Charity care in Oregon: who gets free or discounted care
Oregon has a law that requires hospitals to give free or discounted care to people with income up to 400% of the federal poverty level.
Charity care means free or discounted care for people with low income. Hospitals also call it financial assistance.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
What the law says in Oregon
| Income (% of poverty level) | What you get | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 200% | Free care | If your household income is not more than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, the hospital must reduce your share of the bill by 100% (free). |
| 200% to 300% | Discount | If your household income is more than 200% and not more than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, the hospital must reduce your share of the bill by at least 75%. |
| 300% to 350% | Discount | If your household income is more than 300% and not more than 350% of the federal poverty guidelines, the hospital must reduce your share of the bill by at least 50%. |
| 350% to 400% | Discount | If your household income is more than 350% and not more than 400% of the federal poverty guidelines, the hospital must reduce your share of the bill by at least 25%. |
These are the income levels written in the law. Each hospital decides using its own policy.
- The law
Oregon hospital financial assistance law
Law: ORS 442.610 to 442.615, HB 3320 of 2023; ORS 442.610, 442.612, 442.614, 442.615 (as amended by Or. Laws 2026, ch. 109); ORS 646A.677
- Which hospitals
Nonprofit hospitals in Oregon must give the minimum discounts below, and their policies must cover their nonprofit affiliated clinics. All licensed hospitals, including for-profit hospitals, must screen certain patients for financial assistance and post their financial assistance policy. State hospitals and federal (VA) hospitals are not covered.
- Who can get help
Patients with household income up to 400% of the federal poverty level, whether or not they have insurance, for the part of the bill not paid by insurance or a public program. The Oregon Health Authority says the minimum levels apply to Oregon residents.
- Savings and other assets
Not allowed for Oregon residents at nonprofit hospitals. The application may require only your household income and information about any third party (such as another insurer or an accident claim) that may have to pay. Any other question, including about assets, must be marked optional, and the hospital may not use it to deny help.
- Who counts as your family
Your household is you alone, or spouses, domestic partners, or a parent and child under 18 living together, plus anyone else that person or couple is financially responsible for.
Law: ORS 442.610, 442.612, 442.614, 442.615 (as amended by Or. Laws 2026, ch. 109); ORS 646A.677
How to apply in Oregon
- Deadline to apply
You can apply if you were not screened, if the screening found you not eligible, or if you disagree with the amount offered. You can also apply any time up to 12 months after you pay the bill.
- Screening for help
Every licensed hospital must screen you for financial assistance before sending you a bill if you are uninsured, enrolled in the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid), or owe the hospital more than $1,500 for a single hospital visit. The screening may not require any documents and may not hurt your credit score. The hospital must apply any help you qualify for to the bill and tell you the result, including how to apply for more help. Separately, a hospital or nonprofit hospital clinic must screen you if you ask.
Law: ORS 442.615(2)-(3); ORS 646A.677(3); Or. Laws 2026, ch. 109, sec. 1; ORS 442.610, 442.612, 442.614, 442.615 (as amended by Or. Laws 2026, ch. 109)
- Applying for coverage first
A nonprofit hospital may not make you apply for the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid) before it screens you for or gives you financial assistance. It may tell you about Medicaid and help you apply. As a condition of help, it may ask you to answer your insurer's questions so the claim can be processed and to give information about others who may have to pay (other insurance, accident reports, workers' compensation).
- Notice you must get
Hospitals must have a plain-language written policy, give you a paper copy and an application on request, accept applications online, by mail or in person, and put a notice of financial assistance with contact information and web addresses on every bill, on the hospital's home page and on bill-pay websites. Notices must be displayed in the emergency department and admissions areas. A nonprofit hospital's policy must be translated into each language spoken by the lesser of 1,000 people or 5% of the service area, with interpreters for other languages.
- If you disagree
If the hospital denies your application in whole or in part, it must tell you and explain its appeal process. You can correct missing documents or ask the hospital's chief financial officer (or designee) to review the denial. While your appeal is pending, the hospital must stop all collection activity and tell any collection agency to stop.
- Refunds
If you apply after paying and are found eligible for the date of care, the hospital must refund the amount of assistance you qualified for. If the hospital wrongly denied you earlier based on the information you gave, it must also pay interest and reasonable costs, such as legal fees, you had to pay to get assistance. If the bill was sent to a collection agency, the hospital must tell the agency the debt is invalid.
- Other providers
The rules apply to nonprofit hospital-affiliated clinics as well as hospitals.
Law: ORS 442.614(1)(b), 646A.677; ORS 442.610, 442.612, 442.614, 442.615 (as amended by Or. Laws 2026, ch. 109); ORS 646A.677
Law: ORS 442.610, 442.612, 442.614, 442.615 (as amended by Or. Laws 2026, ch. 109); ORS 646A.677
Check your income level
Find out what percent of the federal poverty level your household income is, and compare it with the income levels in Oregon law.
Free tools, letters and checklist
Where to complain in Oregon
- Hospital licensing: Oregon Health Authority, Health Facility Licensing and Certification · 971-673-0540
Complaints about a hospital or other licensed health care facility. - Health insurance: Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (consumer advocates) · 1-888-877-4894
A surprise bill, ground ambulance bill or claim problem with a state-regulated health plan, or a problem with an unregistered collection agency. - Attorney general: Oregon Department of Justice, Consumer Protection · 1-877-877-9392
A hospital, collector or credit bureau broke medical debt rules (such as screening, interest or credit reporting) or used unfair collection practices.
Questions about medical bills in Oregon
Does Oregon require hospitals to give free or discounted care?
Oregon has a law that requires hospitals to give free or discounted care to people with income up to 400% of the federal poverty level.
Who counts as family for charity care in Oregon?
Your household is you alone, or spouses, domestic partners, or a parent and child under 18 living together, plus anyone else that person or couple is financially responsible for.