Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
Nonprofit acute care hospital in Monterey, CA.
Verified from the hospital's own policy
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $47,880 for 1 person, $64,920 for 2, $81,960 for 3, $99,000 for 4, $116,040 for 5 or $133,080 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $79,640 for 1 person, $107,984 for 2, $136,327 for 3, $164,670 for 4, $193,013 for 5 or $221,356 for 6.
The hospital makes the final decision.
| People in household | Free care up to | Discount up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $47,880 | $79,640 |
| 2 | $64,920 | $107,984 |
| 3 | $81,960 | $136,327 |
| 4 | $99,000 | $164,670 |
| 5 | $116,040 | $193,013 |
| 6 | $133,080 | $221,356 |
Discount steps
- 0% to 300% of poverty level, you pay $0 (Sponsored Care, 100% discount)
- 301% to 400% of poverty level, you pay No more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay, whichever is greater (uninsured or high medical costs)
- 401% to 499% of poverty level, you pay 25% discount and an interest-free payment plan (discretionary)
How to apply
- Call (831) 625-4922 and ask for financial assistance.
- Application form
- Financial Assistance Policy aka Sponsor Care and Discount Payment Policy, Policy # AD-1030 (on file with HCAI, effective 10/15/2026)
- Bring recent tax return or recent pay stubs, or other reasonable information showing current family income.
- 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.
- Savings and property
- The policy looks at income only, not savings or property.
- Very large bills
- Insured patients whose out-of-pocket costs at the hospital top 10% of family income count as having high medical costs and can get the discount at or below 400% of the poverty level
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
- Emergency and medically necessary services provided and billed by Community Hospital, plus participating hospital-based providers on the hospital's list
- Not covered
- Other providers, including doctors, that the hospital does not bill for are not covered unless they are on the participating list. Ambulance costs are not covered. Emergency doctors billed separately have their own process.
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 300% of the poverty level. From 301% to 400%, uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs pay no more than Medicare or Medi-Cal would pay. Above 400% and below 500%, the hospital may give a 25% discount and an interest-free payment plan. Savings are not counted. There is no deadline to apply. You do not have to apply for Medi-Cal or Covered California first. Approval lasts 12 months and also covers past bills. Some patients get help without applying, such as people who are homeless or enrolled in CalFresh, CalWORKs, WIC, or Medi-Cal. Before or during care, call Patient Access at (831) 625-4910. Appeals go in writing to Patient Business Services, 23625 Holman Highway, Monterey, CA 93942. The application carries a notice of free language help in English and 15 other languages. The policy still says effective 1/2022 and has an unfilled approval date placeholder in its revision history.
Sources
- Free care level
Patients with family income at or below 300% FPL may qualify for a 100% discount on the eligible amount they owe for covered services.
- Discount level
eligible patients above 400% but below 500% FPL may receive a 25% discount and an interest- free payment plan.
- Discount steps
For patients from 301% through 400% FPL, Community Hospital limits the expected payment for covered services to the amount it would expect
- Insured patients
It applies to current and prospective patients, uninsured patients, and insured patients with high medical costs or other eligible patient responsibility amounts.
- Asset test
Eligibility is based on family income and family size. Monetary assets are not considered.
- Very large bills
For an insured patient, annual out-of-pocket costs incurred at Community Hospital that exceed the lesser of 10% of the patient's current family income
- What is not covered
This program does not cover fees and charges from other providers (including physicians) for which Community Hospital does not bill
- Deadline
There is no deadline for applying for charity care or discounted payment.
- Documents
Provide recent pay stubs or a recent income tax return, if available.
- Financial counseling phone
For information after care contact Patient Business Services (831) 625-4922
Last checked. 2026-11-10
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