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Charitable Care

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Backus Hospital provides Free Bed Funds and other financial assistance programs for certain qualified patients who are unable to pay all or part of their bill for inpatient, outpatient and emergency services rendered at the Hospital. The Free Bed Funds originate from gifts made to the Hospital. The interest earned on these funds enables the Hospital to provide some services to qualified individuals at no cost or at a reduced cost. If you are coping with a financial hardship, and are facing debts owed to Backus Hospital, Free Bed Funds may be available to you.

Application Information

Backus requires some basic information in order to accurately process a financial assistance application.  Such questions include household size, household income, and sources of income. 

1. To report household size for an adult applicant: include the patient, the patient's spouse, and any dependents as defined by the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS").
2. To report household size for a minor applicant: include the patient, the patient's mother, dependents of the patient's mother as defined by the IRS, the patient's father, and dependents of the patient's father, as defined by the IRS.
3. To accurately report household income for an adult applicant: the term "Yearly Income" means the sum of the total yearly gross income of the patient and the patient's spouse, and any household dependents who are currently working.
4. To accurately report household income for a minor applicant: the term "Yearly Income" means the sum of the total yearly gross income of the patient, the patient's mother and the patient's father.

Income Verification:  Backus requests income information from the applicant.  Verification of reported income should be included within the application package.  Appropriate verification sources include:

• Most recent Federal tax return and W-2                                    
• Most recent 3 payroll checks
• Copies of unemployment checks
• Copies of any pension, alimony, child support or other sources of income
• Copies of Social Security earnings, if any
• Any other pertinent information

If the applicant has no income a statement detailing the current method of support will be accepted.

Proof of income or earnings is required with application or the application will not be considered.

Participation in a Public Benefit Program:  Income can also be verified by the provision of documentation showing current participation in a public benefit program such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), WIC, or similar indigence related programs.

Understanding the Charity Care Options that may be available

If you are eligible to receive charity care, the level of assistance will be based on a classification as financially indigent or medically indigent.

Financially Indigent

Financially Indigent means an uninsured or underinsured patient whose total Reported Income is less than or equal to 400% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) (LINK TO FPGS HERE). Patients at or below 250% FPG are eligible for a 100% discount off of their outstanding balances.  Individuals between 250% and 400% FPG are eligible for a discount based on their household income.

Medically Indigent

Medically Indigent is defined by the IRS as:

Persons whom the organization has determined are unable to pay some or all of their medical bills because their medical bills exceed a certain percentage of their family or household income or assets (for example, due to catastrophic costs or conditions), even though they have income or assets that otherwise exceed the generally applicable eligibility requirements for free or discounted care under the organization’s financial assistance policy.

The William W. Backus Hospital identifies catastrophically medically indigent patients as those whose outstanding balances, after payment by all third parties, exceed 50% of the patient’s annual gross family income, and whose annual gross family income is greater than 400% FPG, and the patient is unable to pay the outstanding balance.  

These patients are eligible for a discount separate from traditional financial assistance, as defined in the attached financial discount schedule. 

For more information

Backus Hospital treats each application individually.  If you have any questions about your specific situation, please contact our customer service representatives at 860-889-8331, ext. 2917, Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 pm.