Quick Answer: UCLA Health offers free care (100% discount) to California patients whose household income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for hospital services, and at or below 200% FPL for physician services. As of 2026, that means a family of four earning up to $132,000 per year may qualify for completely free hospital care. No application deadline exists, and the program covers emergency and medically necessary services.
If you received a bill from Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, or another UCLA Health facility and are not sure you can pay it, the hospital's financial assistance program may wipe out all or most of what you owe. In California, hospitals are required by law to offer charity care, and UCLA Health's policy extends further than the state minimum. You do not have to be uninsured to qualify, and you can apply after you have already received care.
Before deciding what to do about that bill, upload it to the CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer. The CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer compares each line item against Medicare benchmark rates so you can see immediately whether specific charges are inflated before you pay or negotiate anything.
What UCLA Health's Charity Care Program Covers in 2026
UCLA Health operates two parallel financial assistance programs: one for hospital services and one for physician services. The income thresholds differ between them, which catches many patients off guard.
Hospital services include inpatient stays, outpatient procedures billed by the hospital, and emergency department visits.
Physician services are the separately billed professional fees from UCLA Health physicians. These are governed by a different FPL threshold and a separate application process.
Both programs cover emergency and medically necessary care only. Elective procedures that are not medically necessary are excluded.
According to UCLA Health's official financial assistance policy, patients who qualify are protected from being charged more than the amount generally billed to Medicare fee-for-service patients, which is typically far below the full chargemaster rate.
2026 Income Thresholds: Hospital Services
For hospital services billed by UCLA Health facilities, the free and discounted care tiers as of 2026 are:
| Income as % of FPL | Discount |
|---|
| 0 to 400% FPL | 100% (free care) |
| 401% to 450% FPL | Partial discount (sliding scale) |
| Above 450% FPL | No discount under this program |
UCLA Health Hospital Charity Care Income Limits by Household Size, 2026
The table below shows the maximum annual income to qualify for fully free hospital care (100% discount) at 400% FPL. Dollar amounts are based on the 2026 HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines (aspe.hhs.gov).
| Household Size | Max Annual Income for Free Hospital Care (400% FPL, 2026) |
|---|
| 1 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $200,160 |
| 8 | $222,880 |
| Each additional person | Add $22,720 |
Table: UCLA Health Hospital Services Income Limits, 2026. Based on 400% of HHS 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
These limits apply to the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (Westwood), UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, and all UCLA Health inpatient and outpatient hospital departments.
2026 Income Thresholds: Physician Services
For professional fees billed separately by UCLA Health physicians, the thresholds are lower. As of 2026:
| Income as % of FPL | Discount |
|---|
| 0 to 200% FPL | Up to 100% (free care) |
| 201% to 350% FPL | Partial discount (sliding scale) |
| Above 350% FPL | No discount under this program |
UCLA Health Physician Services Income Limits by Household Size, 2026
| Household Size | Max Annual Income for Free Physician Care (200% FPL, 2026) |
|---|
| 1 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $111,440 |
| Each additional person | Add $11,360 |
Table: UCLA Health Physician Services Income Limits, 2026. Based on 200% of HHS 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines.
If your income falls between 201% and 350% FPL for physician services, you may still receive a partial discount. Call 310-301-8860 to ask about partial assistance amounts for your specific income level.
Who Qualifies for UCLA Charity Care
You may qualify regardless of your insurance status. Uninsured patients, underinsured patients (those whose coverage left a large out-of-pocket balance), and even patients with comprehensive insurance can apply if the remaining balance is a financial hardship.
UCLA Health's policy does not distinguish by immigration status for purposes of charity care eligibility. The program serves patients receiving emergency or medically necessary care.
California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act (Health and Safety Code Section 127400) requires all licensed hospitals to provide charity care and requires hospitals to screen patients for eligibility. UCLA Health meets this obligation and goes beyond it with the 400% FPL threshold for hospital services, which is higher than the statutory floor.
How to Apply for UCLA Financial Assistance
There is no application deadline. You can apply before your service, during a hospital stay, or after you receive a bill. Retroactive applications are accepted.
Step 1: Get the application form. Download it from uclahealth.org or call Patient Business Services at 310-825-8021 (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) to request a paper copy. Applications are available in English, Spanish, Farsi, Arabic, and Chinese.
Step 2: Gather your documents. Collect proof of household income for all adults in the home, documentation of any assets (bank accounts, property), and documentation of any significant liabilities (other medical debt, outstanding loans).
Step 3: Submit the completed application. For hospital services, submit to Patient Business Services either in person at 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90024, or by mail to the same address. For physician services, mail to UCLA Health Physicians' Billing Office, Financial Assistance Program, 5767 West Century Blvd., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90045.
Step 4: Respond to any requests for additional information. UCLA staff may contact you to clarify documents. Respond promptly so the review is not delayed.
Step 5: Receive your determination. If approved, your bill will be adjusted or zeroed out. If denied, you have the right to appeal.
Documents Needed
- Government-issued photo ID
- Recent pay stubs (last 2 to 3 months) or a letter from your employer
- Most recent federal tax return (Form 1040)
- Social Security award letter if receiving SSI or SSDI
- Bank statements from the last 2 to 3 months
- Documentation of any other income (rental income, unemployment, child support)
- Documentation of significant recurring debts (mortgage, rent, other medical bills)
Common Reasons Applications Get Denied
- Application submitted without required income documentation
- Household income exceeds the applicable FPL threshold for the program
- The service requested is not considered medically necessary under UCLA Health's policy
- Application submitted for a service category that is excluded (e.g., purely elective procedures)
- Applicant did not respond to a request for additional documentation within the review window
If your application is denied, you can file a complaint through California's Hospital Bill Complaint Program at HospitalBillComplaintProgram.hcai.ca.gov.
What If My Income Is Over the Limit?
If your household income exceeds the 2026 thresholds above, UCLA Health may still offer a payment plan. Payment plans through UCLA Health are interest-free and terms can be negotiated based on your financial situation.
You may also want to check whether you qualify for Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program. Medi-Cal covers adults with household incomes up to 138% FPL. If you have no insurance or lost it recently, enrolling in Medi-Cal retroactively may cover bills already incurred. Apply through Covered California or call 1-800-300-1506.
Additionally, review your bill line by line before paying or agreeing to any plan. Hospital bills frequently contain errors or charges at inflated rates. The CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer can flag specific line items where you are being charged above what Medicare would pay for the same service, giving you grounds to dispute those charges directly with the hospital's billing department.
California Charity Care Law: Context for UCLA Patients
California's Hospital Fair Pricing Act requires hospitals to offer charity care to patients earning under a state-set threshold and prohibits hospitals from charging uninsured low-income patients more than the lowest amount billed to any third-party payer. UCLA Health operates as a UC Health system facility and is bound by both this state law and University of California financial assistance policy.
The California Health Care Access and Information department (HCAI) maintains public records of hospital charity care policies. You can verify UCLA Health's current filed policy at HCAI's public database.
As of 2026, major academic medical centers in California (UCLA, UCSF, Stanford Health Care) all offer charity care above the state minimum, with free care available up to 300% to 400% FPL. Knowing this before you assume a large bill is non-negotiable is important.
How to Apply: Contact Information Summary
| Service Type | Phone | Mailing Address | Hours |
|---|
| Hospital Services | 310-825-8021 | 10920 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1600, Los Angeles, CA 90024 | Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Physician Services | 310-301-8860 | 5767 West Century Blvd., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90045 | Mon-Fri 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Interpreter Services | 310-267-8001 | N/A | By request |
Table: UCLA Health financial assistance contact information, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the income limit for free care at UCLA Medical Center in 2026?
For hospital services at UCLA Health in 2026, the income limit for a 100% free care discount is 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. For a family of four, that is $132,000 per year. For a single person, the limit is $63,840. For physician services, the free care threshold is 200% FPL, or $66,000 for a family of four and $31,920 for an individual.
Do I have to be uninsured to get UCLA charity care?
No. UCLA Health's financial assistance program is available to both uninsured and underinsured patients. If you have insurance but have a significant remaining balance, you can apply based on financial hardship.
Can I apply for UCLA financial assistance after I already received the bill?
Yes. There is no deadline to apply for UCLA Health's financial assistance program. Retroactive applications are accepted for services already received.
Does UCLA Health charity care apply to emergency room visits?
Yes. Emergency and all medically necessary care qualifies. Emergency room visits at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, and other UCLA Health hospitals are covered under the hospital services financial assistance program.
What is the difference between the hospital and physician assistance programs at UCLA?
Hospital services are billed by the UCLA Health facility itself and use a 400% FPL threshold for free care. Physician services are billed separately by the individual doctors in UCLA Health's physician group and use a lower 200% FPL threshold. You may need to file two separate applications if you received both types of care.
How long does it take UCLA to process a financial assistance application?
UCLA Health does not publish a specific turnaround time. Generally, completed applications with all required documentation are reviewed within a few weeks. Incomplete applications trigger a request for more documents, which extends the timeline. Submitting complete documentation up front shortens the process.
What if my UCLA bill has errors or inflated charges?
California law requires hospitals to charge financially assisted patients no more than what Medicare would pay for the same service. Even before your charity care application is approved, you can review your bill for pricing errors. Upload your UCLA Health bill to the free CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer at coveredusa.org/medical-bill-analyzer to see line-by-line comparisons against Medicare rates.
Where can I get help understanding my options for a UCLA medical bill?
Call 310-825-8021 for hospital bill questions or 310-301-8860 for physician bill questions. You can also contact California HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) at 1-800-434-0222 for free, independent help navigating medical bills and insurance coverage in California.
Upload your hospital bill to the free CoveredUSA Bill Analyzer to find errors, overcharges, and charity care options in 30 seconds.
