Northwell Health, New York's largest health system with more than 21 hospitals across Long Island, New York City, and the Hudson Valley, runs one of the most generous hospital financial assistance programs (FAP) in the state. As of 2026, patients who earn up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) receive completely free care, and those who earn up to 500% FPL receive discounted care on a sliding scale. That upper limit of 500% FPL goes beyond what New York State law requires and covers a family of four earning up to $165,000 per year.
If you received a bill from Northwell Health that you cannot afford, you likely qualify for more relief than you realize. The CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer can flag overcharges and identify charity care eligibility on your Northwell bill before you pay a single dollar.
Quick Answer (2026): Northwell Health's Financial Assistance Program provides 100% free care for patients at or below 200% of the FPL, and sliding-scale discounts for patients between 201% and 500% FPL. A single person earning up to $31,920 qualifies for free care; a family of four earning up to $66,000 qualifies for free care. You have at least 240 days from your first billing statement to apply.
What Is Northwell's Financial Assistance Program?
New York law (Public Health Law Section 2807-k) requires every hospital in the state to maintain a charity care policy. Northwell's version, called the Financial Assistance Program (FAP), covers patients who receive emergency care or other medically necessary services at any Northwell hospital facility or through Northwell-employed physicians working in those hospitals.
The program has two tiers:
- Full assistance (free care): For patients whose household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) as published annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (aspe.hhs.gov).
- Partial assistance (sliding-scale discount): For patients whose household income is between 201% and 500% of the FPG.
Patients at the partial assistance level cannot be billed more than what Northwell "amounts generally billed" (AGB) to insured patients, which is a federal requirement under the Affordable Care Act's charity care rules.
The 500% upper limit came out of a 2023 agreement between Northwell and the New York State Attorney General, which also established a Medical Debt Ombudsperson at Northwell to oversee collection practices and review any debt-recovery action before it moves forward.
2026 Northwell Financial Assistance Income Limits by Household Size
The table below shows the maximum annual household income for each assistance tier, calculated from the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines published by HHS. New York State uses the same FPL as the 48 contiguous states (no Alaska or Hawaii adjustment applies).
Northwell Free Care Income Limits, 2026 (200% FPL)
| Household Size | Max Annual Income (200% FPL) | Max Monthly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $31,920 | $2,660 |
| 2 | $43,280 | $3,607 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $4,553 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $5,500 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $6,447 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $7,393 |
| 7 | $100,080 | $8,340 |
| 8 | $111,440 | $9,287 |
| Each additional | +$11,360 | +$947 |
Source: 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines (aspe.hhs.gov), 200% multiplier applied.
Northwell Sliding-Scale Discount Income Limits, 2026 (500% FPL)
| Household Size | Max Annual Income (500% FPL) |
|---|
| 1 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $221,800 |
| 7 | $250,200 |
| 8 | $278,600 |
| Each additional | +$28,400 |
Source: Northwell Health Financial Assistance Program eligibility page (northwell.edu), 2026.
If your income falls between the 200% and 500% FPL figures, the discount you receive scales with how far your income is from the top cutoff. Northwell does not publish a single fixed discount percentage for this range. The actual reduction depends on your specific income relative to the FPL.
What Services Does the New York FAP Cover at Northwell?
New York Northwell's Financial Assistance Program applies to:
- Emergency department visits at any Northwell hospital
- Inpatient hospital stays
- Outpatient surgeries and procedures performed at a Northwell facility
- Hospital clinic visits with Northwell-employed physicians
- Other medically necessary services delivered within a Northwell hospital facility
The program does NOT cover:
- Bills from independent physicians who have hospital privileges at Northwell but are not employed by Northwell
- Elective cosmetic procedures
- Services at non-Northwell facilities
- Prescription drug costs billed separately by a pharmacy
This distinction matters: if you received care at a Northwell hospital, you may get two separate bills: one from Northwell (eligible for FAP) and one from an independent physician group (not eligible for Northwell's FAP, though that group may have its own assistance program).
How to Apply for Northwell Financial Assistance in 2026
New York patients have up to 240 days from the first billing statement date to submit a completed application, though Northwell encourages applying within 90 days.
Step-by-step application process:
- Gather your documents (list below) before you start. Incomplete applications cause delays and trigger a 30-day cure window.
- Choose your application method. Online applications at redcap.northwell.edu process faster than mailed or phone applications.
- Complete the application form. You will need to provide household size, income sources, and supporting documentation.
- Submit the application online, by mail to the address on your Northwell billing statement, or by calling (800) 995-5727.
- Wait for a decision. Northwell must issue a written decision within 30 days of receiving a complete application.
- Review your adjusted bill. If approved, you will receive a new statement showing your adjusted balance. Call (888) 214-4066 to set up a payment plan if partial assistance was granted.
- Appeal if denied. If denied, you have the right to appeal with additional documentation. Ask the financial assistance unit for the appeals process in writing.
Documents needed to apply:
- Most recent federal income tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-EZ)
- Two most recent pay stubs for each working household member
- Social Security award letter (if receiving SSI or SSDI)
- Pension or retirement income statements
- Bank statements (may be required for incomes under 150% FPL)
- Documentation of self-employment income if applicable
- Proof of household size (birth certificates or tax documents listing dependents)
Common reasons applications get denied:
- Income above 500% FPL for the household size
- Missing or incomplete income documentation
- Application submitted more than 240 days after the first billing statement
- Bill is for non-covered services (cosmetic procedures, non-Northwell providers)
- Household size inconsistency between the application and submitted tax documents
Contact: Financial Assistance Unit at (800) 995-5727, Monday through Friday during business hours. Applications are available in more than 18 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Russian.
New York State Medical Debt Protections That Work Alongside Northwell FAP
Even if you do not qualify for Northwell's FAP, New York State added new protections for medical debt in 2022 that affect your rights:
- Hospitals cannot sue patients earning under 400% FPL to collect medical debt (this is state law, not just a Northwell policy).
- Medical debt cannot be reported to credit bureaus under a 2023 federal rule that largely prohibits credit reporting of medical debt.
- Northwell's attorney general agreement added a Medical Debt Ombudsperson who must review any proposed collection action before Northwell pursues it.
- New York Medicaid (nystateofhealth.ny.gov) covers adults earning up to 138% FPL. If you qualify, Medicaid will often retroactively cover bills going back 90 days.
If you already have a Northwell bill in collections, you may still be able to apply retroactively to the FAP using the 240-day window. Start by calling (800) 995-5727 and asking about retroactive eligibility.
How to Spot Billing Errors Before You Apply for Charity Care
Hospital bills contain errors at a high rate: duplicate charges, incorrect procedure codes, and charges for services you did not receive are common. Before you pay or even apply for charity care, review your itemized bill for accuracy.
The CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer compares each line item on your Northwell bill against the Medicare reference rate for that procedure, flags charges that appear significantly above the benchmark, and identifies whether you likely meet the income threshold for free or discounted care. Upload your hospital bill to the free CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer to find errors, overcharges, and charity care options in 30 seconds.
Errors and overcharges are worth catching first because charity care approval reduces whatever balance is owed. If the balance contains inflated charges, you may end up paying a percentage of an inflated number. Fixing errors first, then applying for financial assistance, is the correct sequence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Northwell's financial assistance program cover uninsured patients only?
No. The program covers both uninsured and underinsured patients. If you have insurance but face high out-of-pocket costs (deductibles, copays, coinsurance), you may still qualify for partial assistance on your remaining balance after insurance pays its share.
What is 500% FPL in dollar terms for a family of four in 2026?
For a family of four in New York, 500% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Level is $165,000 per year. A single person at 500% FPL earns up to $79,800 per year. These thresholds are based on the 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines published at aspe.hhs.gov.
How long does Northwell have to process my application?
Northwell must issue a written decision within 30 days of receiving a complete application. If your application is incomplete, they will notify you in writing and give you 30 days to submit the missing documents.
Can I apply if my bill is already with a collections agency?
Possibly. The 240-day application window runs from your first billing statement, not from when collections began. If you are within 240 days of that first statement, call (800) 995-5727 immediately to submit an application. Collection activity may need to be paused while your application is under review.
Does New York Medicaid pay Northwell bills retroactively?
Yes. New York Medicaid covers up to three months of bills that occurred before your application date, as long as you were eligible during that period. If you may qualify for New York Medicaid (income up to 138% FPL for adults), apply at nystateofhealth.ny.gov and ask about retroactive coverage.
What if my doctor is at a Northwell hospital but I got two bills?
If the second bill is from an independent physician group (not a Northwell-employed physician), that bill is not covered by Northwell's FAP. Contact that physician group directly and ask about their own financial assistance or charity care policy. New York law requires all hospitals to maintain a charity care program, but the physician group's policy is separate.
Can I use the CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer before I apply for Northwell FAP?
Yes, and it is the recommended order of operations. Upload your itemized Northwell bill to the CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer to check for coding errors and overcharges first. Then apply for the FAP to reduce whatever corrected balance remains. Applying to charity care on an inflated bill locks in a discount off the wrong starting number.
Does Northwell have a separate program for prescription drugs?
Northwell's FAP applies to hospital-billed services. Prescription drug costs billed through a separate pharmacy are not covered. If you need prescription assistance, look at the drug manufacturer's patient assistance program, New York's Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance Coverage (EPIC) program for seniors, or Medicaid, which covers prescriptions for eligible enrollees.
