support order; a letter from a tenant about rent you receive |
Proof of residency | Driver's license or registration at your current address; rent receipts, a utility, credit card or bank bill dated within 60 days of care; a mortgage statement; the latest Hamilton County property tax bill; a letter from a landlord, mortgage company or homeless shelter |
Assets | A checking or savings statement dated within 30 days of the date of service |
UC Health doesn't accept tax returns, W-2s or 1099s as proof of income. If you're self-employed, send a notarized statement of income and expenses for the period. If you have no income, the person who supports you signs a sworn support statement on the application. That signature doesn't make them responsible for your bill.
APPLY FOR UC HEALTH FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
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Incomplete applications aren't processed, so a missing page can stall everything. If you're still in the hospital, ask for a financial counselor. The policy says counselors may visit patients and families on the floors early in the visit and can help you figure out which programs fit.
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Timing and deadlines
Step | What UC Health's documents say |
|---|---|
Application window | From the date of care until 240 days after the first post-discharge bill, or 30 days after a written notice of collection action, whichever is later |
Decision | About 14 days after a complete application (website); usually 5–10 business days (FAQ) |
Reapplying | Generally every 60 days (FAQ); the policy re-checks need for new outpatient care if the last review was more than 90 days earlier |
Change in your finances | A new approval can be applied back up to 180 days from the new determination |
Because the documents give different timeframes, plan on reapplying if you have ongoing care, and ask Customer Service whether your approval covers upcoming visits.
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If the bill is already in collections
You can still apply. The FAQ says UC Health works with its collection agencies and tells them when you're approved. The collection policy adds several protections:
120 days. Lawsuits, wage garnishment and property liens can't start until 120 days after the first post-discharge statement.
30-day notice. UC Health must send a written notice and the plain-language summary at least 30 days before those actions.
Collections pause. A complete application sent during the application window suspends those actions until a decision is made. If you tell a collection agency you can't pay, it's supposed to stop, send you an application, and hold the account for 30 days.
Credit reports. The policy says neither UC Health nor its agencies report to the credit bureaus.
Disputes. If you dispute a bill and ask for documentation, UC Health tries to respond in writing within 10 days and holds the account at least 30 days before sending it to collections.
You can request an itemized statement at any time. Our guide to getting an itemized hospital bill and disputing errors explains what to look for.
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Other help when you don't qualify
Uninsured discount. If you're uninsured and don't meet the charity criteria, UC Health automatically takes 40% off estimated gross charges for self-pay accounts. It applies to hospital and physician services.
Catastrophic circumstances. The policy allows a case-by-case discount when bills far exceed what you can pay. Examples include a balance over $20,000 after insurance for someone with no identifiable assets who isn't eligible for public coverage, medical and hospital bills above 30% of gross yearly income, or a bill that would force you to sell assets you need to live.
Presumptive approval. UC Health gives a 100% discount without full paperwork in some situations. These include being homeless, qualifying for an unfunded state or local program, or losing eligibility on a technicality such as a Medicaid spenddown.
Payment plans. The collection policy lists interest-free plans by balance:
Balance | Months to pay |
|---|---|
Under $500 | 1 to 6 |
$501–$2,500 | 7 to 12 |
$2,501–$5,000 | 13 to 18 |
Over $5,001 | 19 to 24 |
The payment plans web page describes in-house plans of up to six months, and longer plans through UC Health's partner PayZen for combined balances of $250 to $15,000, with terms that may run from 3 to 60 months at no interest or fees. Eligible patients are contacted by email from uchealth@payzen.com. PayZen's support line is (888) 849-7647. If you get a partial discount, the FAQ says UC Health will set up an interest-free plan for the remainder.
Emergency care comes first
The plain-language summary says UC Health will always provide a medical screening and stabilizing treatment in its emergency departments, whether or not you can pay. Get care first and apply afterward.
Related guides
Official sources
Last checked: October 30, 2026. Facts come from UC Health's financial assistance page, FAQ, payment plan pages, its Charity Care and Financial Assistance Policy and Patient Collection Policy (both reviewed February 26, 2026), and its 2026 plain-language summary and application. The worked example is our own math.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice. UC Health decides eligibility. Confirm the current income limits and covered providers with Patient Financial Services before you rely on them.
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