Indianapolis Hospital Bill Help 2026–27: IU Health Financial Assistance, Eskenazi Health's Sliding Fee and How to Apply
Updated: 13 hours ago
How hospital bill help works at Indianapolis's two big systems: IU Health's financial assistance and 5% cap, and Eskenazi Health's sliding-fee clinics starting at $5 a visit, plus what to bring and who to call.
AT A GLANCE
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Indianapolis has two very different big health systems. IU Health is a large nonprofit system with a written financial assistance policy that can wipe out a bill entirely for qualifying Indiana residents. Eskenazi Health is Marion County's public hospital system, and its primary care clinics charge on a sliding fee based on income, starting at $5 a visit.
Here's how help works at each, what to bring, and who to call. One theme runs through both: the financial counselors at each system will help you apply for Medicaid or the Healthy Indiana Plan first, and that alone can solve the bill.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Found something out of date? Our Editorial Standards explain how to report it.
This is general information. Each hospital makes its own decisions.
IU Health Financial Assistance
IU Health says it provides medically necessary and emergency care regardless of your ability to pay. Its help works in layers.
Layer 1: Coverage first
IU Health's Patient Financial Counselors are certified Indiana Navigators. They can help you apply for:
The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) for low-income adults 19 to 64
Hoosier Healthwise for children under 19, pregnant women and low-income families
Medicaid based on disability or age
COBRA if you recently lost a job
SNAP
IU Health Financial Assistance
If you're uninsured, start here. Medicaid or HIP may cover the bill retroactively, which can be worth more than any discount.
Layer 2: Free or reduced care for Indiana residents
IU Health's current page says that if you're an Indiana resident (as its policy defines it) who receives qualifying care and paying is a financial hardship, you can apply. If you meet the federal poverty level criteria, you may get assistance up to the full amount of your bill.
IU Health's current web page doesn't list the poverty thresholds. Its 2023 plain-language summary did, based on household makeup:
Adults in household | Dependents | Income threshold |
|---|---|---|
1 or more | 0 | 200% of poverty |
2 or more | 1 or more | 250% of poverty |
1 | 1 or more | 300% of poverty |
Using 2026 HHS guidelines, that would mean roughly $31,920 for a single adult (200%), $68,300 for two adults and a child (250% for a family of three) and $64,920 for a single parent with one child (300% for a family of two). These are our estimates. Confirm the current thresholds with IU Health, since the 2023 summary may be out of date.
The 2023 summary also said this help applied to care received through the emergency department, a direct admission from a doctor's office, or a transfer from another hospital. The current page uses the term "Qualifying Care." Ask what counts.
Layer 3: The 5% cap
If your income is above the poverty criteria but what you owe is more than 5% of your annual household income, IU Health's current page says you may qualify for a discount that brings your balance down to 5% of your income.
For example, a household earning $60,000 with a $9,000 balance is over the 5% line ($3,000). Under that rule, the balance could be cut to about $3,000.
Note: the 2023 summary set this trigger at bills over 20% of income. The current web page says 5%. We've used the current page.
Billing limits and uninsured discounts
IU Health says no one approved for financial assistance will be charged more than the amounts generally billed to insured patients at that hospital. The 2023 summary also said uninsured patients get a discount down to that insured-patient amount, and that a medically necessary service your insurance won't cover may get a similar discount.
Which doctors are covered
IU Health's policy covers IU Health Medical Group (IUHMG) providers. It does not cover non-IUHMG providers, even if they treated you inside an IU Health hospital. IU Health posts a downloadable provider list, updated July 23, 2026, showing which is which. Check it if you get a separate doctor's bill.
How to apply
Fill out the Financial Assistance Application with all required attachments. IU Health says incomplete applications aren't considered valid.
Get forms at any IU Health registration desk, online, or by mail by calling 888-531-3004.
Forms and the policy are available in several languages. IU Health's Language Services line, 877-746-4674, offers interpreting in 200 languages around the clock.
If you're approved, IU Health says you'll get a written notice and an updated statement with your reduced balance.
Payment plans
IU Health says payment plans are available to all patients, regardless of financial assistance eligibility. Ask customer service or a financial counselor.
Eskenazi Health
Eskenazi Health runs the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital downtown at 720 Eskenazi Ave. and a network of Eskenazi Health Center primary care clinics across Marion County.
The clinics: a sliding fee, open to everyone
Eskenazi Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center. Eskenazi says it doesn't deny services to anyone based on inability to pay, and every location uses a sliding fee schedule based on family size and income.
The 2026 schedule for a primary care, mental health, podiatry, optometry or chiropractic visit:
Plan | Income (% of poverty) | 1-person income range | Charge per visit |
|---|---|---|---|
A | 0–100% | up to $15,960 | $5 |
B | 101–138% | $15,960–$22,025 | $20 |
C | 139–175% | $22,025–$27,930 | $30 |
D | 176–200% | $27,930–$31,920 | $40 |
Dental diagnostic and preventive visits run $35 to $60 across those plans. There's a separate Plan H for people experiencing homelessness, with $0 primary care visits, which requires documents showing homelessness. Prenatal and nurse visits are $0 at the lowest income level.
The full schedule covers larger households (add $5,680 to each limit per extra person).
The hospital and financial counseling
Eskenazi's Financial Eligibility Services team helps patients figure out the best way to pay, apply for coverage programs and get referrals to other payment resources. Counselors work at the hospital, the Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center and Eskenazi Health Center locations.
Call: 855-202-1053 (press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then 2 for a financial counselor), Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
Appointments are required. Book by phone or through Eskenazi Health MyChart.
At the hospital: counselors are available Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m.
Registration staff at any Eskenazi location can connect you.
What to bring to Eskenazi
Eskenazi's general list:
☐ Photo ID
☐ Proof of address, such as a utility bill
☐ Employer and income information for everyone in your household for the past 30 to 90 days, such as pay stubs or W-2s
A counselor may ask for more before or at your appointment.
On Medicaid already?
Eskenazi reminds Medicaid patients to report changes and check eligibility at FSSABenefits.IN.gov. Annual redeterminations are back to normal, and the state may ask you for updated address, job, income or family size information. Missing a request can cost you your coverage.
Medicaid or HIP may cover the bill retroactively, which can be worth more than any discount.
Tips for Any Indianapolis Hospital Bill
Don't ignore the bill. Call the number on it and ask for a financial counselor.
Apply for Medicaid or HIP if there's any chance you qualify. Both systems will help.
Ask for an itemized bill and check for errors.
Check who billed you. At IU Health, non-IUHMG doctors aren't covered by its policy.
Keep copies of every form and note who you spoke with.
Ask about a payment plan while your application is pending.
Before you rely on this guide, check these points directly, since we couldn't verify them: IU Health's current poverty thresholds, application deadline and residency definition aren't on its web page; the thresholds shown are from a 2023 summary and may be outdated (flagged). The 5% vs. 20% catastrophic trigger differs between the current page and the 2023 summary; we used the current page. Eskenazi Health's hospital financial assistance policy (income limits and coverage beyond the clinic sliding fee) wasn't available on the pages we read. Dollar figures for IU Health's thresholds are our estimates from HHS 2026.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK
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More help in Indianapolis
Every guide we have for Indianapolis is listed on our Indianapolis financial help hub.
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