# South Shore Hospital Hospital in South Weymouth, MA. Verified from the hospital's own policy and the state program, Health Safety Net. South Shore 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. | Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is 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 | Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines. ## Discount steps - 0% to 133% of poverty level, patient pays nothing (100% discount) - 134% to 250% of poverty level, patient pays 15% of charges (85% discount) - 251% to 300% of poverty level, patient pays 30% of charges (70% discount) ## How to apply - Call 781-624-4329 and ask for financial assistance. - [South Shore Hospital Credit, Collection and Financial Assistance Policy (September 2016) and FY24 AGB & Discount Program](https://d18unesthp5g3j.cloudfront.net/www.southshorehealth.org/assets/2018-08/credit_and_collection_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. - Very large bills. Health Safety Net Medical Hardship for Massachusetts residents ## 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 medically necessary care at South Shore Hospital and its licensed satellite locations. Not covered. Non-medically necessary services such as elective cosmetic surgery. Physician practices and groups on the provider list may bill separately and are encouraged, not required, to follow the policy. ## 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 https://www.mass.gov/info-details/health-safety-net-for-patients, 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 How to apply. 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. Source https://www.mass.gov/info-details/health-safety-net-for-patients, 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. How to apply. 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% Source https://www.mass.gov/doc/emergency-adoption-date-filed-october-9-2026-1/download, checked 2026-11-10 ## Notes South Shore's own scale is free only up to 133% of the poverty level, which is lower than the Health Safety Net's 150%, then 85% off to 250% and 70% off to 300%. The discount does not apply to what you owe after insurance. The hospital says it helps both Massachusetts residents and non-residents. The full policy posted online is dated September 2016; the discount table was re-posted in the FY24 AGB document (AGB 42.0%). The 'Availability of Financial Assistance' PDF on the site is an image and was not read. Massachusetts residents up to 300% of the poverty level should also apply for the Health Safety Net through the MassHealth application; HSN is free up to 150% and has a yearly deductible from 150.1% to 300%. ## Sources - Free care level https://d18unesthp5g3j.cloudfront.net/www.southshorehealth.org/assets/2025-01/fy24-agb-discount-program.pdf?VersionId=861qNT_ACvBejYnBw5dnKd06_ba9w4ox > Family Income as % of FPG Discount for South Shore Hospital 0 to 133% 100% - Discount steps https://d18unesthp5g3j.cloudfront.net/www.southshorehealth.org/assets/2025-01/fy24-agb-discount-program.pdf?VersionId=861qNT_ACvBejYnBw5dnKd06_ba9w4ox > 134 to 250% 85% 251 to 300% 70% - Discount level https://d18unesthp5g3j.cloudfront.net/www.southshorehealth.org/assets/2025-01/fy24-agb-discount-program.pdf?VersionId=861qNT_ACvBejYnBw5dnKd06_ba9w4ox > 251 to 300% 70% - Insured patients https://d18unesthp5g3j.cloudfront.net/www.southshorehealth.org/assets/2025-01/fy24-agb-discount-program.pdf?VersionId=861qNT_ACvBejYnBw5dnKd06_ba9w4ox > The discounts are based on the total charges and are not applied to balances that have already been discounted due to insurance coverage. - Very large bills https://d18unesthp5g3j.cloudfront.net/www.southshorehealth.org/assets/2018-08/credit_and_collection_policy.pdf > A Massachusetts resident at any income level may qualify for HSN Medical Hardship - Financial counseling phone https://www.southshorehealth.org/patient-resources/billing-insurance > For more information, or specific questions, please call our Financial Counseling department at 781-624-4329. - What is not covered https://www.southshorehealth.org/patient-resources/billing-insurance > These practitioners may bill you separately for their services. While encouraged to do so, they do not need to follow - Residency https://d18unesthp5g3j.cloudfront.net/www.southshorehealth.org/assets/2018-08/credit_and_collection_policy.pdf > The Hospital provides this assistance for both residents and non-residents of Massachusetts - Hsn list https://www.mass.gov/doc/hsn-acute-care-hospital-locations/download > South Weymouth South Shore Hospital 55 Fogg Road 02190 (781) 624-8000 Last checked 2026-11-10. HTML page https://hospitalaid.org/hospitals/south-shore-hospital-south-weymouth-ma/ Report an error corrections@hospitalaid.org