UPMC 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: “income is at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the patient will be approved for a 100% reduction” (page 6 (uninsured patients))
- Discounts
- Up to 400% of the guidelines: about $132,000 a year for a family of four.The policy says: “income is greater than 300% and less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, the patient is eligible for assistance” (page 6 to 7 (uninsured patients))
- Sliding scale
- Uninsured patients at 301% to 400% have the bill reduced to the amount generally billed, and the policy says the lowest amount currently calculated is 10% of charges, a 90% discount. Underinsured patients at or below 300% are eligible for help.
- With insurance
- Underinsured patients at incomes up to 300% of the guidelines may owe nothing after insurance. Above that, hardship help may be considered, such as when costs pass 15% of income. It is typically denied if insurance rules were not followed. (Policy, pages 4, 6 and 7.)
- Savings and assets
- Savings or other assets may count.
- Large bills
- For income above 300%, assistance may be considered when out-of-pocket expense or patient liability is more than 15% of family income.
How to apply for UPMC financial assistance
- Without a full application
- Some patients may be approved without a full application.
- Time to apply
- The policy states no deadline in days. Apply as soon as you can.
- How to apply
- Fill out the UPMC Financial Assistance Application with proof of income and mail it, or apply through MyChart and upload your documents. You can also ask a Patient Financial Coordinator for help in writing or by appointment, and UPMC writes to you within 30 days of a completed application.
- Differences by state
- These figures are from the Pennsylvania policy, which covers UPMC’s fully integrated Pennsylvania hospitals. UPMC Chautauqua (New York) offers free care up to 400% to uninsured and underinsured patients, and UPMC Western Maryland offers free care up to 200% and then 75% off at 201% to 250%, 60% at 251% to 300%, 50% at 301% to 350%, 45% at 351% to 400%, 40% at 401% to 450% and 35% at 451% to 500%, with a 240-day application period.
- Also good to know
- The Pennsylvania policy states no application deadline. A patient who is denied may re-apply at any time.
Common questions about UPMC financial assistance
What is the income limit for UPMC financial assistance?
UPMC’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. The policy has differences by state or hospital, so check it for your hospital. UPMC decides from its own application; only the hospital can confirm what you may get.
How do I apply for UPMC financial assistance?
Fill out the UPMC Financial Assistance Application with proof of income and mail it, or apply through MyChart and upload your documents. You can also ask a Patient Financial Coordinator for help in writing or by appointment, and UPMC writes to you within 30 days of a completed application. The policy states no deadline in days. Apply as soon as you can.
Source
Financial Assistance Process, Policy HS-RE0722 (Pennsylvania version HS-RE0722-PA), September 27, 2025. 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 UPMC. 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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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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