MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center
Nonprofit acute care hospital in Laguna Hills, CA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy
MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $39,900 for 1 person, $54,100 for 2, $68,300 for 3, $82,500 for 4, $96,700 for 5 or $110,900 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for 2, $109,280 for 3, $132,000 for 4, $154,720 for 5 or $177,440 for 6.
The hospital makes the final decision.
| People in household | Free care up to | Discount up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $39,900 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $54,100 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $68,300 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $82,500 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $96,700 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $110,900 | $177,440 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 250% of poverty level, you pay $0 (Full Financial Assistance) for self-pay patients or patients with high medical costs
- 251% to 400% of poverty level, you pay No more than amounts generally billed: 100% of what Medicare would pay (20% of billed charges if Medicare does not cover the service); insured patients pay that amount minus what insurance paid
How to apply
- Call (877) 323-0043 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- Financial Assistance (MemorialCare policy FP-236, effective 4/6/2026)
- Bring recent tax returns, or recent pay stubs (within 6 months before or after the first bill).
- 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.
- Savings and property
- The policy looks at income only, not savings or property.
- Very large bills
- Out-of-pocket medical costs over 10% of family income (current income or income in the prior 12 months)
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
- Hospital services at MemorialCare hospitals, including emergency and medically necessary care. Contracted anesthesiologists, pathologists, radiologists, emergency, NICU and PICU doctors follow the policy (plus breast imaging doctors at Long Beach Medical Center).
- Not covered
- Other doctors and third-party providers bill separately and are not covered. Planned elective, cosmetic, or non-medically necessary surgery can be denied in advance.
State program in California
Hospital Fair Pricing Act (Health and Safety Code 127400 et seq.)
Every licensed general acute care, acute psychiatric, and special hospital in California must have a charity care policy and a discount payment policy. A patient can ask for help if they are uninsured (self-pay) or have high medical costs, and their family income is not more than 400% of the federal poverty level. Hospitals may choose to help people with higher incomes. With a discount, the bill is capped at about what Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater. You can apply at any time, even after a bill goes to collections. Immigration status does not affect eligibility.
Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.
Applies to each licensed general acute care hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, and special hospital in California.
Apply to the hospital's financial assistance office. Each hospital's policies and applications are posted on its website and on HCAI's Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Lookup (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-fair-pricing-policy-lookup/).
Is a self-pay patient OR a patient with high medical costs; AND Patient's family income is not more than 400 percent of the federal poverty
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Hospital Bill Complaint Program (HCAI)
A free state program at HCAI. If a hospital wrongly denied you financial assistance, did not tell you about its programs, or sent you to collections the wrong way, you can file a complaint online (English and Spanish) or by mail (many languages). You must have applied to the hospital first for HCAI to review an eligibility decision. If HCAI finds you paid too much, the hospital must refund you within 30 days. It covers problems on or after January 1, 2022. It does not handle general billing disputes, price transparency, Good Faith Estimates, or bills from emergency room doctors.
Applies to complaints about any hospital covered by the Hospital Fair Pricing Act.
File online through the Patient Complaint Portal (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/should-i-file-a-complaint/) or mail the Patient Complaint Form to Department of Health Care Access and Information, Hospital Bill Complaint Program, 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 1101, Sacramento, CA 95833.
If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program.
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Emergency physician discount rule
Most hospital policies cover only the hospital's own bill. Emergency room doctors often bill separately. California law also requires an emergency physician to give discounts to uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs whose family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Ask the doctor group's billing office for its discount policy. HCAI's complaint program does not handle emergency doctor bills.
Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.
Applies to emergency physicians who provide emergency medical services in a California hospital that provides emergency care.
Ask the emergency physician group named on the bill for its discount payment policy.
an emergency physician who provides emergency medical services in a hospital that provides emergency care is also required by law to provide discounted care
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Notes
Free care at or below 250% of the poverty level if you have no insurance or have high medical costs. From 251% to 400% you pay no more than Medicare would pay. If you have insurance, you pay that amount minus what insurance paid. There is no deadline to apply. You get a written answer within 10 business days of a complete application. Approval lasts 6 months. Disputes go in writing to the Vice President of Patient Financial Services. The phone number is MemorialCare's system-wide Patient Financial Services line. You can also email [email protected]. MemorialCare may approve you without an application if your estimated income is at or below 250% of the poverty level. The document prints an effective date of 4/6/2026. HCAI lists it with an effective date of 06/25/2026.
Sources
- Free care level
The patient’s household income is less than or equal to 250% of the current FPL guidelines.
- Discount level
The patient’s household income is less than or equal to 400% of the current FPL guidelines; and
- Discount steps
the patient will not be charged more than “amounts generally billed” by MHS for emergency or other medically necessary care.
- Insured patients
Financial Assistance may be applied to uninsured patients, as well as the patient liability for patients with insurance
- Asset test
The patient’s monetary assets will not be considered in determining eligibility for Full Financial Assistance.
- Very large bills
Annual out-of-pocket medical expenses that exceed the lesser of 10% of the patient’s current family income or family income in the prior 12 months
- What is not covered
MHS hospitals do not provide patient financial assistance for the professional fees charged by physicians and other third- party providers for their services
- Deadline
There is no time limit for submitting an application for LIFA or Full Financial Assistance
- Documents
Documentation of the patient’s household income shall be limited to recent pay stubs or income tax returns.
- Financial counseling phone
If you have any questions, please call us at 1-877-323-0043.
- Facility list
Saddleback Medical Center
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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