If you received care at Stanford Health Care and cannot pay the full bill, California law requires the hospital to offer you free or discounted care based on your income. Under the California Hospital Fair Pricing Act (HFPA), Stanford must provide 100% free charity care to uninsured patients earning up to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), and significant discounts to insured patients with high out-of-pocket costs at the same income threshold. As of 2026, that means a family of four earning up to $132,000 per year can qualify for complete bill forgiveness.
Quick Answer: Stanford Health Care offers free charity care to uninsured patients with household income at or below 400% FPL. Insured patients at the same income level who face out-of-pocket costs exceeding 10% of their income also qualify. The 2026 cutoff for a single person is $63,840; for a family of four, it is $132,000. Apply online through MyHealth, by email, or by fax.
What California's Fair Pricing Act Requires
California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act, originally passed as AB 774 and significantly strengthened by 2025 amendments, sets statewide minimums that every California hospital must meet. Key protections as of 2026:
- Hospitals cannot consider a patient's monetary assets (savings, investments) when deciding eligibility. Only income counts.
- Hospitals cannot report a hospital debt to credit bureaus while a financial assistance application is pending.
- Hospitals cannot place liens on a patient's primary home to collect unpaid hospital bills.
- Hospitals must provide written notice of the financial assistance policy at admission, discharge, and with every billing statement.
- The threshold for discount payment eligibility was raised from 350% to 400% FPL starting January 1, 2025.
Stanford Health Care is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit hospital located at 300 Pasteur Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94305. As a nonprofit, it is legally required to maintain a financial assistance policy that meets or exceeds state minimums.
Stanford Health Care Charity Care: Who Qualifies
Stanford Health Care offers two pathways to financial assistance depending on your insurance status.
Pathway 1: Uninsured Patients
If you have no health insurance and your household income is at or below 400% of the 2026 Federal Poverty Level, you qualify for 100% free care. The bill is forgiven entirely. No payment required.
Pathway 2: Insured Patients with High Medical Costs
If you have insurance but face large out-of-pocket expenses, you can still qualify if:
- Your household income is at or below 400% FPL, AND
- Your annual out-of-pocket costs at Stanford Health Care exceed 10% of your household income, OR
- You can document total annual medical expenses across all providers exceeding 10% of your income in the prior 12 months.
Example: A family of three with a $90,000 income (below the $109,280 threshold) who owes $12,000 in Stanford bills has exceeded the 10% threshold ($9,000) and qualifies for financial assistance on the excess amount.
Before you guess whether you qualify, consider uploading your itemized Stanford bill to the CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer. The CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer flags line items that may have been billed incorrectly, identifies charges that exceed Medicare rates, and surfaces charity care options specific to your situation, all in about 30 seconds.
2026 Income Limits for Stanford Health Care Financial Assistance
The table below shows the maximum household income to qualify for 100% charity care (400% FPL) under Stanford's policy. These figures are based on the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines published by HHS ASPE.
| Household Size | 100% FPL | 200% FPL | 400% FPL (Charity Care Cutoff) |
|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $66,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $77,360 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $88,720 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $100,080 | $200,160 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $111,440 | $222,880 |
For households larger than 8, add $5,680 per additional person to the 100% FPL column, then multiply by 4 for the charity care cutoff.
Income is measured as your household's gross annual income (before taxes) using Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) methodology, the same measure used for Medi-Cal and Covered California.
What Documents You Need to Apply
Gather these before you start the application. Missing documents are the main reason applications take longer than 30 days.
Required for all applicants:
- Government-issued photo ID (driver's license, passport, or state ID)
- Proof of residency in California (utility bill, lease, or bank statement from the last 60 days)
- The Stanford Health Care bill(s) you are applying to have forgiven or discounted
Proof of income (provide one or more of these):
- Most recent federal tax return (Form 1040), or
- Two most recent pay stubs for each working adult in the household, or
- Social Security or pension award letter showing monthly benefit amount, or
- Unemployment benefit determination letter, or
- Self-employment: profit and loss statement or business bank statements for the last 3 months
If insured:
- Copy of your insurance card
- Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your insurer showing what they paid and what you owe
- Documentation of prior-year medical expenses if claiming the 10% household income threshold across multiple providers
Stanford Health Care accepts applications in six languages: English, Spanish, Chinese (Traditional), Russian, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. All forms are available for download at stanfordhealthcare.org.
How to Apply: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Request an Itemized Bill
Before applying, request an itemized bill from Stanford Health Care if you do not already have one. An itemized bill lists every charge with its billing code. You have a right to this under California law, and it takes 5 to 7 business days to receive.
While you wait, upload your current billing statement to the CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer to identify any overcharges or coding errors that could reduce your balance before the financial assistance application is processed.
Step 2: Determine Your Application Route
Stanford Health Care offers three ways to submit a financial assistance application:
Online (fastest): Log into your MyHealth account at myhealth.stanfordhealthcare.org. The financial assistance application is available in the billing section. You can upload supporting documents directly in the portal.
Email: Download the application from stanfordhealthcare.org, complete it with all required documents, and email to FAA@stanfordhealthcare.org. This is the next fastest option after online.
Fax: Fax the completed application and supporting documents to (650) 493-8623.
If you need help completing the application, call the financial counseling team at 844-498-2900, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Video consultations are also available through MyHealth at no cost.
Step 3: Submit Before or After Your Visit
California law prohibits hospitals from denying an application based solely on when it was submitted. You can apply before, during, or after your visit, even after you receive a bill. If you have already received a bill and it has been sent to collections, California law requires the collector to pause collection activity while a financial assistance application is pending.
Do not ignore a Stanford bill waiting to go to collections. The protections only apply if you submit an application.
Step 4: Wait for the Determination
Stanford Health Care must process applications within 30 days of receiving a complete application. If they need additional information, they will contact you in writing.
If approved, the financial assistance credit will be applied to your account. For charity care, the remaining balance becomes $0. For discount payment, your balance is reduced to no more than the Medicare rate for each service.
Step 5: Appeal If Denied
If your application is denied, you have the right to:
HCAI oversees hospital compliance with the Fair Pricing Act and maintains public records of every hospital's financial assistance policy at the Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Lookup.
Discount Payment vs. Charity Care: What Is the Difference?
California's Fair Pricing Act created two distinct programs:
Charity Care is 100% free care. The bill is forgiven. Under Stanford's policy, uninsured patients below 400% FPL qualify for this level.
Discount Payment means the bill is reduced to the Medicare rate (the rate Medicare would pay Stanford for the same service). This is typically 40-60% lower than the full hospital charge. Insured patients with high medical costs at or below 400% FPL qualify for discount payment on their out-of-pocket portion.
For reference, if Stanford charged $25,000 for a procedure but Medicare would pay $9,000, a discount payment applicant pays no more than $9,000 (minus any insurance payment already applied).
What If You Earn Too Much to Qualify?
If your income exceeds 400% FPL, Stanford Health Care may still offer options:
- Interest-free payment plans: California law requires hospitals to offer payment plans to patients below 600% FPL on request. Stanford offers extended payment plans through their billing office at 1-800-549-3720.
- Prompt-pay discounts: Some hospitals offer reductions for patients who pay quickly. Ask your financial counselor.
- Billing error review: Before paying anything, have your bill reviewed for errors. Duplicate charges, upcoding, and unbundling errors are common on complex hospital bills. Upload your Stanford itemized bill to the CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer. It compares each line item against the Medicare reference rate and flags charges that look inflated, helping you dispute specific line items before you agree to pay.
- Medi-Cal or Covered California: If you lost coverage or were underinsured, you may qualify for Medi-Cal (California Medicaid) or a subsidized plan through Covered California.
Medi-Cal and How It Connects to Stanford Bills
If you are uninsured and your income is at or below 138% FPL ($22,025 for a single person in 2026), you likely qualify for Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. Medi-Cal eligibility is not retroactive in most cases, but applying immediately can prevent future large bills at Stanford and other providers.
To check Medi-Cal eligibility, visit benefitscal.com or call 1-800-541-5555. California has no asset limits for Medi-Cal, so savings do not count against you.
If you qualify for Medi-Cal and are already facing a Stanford bill from a recent uninsured visit, ask the financial counselor whether Medi-Cal can be applied retroactively to that bill. In some cases, Medi-Cal can cover services received up to 3 months before your application date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Stanford Health Care charity care cover all services, including surgery and emergency care?
Yes. California's Fair Pricing Act applies to all inpatient and outpatient services at the hospital, including emergency room visits, surgeries, imaging, lab work, and observation stays. It also covers physician services billed through Stanford Health Care's physician groups. Services billed by separate physician groups not employed by Stanford may require a separate application to those groups.
Can I apply if I have already paid part of my bill?
Yes. You can apply even if you have made payments. If approved, any amount paid above what your financial assistance level requires can be refunded or credited to your account. Submit the application as soon as possible. Credits are generally applied from the date of application, not retroactively to payments made before applying.
Will applying for financial assistance hurt my credit?
No. California law prohibits Stanford Health Care from reporting hospital debt to credit bureaus while a financial assistance application is pending or during an appeal period. After a final denial, normal collection timelines resume. However, per 2025 law changes, Stanford cannot use a lien on your home to collect unpaid hospital bills.
What counts as household income for the application?
Household income includes gross income (before taxes) from all sources for all adults living in your home who are financially supporting each other. This includes wages, self-employment income, Social Security benefits, pension income, rental income, and unemployment benefits. It does not include SNAP, SSI, or Medi-Cal benefits.
How long does Stanford Health Care keep my financial assistance application on file?
Once approved for financial assistance, the determination typically covers all Stanford services within the same calendar year. You do not need to reapply for each visit within the same year if your income has not changed significantly.
What if I need care right now and cannot afford to pay upfront?
California law prohibits Stanford Health Care from requiring advance payment or a deposit before providing emergency or medically necessary care. If you are asked to pay upfront for an urgent procedure, ask to speak with a financial counselor immediately. You can apply for financial assistance at any point in the process.
How do I find out if Stanford Health Care billed me correctly before applying?
Request an itemized bill and review each charge against your medical records. Common billing errors include duplicate charges, incorrect diagnosis codes that affect the price, charges for services not received, and unbundled procedures that should be billed together at a lower rate. Upload your itemized bill to the CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer for a fast comparison against Medicare reference rates.
Does Stanford Health Care have Spanish-speaking financial counselors?
Yes. Stanford Health Care offers financial assistance applications in Spanish, and financial counselors who speak Spanish are available. The MyHealth patient portal is also available in Spanish. Call 844-498-2900 and ask for a Spanish-speaking counselor, or request one when scheduling a video consultation through MyHealth.
Upload your hospital bill to the free CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer to find errors, overcharges, and charity care options in 30 seconds.
