Patient financial assistance programs

Medical costs can grow over time. If you need help with your OHSU medical bill, you have options. Explore these programs to learn more. Call our financial services team if you have any questions.

On this page:

• How to qualify for help with medical bills
• Financial assistance options for patients
• Applying for OHSU financial assistance
• How to appeal

How do I qualify for help with medical bills?

Qualifying for assistance to pay medical bills depends on your income, health insurance and type of care. We consider these factors in offering financial assistance to patients. 

Income 

You may qualify for financial assistance if your family’s annual income is less than four times the federal poverty level. If your household income is:

• Less than three times the poverty level, you qualify for free care. 
• Between three and four times the poverty level, you qualify for a 65% discount. 

Health insurance  

If you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t fully cover your needs, you may qualify for financial assistance. OHSU does not provide financial assistance if you have: 

• Health insurance and choose not to use it 
• An insurance plan where OHSU is not in the network or does not have a contract 
• Out-of-network benefits when care can be provided within your health insurance network 
• Health insurance that does not authorize services 

Type of care 

You may qualify for financial assistance if you get: 

• Emergency care 
• Medically necessary care is care that you need to keep your health from getting worse. This can include evaluation, diagnosis or treatment. 

Medically necessary care does not include: 

• Elective cosmetic services 
• Clinical trials 
• Fertility services 
• Routine vision exams 
• Transplants and CAR T-cell therapy 
• Take-home prescriptions or pharmacy supplies 
• Medical equipment, including glasses and contact lenses 

What medical financial assistance options do I have?

Explore state, national and OHSU programs to help pay medical costs. Check your eligibility for these programs before applying for OHSU assistance: 

Oregon financial assistance programs 

• Oregon Health Plan: Oregon’s Medicaid plan and Children’s Health Insurance Program. 800-699-9075 
• Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance: Help with Medicare from trained counselors. 800-772-4134 
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Cash for families that meet income limits 

Washington financial assistance programs 

• Washington Health Plan Finder: Information about health insurance 
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Cash for families that meet income limits 
• Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Resources: Health care coverage resources 

National financial resources 

• Social Security: Retirement, family, disability and survivor benefits and Supplemental Security Income 

Adventist Health financial assistance 

Starting Aug. 30, 2026, Adventist Health is changing how it manages financial assistance. You will need to apply for assistance for the care you get at Adventist Health.  

Questions? Contact Adventist Health: 

• AHFinAsst@ah.org 
• 844-827-5047

Atlas Health medication assistance 

OHSU works with Atlas Health to match people with medication copay programs.  You may get a call or text from Atlas Health if you receive medications during your clinic visit. If you qualify, Atlas may be able to find programs that help pay your out-of-pocket costs for these medications. 

Applying for OHSU financial assistance

If you qualify, you can get help with medical bills through OHSU financial services. Eligible patients get free or discounted care for up to 12 months. 

When to apply

You may apply for financial assistance up to 240 days after the first billing statement for covered services or within 12 months of paying for those services.

You can apply again if you need more care. If your application is turned down, you can appeal. 

English: How to apply for financial assistance  
Spanish: ¿Cómo solicitar ayuda económica? 
Arabic: كیفیة التقدم بطلب للحصول على المساعدة المالیة 
Chinese (simplified): 如何申请经济援助 
Korean: 재정 지원 신청 방법 
Russian: Как подать заявление на получение финансовой помощи 
Vietnamese: Cách làm đơn xin hỗ trợ tài chính 

How to appeal

You can appeal if you apply for financial assistance and get partial approval or a denial. Here’s how:

• Fill out our financial assistance appeal request form in your language.
• Email the completed form to sfr@ohsu.edu.
• Call us at 503-494-8551 if you need help filling out the form.

English: Financial Assistance Appeal Request Form
Spanish: Formulario de solicitud de ayuda económica 
Arabic: نموذج طلب الطعن على قرار بشأن المساعدة المالیة 
Chinese (simplified): 经济援助上诉申请表
Korean: 재정 지원 이의 신청 양식 
Russian: Форма запроса на апелляцию относительно получения финансовой помощи
Vietnamese: Mẫu đơn yêu cầu kháng cáo về hỗ trợ tài chính

Financial assistance policy

English: Financial assistance policy – plain language summary
Spanish: Política de ayuda económica de OHSU Health – resumen en lenguaje llano
Arabic: OHSU Health ﻲﻓﺔﯾﻟﺎﻣﻟا ةدﻋﺎﺳﻣﻟاﺔﺳﺎﯾﺳ صﺧﻠﻣ 
Chinese (simplified): OHSU Health 经济援助政策– 通俗易懂的语言总结
Korean: OHSU Health 재정 지원 정책 – 쉬운 말요약서 
Russian: ПОЛИТИКА ФИНАНСОВОЙ ПОМОЩИ OHSU Health – КРАТКОЕ УПРОЩЕННОЕ ИЗЛОЖЕНИЕ
Vietnamese: Chính sách hỗ trợ tài chính của OHSU Health – bản tóm tắt bằng ngôn ngữ Đơn giản

• English: Financial assistance policy
• Arabic: سياسة المساعدة المالية
• Chinese (simplified): 经济援助政策
• Farsi: خط مشی کمک مالی
• French: Politique en matière d'aide financière
• German: Richtlinie zur finanziellen Unterstützung
• Japanese: 経済的支援ポリシー
• Khmer: គោលនយោបាយជំនួយហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ
• Korean: 재정 지원
• Nepali: आिथर्क सहायता नीित
• Russian: Политика финансовой помощи
• Somali: Xeerka Kaalmada Dhaqaalaha
• Spanish: Política de asistencia financiera
• Tagalog: Patakaran sa Tulong Pinansyal
• Thai: นโยบายความชว่ ยเหลอื ทางการเงิน
• Ukrainian: Політика надання фінансової допомоги
• Vietnamese: Chính sách hỗ trợ tài chín