Massachusetts General Hospital

Nonprofit acute care hospital in Boston, MA.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

Massachusetts General Hospital 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.

Yearly household income, before taxes, using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines (free up to 150%, discount up to 300% of poverty level).
People in householdFree care up toDiscount 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)
  • 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 617-726-2191 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

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

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
    Massachusetts General Hospital Main Campus Patient Financial Services ... 617-726-2191
  • Covered facility
    Acute Care Hospitals ... Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
  • Hsn list
    Boston Massachusetts General Hospital 55 Fruit Street 02114

Last checked. 2026-11-10

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