Valley Children's Hospital
Nonprofit children's hospital in Madera, CA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy
Valley Children's Hospital likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $31,920 for 1 person, $43,280 for 2, $54,640 for 3, $66,000 for 4, $77,360 for 5 or $88,720 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 | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $177,440 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 200% of poverty level, you pay $0 (charity care, uninsured patients only)
- 0% to 400% of poverty level, you pay No more than Medi-Cal rates, or a 75% discount from charges if Medi-Cal rates cannot be set (uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs)
How to apply
- Call (559) 353-7009 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- Financial Assistance, Policy AD-3004 (effective 06/2025)
- Bring a recent tax return or pay stubs from the last 6 months (or an unemployment or disability award letter), for free care only, a letter showing denial from Medi-Cal, CCS, Medicare, or another government program.
- 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
- Out-of-pocket costs over 10% of family income (current or prior 12 months, whichever is lower) count as high medical costs. With income at or below 400% of the poverty level, the bill drops to no more than what Medi-Cal would pay.
- Languages
- English, Spanish
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
- All emergency and medically necessary care at the hospital, plus emergency room doctors.
- Not covered
- Other doctors, such as radiology, anesthesiology, pathology, and hospitalists, bill separately and are not covered. Elective cosmetic procedures are not covered.
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 is for uninsured families at or below 200% of the poverty level. Up to 400%, uninsured families and families with high medical costs pay no more than Medi-Cal rates. Insured families who meet the income limit may get a partial discount even without high medical costs. To get free care, you need a denial letter from Medi-Cal, CCS, Medicare, or another government program. The discount does not need one. The policy does not mention savings or other assets. There is no deadline to apply. You get an answer within 30 days. Approval covers care within 180 days. Payment plans are interest-free. Self-pay patients who pay in full right away can ask for a 45% prompt pay discount. Disputes go to the Patient Accounting Director. You can also call 800-956-2445. The policy filed with the state says it took effect 06/2025, with a next review date of 02/2026.
Sources
- Free care level
Valley Children's will provide charity care to uninsured applicants whose qualifying income is at 200% or less
- Discount level
provide a discount for uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs whose income for the last twelve (12) months does not exceed 400%
- Discount steps
Eligible patients' obligation will be reduced to no more than the applicable Medi-Cal rates in effect at date of service.
- Insured patients
Valley Children's may provide a partial discount to insured patients who meet the income qualifications
- Very large bills
High medical costs are defined as annual out-of-pocket costs that exceed the lessor of ten (10) percent of the patient's current family income
- What is not covered
This policy does not apply to professional services provided to Valley Children's patients by physicians or other medical providers
- Application deadline days none
Valley Children’s shall not impose time limits for applying for charity care or discounted payments
- Documents
For charity care only, Valley Children's requires a letter showing denial from Medi-Cal, CCS, Medicare or other government programs.
- Languages
Such information shall be provided in English and Spanish and will be translated for patients/guarantors who speak other languages.
- Financial counseling phone
Patient Financial Services can be reached via phone at 559-353-7009.
- Facility named in policy
applying and receiving financial assistance in the form of charity care or discounted payments at Valley Children's Hospital
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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