We have not yet read Delaware’s own laws on hospital bills; this page covers each hospital’s own policy and the federal rules for nonprofit hospitals.
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12 Delaware hospitals, by town.
Nonprofit and government hospitals
Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus
Dover, Kent County · Nonprofit, general acute care · Bayhealth
- 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
“Effective 7/1/2022 Bayhealth’s Financial Assistance program provides a 100% discount (full coverage) for those with incomes at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) and a 50% discount for those with incomes between 301% - 350% of the FPL with the establishment of a payment plan.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
- Discounts
- Up to 350% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $115,500 a year for a family of four in 2026.
The policy says
“Effective 7/1/2022 Bayhealth’s Financial Assistance program provides a 100% discount (full coverage) for those with incomes at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) and a 50% discount for those with incomes between 301% - 350% of the FPL with the establishment of a payment plan.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
- Timing
- 240 days
The policy says
“4.4.2.1.1 Patients may apply for Financial Assistance up to 240 days from the first statement date from the date the billed care was provided.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
Financial assistance policyPlain language summaryApplication
Beebe Medical Center
Lewes, Sussex County · Nonprofit, general acute care
We could not read its financial assistance policy on 2026-11-09 (its website did not open for us). Ask the billing office for the policy and the application.
Bayhealth Hospital, Sussex Campus
Milford, Sussex County · Nonprofit, general acute care · Bayhealth
- 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
“Effective 7/1/2022 Bayhealth’s Financial Assistance program provides a 100% discount (full coverage) for those with incomes at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) and a 50% discount for those with incomes between 301% - 350% of the FPL with the establishment of a payment plan.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
- Discounts
- Up to 350% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $115,500 a year for a family of four in 2026.
The policy says
“Effective 7/1/2022 Bayhealth’s Financial Assistance program provides a 100% discount (full coverage) for those with incomes at or below 300% of the current Federal Poverty Levels (FPL) and a 50% discount for those with incomes between 301% - 350% of the FPL with the establishment of a payment plan.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
- Timing
- 240 days
The policy says
“4.4.2.1.1 Patients may apply for Financial Assistance up to 240 days from the first statement date from the date the billed care was provided.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
Financial assistance policyPlain language summaryApplication
Delaware Psychiatric Center
New Castle, New Castle County · Government, psychiatric
We could not read its financial assistance policy on 2026-11-09 (its website did not open for us). Ask the billing office for the policy and the application.
Christiana Hospital
Newark, New Castle County · Nonprofit, general acute care · ChristianaCare
- Free care
- Up to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $132,000 a year for a family of four in 2026.
The policy says
“If your gross household income is less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) and you meet the corresponding household limits, then medically necessary services may be provided at no charge.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
- Timing
- 240 days after the first billing statement
The policy says
“Applications for financial assistance must be submitted within 240 days after the first billing statement.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
Tidalhealth Nanticoke
Seaford, Sussex County · Nonprofit, general acute care
We could not read its financial assistance policy on 2026-11-09 (its website did not open for us). Ask the billing office for the policy and the application.
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware
Wilmington, New Castle County · Nonprofit, childrens · Nemours Children's Health
- Timing
- 240 days from first billing statement
The policy says
“Consistent with the Patient Protection and Afordable Care Act of 2010, applications will be accepted and processed until at least 240 days from the date of the frst billing statement.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
Saint Francis Hospital
Wilmington, New Castle County · Nonprofit, general acute care · Trinity Health
- Free care
- Up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $66,000 a year for a family of four in 2026.Only for some patients, for example by insurance, residence or savings: the policy’s words below say which.
The policy says
“Uninsured Patients whose Family Income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) will be eligible for a 100% discount on the charges for services received.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
- Discounts
- Up to 400% of the federal poverty guidelines: about $132,000 a year for a family of four in 2026.Only for some patients, for example by insurance, residence or savings: the policy’s words below say which.
The policy says
“Uninsured Patients whose Family Income is above 200% of the FPL and does not exceed 400% of the FPL (or the higher % required by state law, if applicable) will be eligible for a discount on the charges for services received.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
- Timing
- Application period begins the day care is provided and ends the later of 240 days after that date or the end of the 30-day period to apply for more generous assistance.
The policy says
“Application Period begins the day that care is provided and ends the later of 240 days after that date or either -- a.”
Read on this document, 2026-11-09.
Financial assistance policyPlain language summaryApplication
For-profit hospitals
The federal rules for nonprofit hospitals do not apply to a for-profit hospital. Ask whether it has a financial assistance or charity care policy.
Dover Behavioral Health System
Dover, Kent County · For-profit, psychiatric
Ask whether it has a financial assistance or charity care policy.
Sun Behavioral Delaware
Georgetown, Sussex County · For-profit, psychiatric
Ask whether it has a financial assistance or charity care policy.
Meadowwood Behavioral Health System
New Castle, New Castle County · For-profit, psychiatric
Ask whether it has a financial assistance or charity care policy.
Rockford Center
Newark, New Castle County · For-profit, psychiatric
Ask whether it has a financial assistance or charity care policy.
Federal rules for nonprofit hospitals
- A nonprofit hospital must have a written financial assistance policy. There is no federal income level: the policy sets its own criteria.
- It must accept applications for at least 240 days after the first bill sent after you leave.
- For patients it finds eligible, charges for emergency and other medically necessary care are limited to the amounts generally billed to people with insurance.
- These rules apply to hospitals recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), including government hospitals with that status.
More in the hospital charity care guide.
What to ask the billing office
- Ask for the financial assistance policy, the application and the plain language summary.
- Ask which income limit applies to your household and what counts as income.
- Ask whether the doctors who treated you are covered by the policy or bill separately.
- Ask until when you can still apply for the bill you have, and ask for the answer in writing.
The free financial assistance letter asks for all three papers. Denied? How to appeal or reapply. Already paid? How applying after you have paid works. Compare large health systems on the hospital list.
Helping people with hospital bills in Delaware?
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Sources
The list of hospitals, their towns, counties and ownership come from Hospital General Information (CMS Provider Data Catalog), modified 2026-07-22. Ownership is CMS’s label, not a tax ruling. We left out the 1 hospitals the CMS file lists under federal ownership, such as VA and military hospitals.
Each figure comes from the hospital’s own policy, which every figure links to, with the policy’s words and the day we read it (2026-11-09). We used AI reading tools, and a second independent check compared each quote and figure with the policy text. A figure that was not confirmed is left out. Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines for the 48 states and Washington, DC (91 FR 1797).
We are not part of any of these hospitals. Policies change, and the hospital decides from its own form, with conditions such as assets or residency that the policy sets. If what you read here differs from the current policy, the policy counts. A correction? Tell us on the Support page.
MedBillCheckup provides informational assistance only. It does not determine whether a charge is medically necessary, fraudulent, illegal, or definitively incorrect, and it is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer, doctor, insurer, or certified medical billing specialist.