Help Paying Your Bill

Watsonville Community Hospital has a variety of financial assistance options available to our patients who are uninsured or underinsured and can help you determine if you qualify.

Financial Assistance Policy

Our Financial Assistance Policy outlines what types of assistance are available, what medical services may be covered, who is eligible to receive assistance and how to apply.

Financial Assistance Policy in English [PDF]

Financial Assistance Policy in Spanish [PDF]

Financial Assistance Application in English [PDF]

Financial Assistance Application in Spanish [PDF]

If you would like a free copy of our Financial Assistance Policy and/or application sent to you by mail, call our Financial Counseling Office. A representative will take your address and send it to you. Need help? They can assist you with the form. Completed applications should be mailed to:
Financial Counseling Office
75 Nielson Street
Watsonville, CA 95076

Help Paying Your Bill: A how-to guide in plain language

This document explains the Financial Assistance Policy and application process in plain language.

Financial Assistance Plain Language Summary in English [PDF]

Financial Assistance Plain Language Summary in Spanish [PDF]

Who qualifies?

If you are uninsured or underinsured, you may qualify for free or discounted care based on your income. You may qualify for charity care (free care) if your family income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

You may qualify for a discounted payment if your family income is above 250% and up to 400% of the FPL. If your family income is over 400% of the FPL, you may still qualify for discounted payment if your medical bills exceed 10% of your annual income.

Eligibility for all of these programs is based on the current Federal Poverty Guidelines, which are updated annually. You can view the guidelines at https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines.

If you need help calculating what percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) your income falls under, or if you have any other questions, please contact our Financial Counseling Office.

Financial Counseling Office
Phone: (831) 761-5689
Office: 75 Nielson Street, Watsonville, CA 95076
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Eligible Services

Professional fees that are not billed by Watsonville Community Hospital will not be covered under this Financial Assistance Policy, except as may be provided for under other policies or contracts.

Questions or Complaints

Additional information and/or a statement of charges for services rendered by the hospital may be obtained by calling Customer Service at (877) 818-9132, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. You may also email us anytime with your questions or complaints about your bill at [email protected].

California Hospital Bill Complaint Program

The Hospital Bill Complaint Program is a state program, which reviews hospital decisions about whether you qualify for help paying your hospital bill. If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program. Go to HospitalBillComplaintProgram.hcai.ca.gov for more information and to file a complaint.