Sanford Health income limits
| Household size | Free care: yearly income up to 225% | Discounts: yearly income up to 375% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $35,910 | $59,850 |
| 2 people | $48,690 | $81,150 |
| 3 people | $61,470 | $102,450 |
| 4 people | $74,250 | $123,750 |
| 5 people | $87,030 | $145,050 |
| 6 people | $99,810 | $166,350 |
- Free care
- Up to 225% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $74,250 a year for a family of four in 2026.The policy says: “A patient (or patient guarantor) with a household income of 225% or less of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is eligible for full financial assistance.” (page 4)
- Discounts
- Up to 375% of the guidelines: about $123,750 a year for a family of four.The policy says: “A patient (or patient guarantor) with a household income between 226% and 375% of the FPL is eligible for partial financial assistance on a sliding scale.” (page 4)
- With insurance
- Patients may qualify with or without insurance, at the same income levels, once insurance and other payers have paid. Balances from not following an insurer’s requirements may be left out. (Policy, pages 4 and 5.)
- Savings and assets
- Savings or other assets may count.
- Large bills
- Case by case: Sanford may consider help when the patient provides documents showing the hardship the medical condition has caused for the patient and family.
How to apply for Sanford Health financial assistance
- Without a full application
- Some patients may be approved without a full application.
- Time to apply
- Through the 240th day after the first bill sent after care. Sanford may allow later applications for health or other extenuating reasons.The policy says: “extending through the 240th day after the first billing statement is sent to the patient or guarantor.” (page 6)
- How to apply
- Complete and sign the financial assistance application and send it with proof of income (such as your latest tax return, two recent pay stubs or benefit letters) and statements for cash or assets that could be turned into cash. Return it by mail, secure fax or at a hospital or clinic registration desk, or apply in My Sanford Chart; Sanford decides within 30 days of a complete application.
- Differences by state
- Michigan: uninsured Michigan residents at Sanford hospitals in Michigan may apply to have the balance discounted to 115% of the Medicare Fee Schedule. Minnesota: residents at Minnesota hospitals may also apply under the separate Minnesota Discount Program.
- Also good to know
- The percentages for the sliding scale from 226% to 375% are in an appendix that the public policy PDF links to only as an internal file, so they are not shown here. Patients whose cash or assets that could be turned into cash are worth 400% or more of the balance may not be eligible.
Common questions about Sanford Health financial assistance
What is the income limit for Sanford Health financial assistance?
Sanford Health’s policy lists free care up to 225% of the federal poverty guidelines and discounts up to 375%. With the 2026 guidelines for the 48 states and Washington, DC, that is for free care, a yearly income up to about $35,910 for one person and $74,250 for a family of four; for discounts, a yearly income up to about $59,850 for one person and $123,750 for a family of four. The policy has differences by state or hospital, so check it for your hospital. Sanford Health decides from its own application; only the hospital can confirm what you may get.
How do I apply for Sanford Health financial assistance?
Complete and sign the financial assistance application and send it with proof of income (such as your latest tax return, two recent pay stubs or benefit letters) and statements for cash or assets that could be turned into cash. Return it by mail, secure fax or at a hospital or clinic registration desk, or apply in My Sanford Chart; Sanford decides within 30 days of a complete application. Time to apply: Through the 240th day after the first bill sent after care. Sanford may allow later applications for health or other extenuating reasons.
Source
Financial Assistance - Enterprise (Sanford Policy, Patient Financial Services), Reviewed or revised 05/05/2026. 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 Sanford 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.
Have insurance? See what 38 policies say about patients with insurance.
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In Wisconsin? Find your hospital by name or town (137 Wisconsin hospitals).
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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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