You may not owe that hospital bill — by California law.
If your household earns under roughly 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, California hospitals — nonprofit and for-profit alike — are legally required to reduce or waive your bill. We check your eligibility, build the application, and follow up until it's resolved. At no cost to you.
- Free for families, always
- About a minute to check
- No in-person visits
Medical debt shouldn't decide whether your family recovers.
Licensed general acute care hospitals in California — every one of them covered, nonprofit and for-profit alike.
Of the Federal Poverty Level is the income line the state sets. Under it, a discount is not a favour — it is the law.
What we charge families. Ever. We are a nonprofit, funded by donations.
Four steps. Zero cost. No in-person visits required.
Four questions and about a minute. We compare your household income to the state's 400% FPL line.
Upload the statement and a pay stub or tax return. A photo from your phone is fine.
Each hospital has its own form and its own policy. We fill it out correctly the first time.
Hospitals go quiet. We don't. We chase it until you have a decision in writing.
You likely qualify if:
You received care at a California hospital or from an ER physician group.
Your household income is under roughly 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.
The exact cutoff depends on household size — we'll calculate it for you, free.
Cutoffs use the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states.
Hospital charity care in California, answered.
Who qualifies for hospital charity care in California?
Under California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act, a household earning at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level qualifies for free or discounted care. In 2026 that is $63,840 a year for one person and $132,000 for a household of four. Many hospitals' own policies are more generous than that floor.
What is the Hospital Fair Pricing Act?
It is California Health & Safety Code §§127400–127446. It requires every licensed general acute care hospital in the state to offer free or discounted care to patients whose household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, and to have a written policy saying how to apply.
Does it apply to for-profit hospitals and to Kaiser?
Yes. It covers nonprofit and for-profit hospitals alike, including every Kaiser Foundation Hospital: all 462 California hospitals the law reaches. Only state-run facilities are excepted.
Are emergency room doctor bills covered?
Yes. A separate bill from an emergency room physician group is covered too. Tell us which kind of bill you have when you check your eligibility, and we apply to the right organization.
How much does the Medical Fairness Project charge?
Nothing. We are a California nonprofit funded by donations, and we never charge families, take a percentage of what is forgiven, or ask for payment details.
What do I need to apply?
The hospital bill and one document showing income: a recent pay stub or last year's tax return. A photo from your phone is fine. You sign one authorization by typing your name, so the hospital will talk to us about your bill. There are no in-person visits.
What happens after I apply?
We fill out the hospital's own application, send it to the hospital for you, and follow up until you have a decision in writing. Each hospital has its own form and policy; we handle that part.
Is this legal advice?
No. We are not a law firm, and nothing on this site is legal advice. We help patients use the financial assistance process that California law already requires hospitals to offer.
One hospital, one county at a time — so we can do right by every family we help, before expanding across California.