# Montgomery County Emergency Service

Hospital in Norristown, PA. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

Montgomery County Emergency Service likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $31,760 for 1 person, $43,064 for 2, $54,367 for 3, $65,670 for 4, $76,973 for 5 or $88,276 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $79,800 for 1 person, $108,200 for 2, $136,600 for 3, $165,000 for 4, $193,400 for 5 or $221,800 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,760 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $43,064 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $54,367 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $65,670 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $76,973 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $88,276 | $221,800 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 200% to 500% of poverty level, patient pays no more than amounts generally billed (Medicare rate)

## How to apply

- Call (610) 279-6100 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Financial Assistance Policy (PR 1.2, revised 2/16/2021)](https://mces.org/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MCES-Financial-Assistance-Policy.pdf)
- 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.

## If you have insurance

If you have insurance, ask whether this policy helps with deductibles and copays.
Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.

## What is covered

Covered. All MCES services and providers

## State program in Pennsylvania

### Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid)

State health coverage. Adults 19 to 64 qualify with income at or below 133% of the poverty level. Most hospital financial assistance policies in the Philadelphia area require you to apply for Medical Assistance first. This is insurance, not a hospital discount program, so it sets no hospital charity care threshold.

Applies to people, not hospitals.

How to apply. Apply online through COMPASS or at your County Assistance Office. Hospital financial counselors can help you apply.

> Adults ages 19-64 with incomes at or below 133 percent of the Federal Income Poverty Guidelines (FPIG)

Source https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dhs/resources/medicaid/medicaid-general-eligibility, checked 2026-11-10

### Hospital Uncompensated Care Program (Tobacco Settlement Act, Act 77 of 2001, Chapter 11)

A state program that pays eligible hospitals for part of the uncompensated care they give, including charity care. It pays hospitals, not patients. The law defines charity care by each hospital's own charity care policy and sets no patient income limit. Whether the program is still funded today was not checked.

Applies to eligible hospitals (payments to hospitals).

How to apply. Patients do not apply. Apply to the hospital's own financial assistance program.

> provided free or at a reduced rate to patients who cannot afford to pay but who are not eligible for public programs

Source https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information/view-statute?txtType=PDF&SessYr=2001&SessInd=0&ActNum=0077., checked 2026-11-10

## Notes

Scanned policy (read from page images). Staff help complete a Medical Assistance application. Balances under $1,000 use a sliding fee scale; the minimum accepted amount is 10% of charges. The policy says MCES does not garnish wages, place liens or sue for unpaid balances. Main line: 844-455-7455.

## Sources

- Free care level https://mces.org/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MCES-Financial-Assistance-Policy.pdf
  > Family Income at 0 to 199% of FPG, Full Financial assistance; $0 is billable to the individual;
- Discount level https://mces.org/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MCES-Financial-Assistance-Policy.pdf
  > Family Income at 200% to 500% of FGB, Partial Financial Assistance, AGB is maximum billable to the individual.
- Discount steps https://mces.org/WordPress/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/MCES-Financial-Assistance-Policy.pdf
  > Family Income at 200% to 500% of FGB, Partial Financial Assistance, AGB is maximum billable to the individual.

Last checked 2026-11-10.

HTML page https://hospitalaid.org/hospitals/montgomery-county-emergency-service-norristown-pa/
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