Detroit Hospital Bill Help 2026–27: Henry Ford Health and Detroit Medical Center Financial Assistance, Step by Step
In Detroit, most hospital bills come from one of two systems: Henry Ford Health or the Detroit Medical Center (DMC). Both have financial assistance programs (charity care) that can erase or shrink a bill, but they work very differently. Henry Ford offers free care up to 250% of the federal poverty level and has a firm 240-day application window. DMC offers free care to uninsured patients up to 200% of poverty and discounts well above that.
This guide explains who qualifies at each system, what to send, and how to apply.
Last checked October 2026. Henry Ford details come from its Financial Assistance billing page and its Southeast Michigan Financial Assistance Policy. DMC details come from its Insurance & Financial Support page, which publishes its Uncompensated Care Program policy.
The Short Version
Henry Ford Health:
Income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL): may be eligible for a 100% discount.
251% to 400% of FPL: a partial (sliding-scale) discount.
Medical bills over 30% of household income ("catastrophic"): qualifying medical debt may be reduced to 30% of household income.
Apply within 240 days of your first bill. A written decision comes within 30 days of a complete application.
Detroit Medical Center:
Uninsured, income below 200% of FPL: 100% discount (free care).
Uninsured or underinsured, income from 200% to 500% of FPL: 40% to 80% discounts.
Income above 500%, with hospital balances over 50% of annual income: 40% to 80% discounts.
Interest-free payment plans for all uninsured patients.
Henry Ford Health: Who Qualifies
Henry Ford's page lists three ways to qualify:
| Requirement | Traditional | Catastrophic | Presumptive | |---|---|---|---| | Permanent U.S. residence | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Live in Henry Ford's primary service areas | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Treated by a Henry Ford provider at a Henry Ford facility | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Income under 400% of FPL | Yes | No | Yes | | Henry Ford bills over 30% of household income | No | Yes | No |
Presumptive means Henry Ford may decide you qualify using third-party data or other information, without a full application.
How Henry Ford's discounts work
Uninsured patients with incomes under 400% of FPL pay a percentage of what Medicare would allow:
| Household income | You pay (% of Medicare rate) | |---|---| | Under 250% of FPL | 0% (100% discount) | | 250%–300% | 30% | | 300%–350% | 61% | | 350%–400% | 91% |
Insured patients with incomes under 400% of FPL get a discount off the balance they owe after insurance:
| Household income | Discount off balance due | |---|---| | Under 250% of FPL | 100% | | 250%–300% | 75% | | 300%–350% | 50% | | 350%–400% | 25% |
Anyone who qualifies will not be charged more than the Amount Generally Billed (AGB) for emergency and other medically necessary care. Uninsured patients who don't qualify are still billed at Henry Ford's uninsured discount rate.
The 240-day window
Henry Ford's page says you have up to 240 days after your first bill to apply. Its Southeast Michigan policy adds a detail worth knowing: if you apply after the 240th day, you can still get help, but it is limited to your unpaid balance. Money you already paid is not refunded in that case. So apply early, ideally before you make payments.
What to send to Henry Ford
The page says required documentation may include:
Your most recent federal tax return (Form 1040) with all schedules
Your most recent W-2 and/or 1099 forms
The last 2 months of pay stubs with year-to-date earnings for each household member, or an employer statement of gross wages
Proof of other income, such as rental income
The last 2 months of bank statements for checking and savings
A valid Michigan driver's license or state ID
If applicable, a denial from Medicaid, Healthy Michigan or the Marketplace, and/or COBRA paperwork
A personal statement of financial need
How to apply at Henry Ford
MyChart (fastest): log in, open the Billing tab, choose Financial Assistance, fill out the application and upload your documents.
Download and mail: print the application (available in several languages), complete it and mail it with documents to the facility where you received care.
By phone: call CBO Customer Service at (313) 874-7800 to have a paper application mailed to you. Applications can also be emailed to financialassistanceapp@HFHS.org.
Financial assistance staff are also available at each Henry Ford location. The program covers charges from providers employed by the Henry Ford hospitals listed on its page, but not every doctor who treats you may be included, so ask about any separate bills.
Detroit Medical Center: Who Qualifies
DMC's policy covers all DMC hospitals but applies to facility charges only. Professional (doctor) charges are excluded, and services must be medically necessary.
DMC's discount tiers
| Income (% of FPL) | Category | Discount | |---|---|---| | Under 200% (uninsured) | Financially indigent | 100% | | 200%–300% | Medically indigent | 80% | | 300%–400% | Medically indigent | 60% | | 400%–500% | Medically indigent | 40% |
If your income is above 500% of FPL, DMC may still help if your hospital balance is large compared with your income: 80% off if it equals 90% or more of your annual income, 60% off at 70% to 90%, and 40% off at 50% to 70%.
Note: the income table on DMC's page says it is based on Federal Poverty Guidelines effective in 2020, so its dollar amounts are out of date. Ask DMC which year's guidelines it uses when you apply.
Automatic help at DMC
DMC's policy treats some accounts as automatically eligible, with no application needed, including Medicare accounts with exhausted days or benefits, Medicaid spend-down accounts, and Adult Benefit Waiver enrollees.
What to send to DMC
You must complete a Financial Assistance Application. DMC prefers tax returns for income proof, but also accepts W-2s, wage statements, pay stubs, Social Security or unemployment letters, proof of food stamps or Medicaid within the past 6 months, employer verification or bank statements showing payroll deposits. If you can't get documents, the hospital may let you sign an attestation of your income.
Watch the deadline: if DMC asks for more information and you don't respond within 14 calendar days, that counts as an automatic denial. You can be reconsidered later if you send the documents.
If approved, DMC says approval applies automatically to all admissions for that calendar year.
Collection protections at DMC
DMC's policy says it will offer interest-free extended payment plans to all uninsured patients, will not place or foreclose liens on the primary residence of patients who qualify (with a limited exception above 500% of FPL, and no foreclosure), and will not use body attachments to force uninsured patients to court.
How to apply at DMC
Call the DMC patient-care hotline at 888-730-3989 for help with a bill, financial assistance or a Medicaid application.
If you are in a DMC hospital, ask for a hospital registration representative.
DMC's sample billing notice lists customer service at (888) 233-7868.
Tips Before You Pay
Apply first, pay later. At Henry Ford, a late application only covers your unpaid balance.
Apply for Medicaid or Healthy Michigan if eligible. Both systems help with this, and a denial letter can be part of your Henry Ford application.
Check every bill. DMC's program excludes doctor charges, and not every provider is part of Henry Ford's program.
Keep copies of everything, with dates and names.
Closing Thoughts
Henry Ford's program is generous up to 250% of poverty but rewards speed, thanks to the 240-day window. DMC offers free care to uninsured patients under 200% and meaningful discounts up to 500%. Whichever system you owe, call the numbers above and ask for an application before you pay.
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