Coalinga Regional Medical Center
Critical access hospital in Coalinga, CA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy
Coalinga Regional Medical Center likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for 2, $109,280 for 3, $132,000 for 4, $154,720 for 5 or $177,440 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $95,760 for 1 person, $129,840 for 2, $163,920 for 3, $198,000 for 4, $232,080 for 5 or $266,160 for 6.
The hospital makes the final decision.
| People in household | Free care up to | Discount up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $63,840 | $95,760 |
| 2 | $86,560 | $129,840 |
| 3 | $109,280 | $163,920 |
| 4 | $132,000 | $198,000 |
| 5 | $154,720 | $232,080 |
| 6 | $177,440 | $266,160 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 400% of poverty level, you pay $0
- 400% to 600% of poverty level, you pay discounted rates, no more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay
- 601% to % of poverty level, you pay case by case, such as catastrophic illness
How to apply
- Call (209) 488-4820 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- Coalinga Regional Medical Center Financial Assistance Policy (effective June 27, 2025; on file with HCAI 02/03/2026)
- Bring federal income tax return (Form 1040) for patient and spouse or domestic partner, three months of pay stubs.
- We do not have the deadline yet. Apply as soon as you get a bill, and ask the billing office to pause collections while you apply.
- Very large bills
- Above 600% of the poverty level, discounts case by case, such as for catastrophic illness
- Languages
- English, Spanish
If you have insurance
Insured patients can also apply for help with deductibles and copays. Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.
What is covered
- Covered
- Medically necessary services provided by Coalinga Regional Medical Center.
State program in California
Hospital Fair Pricing Act (Health and Safety Code 127400 et seq.)
Every licensed general acute care, acute psychiatric, and special hospital in California must have a charity care policy and a discount payment policy. A patient can ask for help if they are uninsured (self-pay) or have high medical costs, and their family income is not more than 400% of the federal poverty level. Hospitals may choose to help people with higher incomes. With a discount, the bill is capped at about what Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater. You can apply at any time, even after a bill goes to collections. Immigration status does not affect eligibility.
Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.
Applies to each licensed general acute care hospital, acute psychiatric hospital, and special hospital in California.
Apply to the hospital's financial assistance office. Each hospital's policies and applications are posted on its website and on HCAI's Hospital Fair Pricing Policy Lookup (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-fair-pricing-policy-lookup/).
Is a self-pay patient OR a patient with high medical costs; AND Patient's family income is not more than 400 percent of the federal poverty
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Hospital Bill Complaint Program (HCAI)
A free state program at HCAI. If a hospital wrongly denied you financial assistance, did not tell you about its programs, or sent you to collections the wrong way, you can file a complaint online (English and Spanish) or by mail (many languages). You must have applied to the hospital first for HCAI to review an eligibility decision. If HCAI finds you paid too much, the hospital must refund you within 30 days. It covers problems on or after January 1, 2022. It does not handle general billing disputes, price transparency, Good Faith Estimates, or bills from emergency room doctors.
Applies to complaints about any hospital covered by the Hospital Fair Pricing Act.
File online through the Patient Complaint Portal (https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/should-i-file-a-complaint/) or mail the Patient Complaint Form to Department of Health Care Access and Information, Hospital Bill Complaint Program, 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 1101, Sacramento, CA 95833.
If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program.
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Emergency physician discount rule
Most hospital policies cover only the hospital's own bill. Emergency room doctors often bill separately. California law also requires an emergency physician to give discounts to uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs whose family income is at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. Ask the doctor group's billing office for its discount policy. HCAI's complaint program does not handle emergency doctor bills.
Income levels in the program are discount up to 400% of poverty level.
Applies to emergency physicians who provide emergency medical services in a California hospital that provides emergency care.
Ask the emergency physician group named on the bill for its discount payment policy.
an emergency physician who provides emergency medical services in a hospital that provides emergency care is also required by law to provide discounted care
Program source, checked 2026-11-10
Notes
Free care at or below 400% of the poverty level. From 400% to 600% the hospital gives discounted rates, and you never pay more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay. Above 600% a discount may be given case by case. The policy's charity care section says it is for patients with no insurance, but another section says insured patients with high medical costs up to 400% may also get free care. People who filed for bankruptcy, or who died with no estate, get full help. You can apply before, during, or after care. After you apply you have 21 days to send your papers. A written decision comes within 30 days. Approval lasts 180 days. Appeals go in writing to Patient Financial Services within 30 days of the decision. Emergency room doctors must also give discounts up to 400%. The application says to mail it to a business office in Salida, which is outside Coalinga. The policy does not say whether savings are counted.
Sources
- Free care level
Patients whose family income is at or below 400% of the FPL may receive free care.
- Discount level
at or above 400% of the FPL but no more than 600% of the FPL are eligible to receive services at discounted rates.
- Discount steps
Patients whose family income exceed 600% of the FPL may be eligible to receive discounted rates on a case-by-case basis
- Insured patients
Uninsured patients or insured patients with high medical costs whose income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- Very large bills
based on their specific circumstances, such as catastrophic illness.
- Documents
Three months' pay stubs from within the 6 months before or after the patient is first billed
- Languages
These notices will be made available in at least English and Spanish to meet the primary languages spoken in the community.
- Financial counseling phone
If you have questions, please call 209-488-4820.
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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