CHRISTUS Health income limits
| Household size | Free care: yearly income up to 300% | Discounts: yearly income up to 400% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $47,880 | $63,840 |
| 2 people | $64,920 | $86,560 |
| 3 people | $81,960 | $109,280 |
| 4 people | $99,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 people | $116,040 | $154,720 |
| 6 people | $133,080 | $177,440 |
- Free care
- Up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $99,000 a year for a family of four in 2026.The policy says: “Any patient whose gross family income is at or below 300% of the FPL will be extended a full 100% charity care discount” (page 4)
- Discounts
- Up to 400% of the guidelines: about $132,000 a year for a family of four.The policy says: “Any patient whose gross family income is more than 300% and less than 401% of the FPL will be extended a partial charity care discount” (page 4)
- Sliding scale
- 0% to 300%: 100% off the balance after insurance or the uninsured balance. More than 300% and less than 401%: a partial discount with no percentage stated, and the patient cannot be held responsible for charges above the amounts generally billed (the hospital-specific discount in Attachment A runs from 70% to 95%).
- With insurance
- The balance after insurance, such as coinsurance, deductibles and copays, may qualify at the same income levels. Patients must follow their plan’s referral, authorization and network rules, and accounts with a liable third party may be left out. (Policy, pages 1, 4, 5 and 6.)
- Savings and assets
- Savings or other assets may count.
- Large bills
- An out-of-pocket amount above 10% of gross family income may get up to a 100% discount on the part above 10%; the policy states no income ceiling for it.
How to apply for CHRISTUS Health financial assistance
- Without a full application
- Some patients may be approved without a full application.
- Time to apply
- 12 months after the first bill sent after care.The policy says: “must be submitted to the CHRISTUS Hospital and CHRISTUS Clinic within twelve (12) months of the date of the first post-discharge billing statement” (page 7)
- How to apply
- Fill out the application, which you can download online or get from a hospital admitting department financial counselor, and return it by mail to Customer Service or in person at the hospital admitting department. Incomplete applications get 60 days to be fixed, and uninsured patients may also be approved by an electronic screening without applying.
- Also good to know
- The plain language summary says uninsured and less than 300%, while the policy covers balances after insurance and income at or below 300%. The policy text governs.
Common questions about CHRISTUS Health financial assistance
What is the income limit for CHRISTUS Health financial assistance?
CHRISTUS Health’s policy lists free care up to 300% of the federal poverty guidelines and discounts up to 400%. With the 2026 guidelines for the 48 states and Washington, DC, that is for free care, a yearly income up to about $47,880 for one person and $99,000 for a family of four; for discounts, a yearly income up to about $63,840 for one person and $132,000 for a family of four. CHRISTUS Health decides from its own application; only the hospital can confirm what you may get.
How do I apply for CHRISTUS Health financial assistance?
Fill out the application, which you can download online or get from a hospital admitting department financial counselor, and return it by mail to Customer Service or in person at the hospital admitting department. Incomplete applications get 60 days to be fixed, and uninsured patients may also be approved by an electronic screening without applying. Time to apply: 12 months after the first bill sent after care.
Source
Financial Assistance Policy (system wide), Effective July 1, 2026 (revised 1/27/2026). Read with AI reading tools on November 1, 2026, and checked by a second one against the same document. There is also a plain language summary.
We are not part of CHRISTUS Health. Policies change, and the hospital decides from its own form. If what you read here differs from the current policy, the policy counts.
Ask in writing
The free financial assistance letter asks the hospital for its policy, the application and the plain language summary. Already paid? How applying after you have already paid works. Compare other systems on the hospital list.
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Check the bill itself
Financial assistance may lower what you owe, but it does not look at the charges. Open your bill in MedBillCheckup: it is read on your device, never uploaded, and the free check shows how many things are worth asking the billing office about, and names the first. The full list, with the exact questions to ask, is $6.99 for one bill, or included with Pro at $9.99 a month.
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