DESCRIPTION
Free bed funds are special donations a hospital receives to provide free care to patients who can’t pay for all or part of their hospital stay.
ELIGIBILITY
For the most part, eligibility for assistance from these funds is left to the discretion of the individual hospitals. Donors of these funds often establish very specific guidelines that patients must meet before funding is awarded.
APPLICATION PROCESS
The law requires hospitals to post signs about the funds in English and Spanish; to train admitting staff, billing staff, collection agencies and attorneys to give patients information about the funds and an application to apply for the funds; and to include information about free bed funds and other free care programs in all bills and collection notices sent to the patient. Financial officers can help patients through the application process.
WHO TO CONTACT
The best way to find out about these funds is to contact the hospital administration, billing office, or social work office.
TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT’S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by program name: Free Bed Funds
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SOURCE: Hospital Debt Justice Program
PREPARED BY: 211/mm
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: April2023