Boston Medical Center-Brighton
Nonprofit acute care hospital in Brighton, MA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy
Boston Medical Center-Brighton likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $23,940 for 1 person, $32,460 for 2, $40,980 for 3, $49,500 for 4, $58,020 for 5 or $66,540 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $47,880 for 1 person, $64,920 for 2, $81,960 for 3, $99,000 for 4, $116,040 for 5 or $133,080 for 6.
The hospital makes the final decision.
| People in household | Free care up to | Discount up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,940 | $47,880 |
| 2 | $32,460 | $64,920 |
| 3 | $40,980 | $81,960 |
| 4 | $49,500 | $99,000 |
| 5 | $58,020 | $116,040 |
| 6 | $66,540 | $133,080 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 150% of poverty level, you pay nothing (100% discount of charges, or of the balance after insurance)
- 151% to 300% of poverty level, you pay 10% (90% discount of charges, or of the balance after insurance)
- 300.1% to % of poverty level, you pay uninsured patients get a 45% self-pay discount; insured patients owe the full balance after insurance
How to apply
- Call 617-779-6406 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- BMCHS Patient Financial Assistance Policy 08.26.001 (revised 2/2026)
- Plain language summary
- Bring completed application signed by the patient (and spouse) or guarantor, proof of residency, proof of identity, proof of household income (earned, unearned, rental), statement of support if no income, bank statements.
- We do not have the deadline yet. Apply as soon as you get a bill, and ask the billing office to pause collections while you apply.
- Residency
- Massachusetts resident
- Savings and property
- The policy counts savings or property, not only income.
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Russian, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean Creole, Albanian, Arabic, Chinese
If you have insurance
Insured patients can also apply for help with deductibles and copays. Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.
What is covered
- Covered
- Emergency, urgent, primary care and other medically necessary care at Boston Medical Center, BMC Brighton and BMC South, plus Boston University Medical Group, BMC Affiliated Physicians, and the Codman Square, East Boston, South Boston and DotHouse health centers that operate under the hospitals' license.
- Not covered
- Contracted doctors who bill privately (see the List of BMCHS Provider Affiliates). Motor vehicle and third-party liability claims, fixed fee services, and non-medically necessary services.
State program in Massachusetts
Apply for MassHealth first
Apply for MassHealth first. In Massachusetts one application (ACA-1) checks you for MassHealth, Health Connector plans and the Health Safety Net together. Hospital financial counselors help with it for free, and most hospital financial assistance policies require you to apply before the hospital will review its own discounts. MassHealth phone is (800) 841-2900.
Applications and qualifications are available on line here: Member Booklet for Health and Dental Coverage and Help Paying Costs (ACA-1).
Source, checked 2026-11-10
Health Safety Net
The Health Safety Net (HSN) pays for some care at Massachusetts acute care hospitals and community health centers for low-income Massachusetts residents who are uninsured or underinsured. It is not insurance. With family income up to 150% of the poverty level there is no deductible. From above 150% up to 300% there may be a yearly deductible based on income. It can pay after other insurance, including private plans, Medicare and some MassHealth programs. You apply with the same application used for MassHealth, so MassHealth is checked first. There is no member card. You must renew every year. HSN pays the hospital's own charges. Doctors who bill separately, and labs or x-rays run by private companies, may not be covered. HSN Medical Hardship can help residents at any income when medical bills are a large share of income.
Income levels in the program are free up to 150%, discount up to 300% of poverty level.
Applies to acute care hospitals and community health centers.
Residency. Massachusetts resident
Fill out the MassHealth application (ACA-1), online through the Health Connector, on paper, or with a hospital or health center financial counselor. The same application decides MassHealth, Health Connector plans and HSN. Bring proof of identity. Medical Hardship needs a separate application that a hospital or health center counselor submits for you.
Program phone (800) 841-2900
Massachusetts residents with income between 0-150% of the FPL may be eligible for the Health Safety Net.
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Health Safety Net Medical Hardship
A Massachusetts resident at any income can get help through HSN Medical Hardship when allowable medical bills are larger than a set share of countable income. The share is 10% of income up to 205% of the poverty level, 15% from 205.1% to 305%, 20% from 305.1% to 405%, 30% from 405.1% to 605%, and 40% above 605.1%. You pay that share. A hospital or health center financial counselor files the application with itemized bills, proof of income, proof of Massachusetts residency and proof of identity.
Applies to acute care hospitals and community health centers.
Ask a hospital or community health center financial counselor to submit a Medical Hardship application.
Income Level Percentage of Countable Income 0 - 205% FPL 10% 205.1 - 305% FPL 15% 305.1 - 405% 20%
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Notes
You must apply for MassHealth, Health Connector plans and the Health Safety Net first; the BMC Charity Care Program is for people who are denied or still owe money. Unlike most Boston hospitals, BMC's own program also cuts the balance insured patients owe after insurance (100% off at or below 150% of the poverty level, 90% off up to 300%). The asset limit is $3,000 per person (the eligibility table says per household member); your home and main car do not count. When a patient is approved for HSN, BMC writes off older bills from before HSN's 10-day lookback at 100%. BMC says it does not sue, sell debt or report to credit bureaus. Uninsured patients above 300% get a 45% self-pay discount. The 0-150% and 151-300% table is an image inside the policy PDF (Attachment C), read by eye. No filing deadline is stated. CMS still lists this hospital (formerly St. Elizabeth's) as proprietary; BMC's policy names it Boston Medical Center Brighton.
Sources
- Free care level
Free Care 0 - 150% FPLG ... 100% Discount of total charges
- Discount level
Reduced Care 151% - 300% FPLG ... 90% Discount of total charges
- Insured patients
Underinsured patients determined eligible for the Charity Care Program qualify for a discount applied to account balances after insurance processing.
- Asset test
Asset limits for eligibility may not exceed $3,000 for applicant and $3,000 for applicant’s spouse if applicable.
- Residency
Financial assistance is available to eligible uninsured and underinsured Massachusetts residents.
- What is not covered
Services provided by contracted physicians who bill privately rather than through one of the Hospitals’ affiliated physician groups.
- Languages
Information is available to all patients in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, Russian, Portuguese, Vietnamese, Cape Verdean, Arabic, Albanian, and Chinese.
- Covered facility
BMC Health System (“BMCHS”) entities Boston Medical Center, Boston Medical Center Brighton, and Boston Medical Center South
- No eca
BMCHS does not engage in Extraordinary Collection Action, (ECA), to obtain payment on past due account balances.
- Uninsured discount
Self-Pay Discount >300% FPG ... 45% Discount
- Hsn first
If a patient is determined ineligible for a public assistance program, QHP, HSN, or Medical Hardship, then patient will be evaluated
- Financial counseling phone
BMC Brighton – 617-779-6406 736 Cambridge St., Brighton, MA 02135
- Hsn list
Boston Medical Center - Brighton 736 Cambridge Street 02135
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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