Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Nonprofit acute care hospital in Boston, MA.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary 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.

Discount steps

• 0% to 150% of poverty level, you pay nothing (100% discount)
• 150.1% to 250% of poverty level, you pay 15% of charges (85% discount)
• 251% to 300% of poverty level, you pay 30% of charges (70% discount)
• 300.1% to 600% of poverty level, you pay 30% of charges, only if medical expenses in the last 12 months exceeded 30% of income
• 600.1% to % of poverty level, you pay 30% of charges, only if medical expenses in the last 12 months exceeded 40% of income

How to apply

1. Call 617-573-5664 and ask for financial assistance.
2. Application form
3. Financial Assistance and Uninsured Patient Discount Policy (Fiscal Year 2026)
4. Plain language summary
5. Bring proof of income, proof of residence, asset information, proof of qualifying medical expenses (if applying based on medical bills), photo ID.
6. 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 or New Hampshire resident, or a non-resident who gets emergency care at an MGB facility

Very large bills

Income above 300% of poverty level can still get 70% off if medical bills in the last 12 months were over 30% of income (over 40% if income is above 600%)

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Indonesian, Khmer, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese

If you have insurance

This policy does not cover bills for patients who have insurance. Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.

What is covered

Covered

Emergency, urgent and other medically necessary care. Elective care qualifies only in some cases, such as residents of the MGB service area (east of I-495, Cape and Islands) who applied for all public programs, or follow-up care within 60 days of an emergency visit.

Not covered

Doctors who bill privately are encouraged but not required to follow the policy (see the Provider Affiliate List). Cosmetic surgery, IVF and other fertility treatment, gastric bypass without payer approval, research study accounts and convenience items are excluded. Patients who travel from outside the service area for care they knew they needed, or who knowingly go out of network, usually do not qualify.

State program in Massachusetts

Notes

MGB's own discount does not cover copays, coinsurance or deductibles, but Massachusetts residents up to 300% of the poverty level can get the Health Safety Net to pay deductibles and coinsurance after insurance. Patients approved for HSN Full or Partial are presumed eligible for MGB assistance without a separate application. Approval generally lasts one year. Uninsured patients at any income get a 25% discount on most services. Denials can be appealed in writing within 30 days. Interest-free payment plans are available for any bill. Central billing line is 617-726-3884 ([email protected]). The policy does not state a filing deadline. Assets are reviewed only in some cases (for example appeals, deceased patients, non-US residents, and Medicare bad debt), so asset_test is left unknown.

Sources

• Free care level

  Family Income % FPG ... 0 to 150% ... 100%

• Discount level

  Discounts based solely on income are generally limited to patients with family incomes less than or equal to 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG)

• Discount steps

  150.1 to 250% 85% ... 251 to 300% 70%

• Insured patients

  Your bills are not for insurance co-payments, co-insurance, or deductibles.

• Residency

  Patients must be a resident of MA, NH, or a non-resident who receives emergency treatment at an MGB facility

• Very large bills

  may still qualify if they can demonstrate that their annual medical expenses exceeded 30% of their income in the most recent 12-month period.

• What is not covered

  physicians associated with these entities, but who bill “privately,” are encouraged, but not required, to follow this policy.

• Documents

  Complete and submit a paper application ... along with ID and income verification.

• Languages

  The application is available in 10 languages on www.massgeneralbrigham.org

• State program

  All Massachusetts-based Mass General Brigham Acute Care Hospitals (see Appendix A), including hospital licensed health centers ... participate in this coverage

• Presumptive hsn

  patients with Health Safety Net Full and Health Safety Net Partial will be presumptively eligible for Financial Assistance

• Uninsured discount

  Acute Care Hospitals EXCEPT ... 25%

• Financial counseling phone

  Mass Eye and Ear Main Campus Patient Financial Services ... 617-573-5664

• Covered facility

  Acute Care Hospitals ... Massachusetts Eye and Ear (MEE)

• Hsn list

  Boston Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary 243 Charles Street 02114

Last checked. 2026-11-10