Phoenix Children’s offers financial assistance to eligible patient families who need help paying for emergency or medically necessary care. Depending on your family income, you may qualify for medically necessary care at no charge or receive a discount on eligible services.

Phoenix Children’s can also help identify possible sources of healthcare coverage and offers payment options for patient families experiencing significant healthcare expenses.

Can I receive emergency care if I cannot afford to pay?

Yes. Phoenix Children’s provides care for emergency medical conditions regardless of your ability to pay.

Anyone who comes to Phoenix Children’s for emergency medical care will receive a medical screening and stabilization before financial obligations are discussed. Phoenix Children’s will not discourage you from seeking emergency medical care because of your ability to pay.

Who qualifies for financial assistance?

Phoenix Children’s offers financial assistance to eligible patient families through its Financial Assistance Plan.

Eligibility is based in part on your family income compared with the Federal Poverty Level.

Family income at 225% or less of the Federal Poverty Level

If you complete a Financial Assistance Application and your family income is 225% or less of the Federal Poverty Level, Phoenix Children’s will provide medically necessary care at no charge to you.

Family income from 226% to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level

If your family income is 226% to 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, Phoenix Children’s will provide:

  • A 74.7% discount for Phoenix Children’s Hospital services
  • A 64.5% discount for Phoenix Children’s Medical Group services

Information about the current Federal Poverty Level is available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

View Federal Poverty Level Guidelines

How do I apply for financial assistance?

To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete a Financial Assistance Application.

You can obtain an application at no additional cost:

  • At a Phoenix Children’s Financial Counselor Office
  • In the emergency room or at intake
  • From the Customer Service Department in person
  • On the Phoenix Children’s website
  • By calling 602-933-2000 or 1-800-549-3743
  • By writing to:

Phoenix Children’s Financial Counselor Offices
1919 E. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016

The Financial Assistance Policy and Financial Assistance Application are also available in Spanish. Phoenix Children’s offers a number of integrated languages to support a variety of interpretation needs.

What documents do I need to apply?

When applying for financial assistance, you will need to provide documentation that may include:

  • Identification
  • Social Security numbers
  • Birth certificates or alien cards
  • Proof of address
  • Proof of income received in the past 30 days
  • Your previous year's tax returns
  • Bank statements from the past two months

How much can I be charged if I qualify for financial assistance?

If you qualify for financial assistance, Phoenix Children’s will not charge you more than Amounts Generally Billed (AGB) for emergency or medically necessary care.

Phoenix Children’s determines AGB using the average percentage of gross charges paid by commercial insurance, AHCCCS and Medicare fee-for-service payers during a 12-month period.

Can Phoenix Children’s help me find health coverage?

Yes. Phoenix Children’s will help identify a possible payer source whenever possible.

Potential sources of coverage may include:

  • Employer-based coverage
  • Affordable Care Act Marketplace plans
  • AHCCCS
  • Medicare or Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
  • Federal Emergency Services (FES) provided through AHCCCS
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

What if my healthcare expenses are more than I can afford?

Phoenix Children’s strives to ensure that a person's financial circumstances do not prevent them from seeking or receiving healthcare.

If your out-of-pocket expenses total more than 25% of your patient/family's pre-tax income in one year, Phoenix Children’s will work with you on a payment plan so that you are not required to pay more than 25% of your pre-tax income during that year.

What happens if I cannot pay my medical bill?

Phoenix Children’s will make reasonable efforts to determine whether you qualify for financial assistance and whether a payment plan can be established.

If you do not qualify for financial assistance and Phoenix Children’s is unable to establish a payment plan with you, your account may be transferred to an outside collection agency.

Phoenix Children’s will not pursue legal action for non-payment against patients or responsible parties who have clearly demonstrated that they do not have sufficient income or assets to meet their financial obligations.

Phoenix Children’s will not place a lien or require you to appear in court to pay an outstanding medical bill.

Financial Assistance Definitions

What is balance billing?

Balance billing is a medical bill from a healthcare provider that bills a patient for the difference between the total amount charged by the facility and the amount allowed by a non-contracted insurance plan.

What is cost-sharing?

Cost-sharing is the share of healthcare costs allowed by a member's insurance that the member is responsible for paying. It generally includes copayments, deductibles and coinsurance and may also be called a member cost share.

Questions About Financial Assistance?

For more information about the Phoenix Children’s Financial Assistance Plan or to obtain a Financial Assistance Application, call:

602-933-2000
1-800-549-3743

You can also contact:

Phoenix Children’s Financial Counselor Offices
1919 E. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85016