# Enloe Health

Hospital in Chico, CA. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

Enloe Health likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $23,940 for 1 person, $32,460 for 2, $40,980 for 3, $49,500 for 4, $58,020 for 5 or $66,540 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $71,820 for 1 person, $97,380 for 2, $122,940 for 3, $148,500 for 4, $174,060 for 5 or $199,620 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $23,940 | $71,820 |
| 2 | $32,460 | $97,380 |
| 3 | $40,980 | $122,940 |
| 4 | $49,500 | $148,500 |
| 5 | $58,020 | $174,060 |
| 6 | $66,540 | $199,620 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 150% of poverty level, patient pays $0 (the policy says less than 150%)
- 151% to 300% of poverty level, patient pays $100 per eligible account
- 301% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays 100% of the Medicare fee schedule or 45% of charges (the 55% self-pay discount), whichever is less
- 401% to 450% of poverty level, patient pays 150% of the Medicare fee schedule or 45% of charges, whichever is less, only when out-of-pocket costs are over $15,000

## How to apply

- Call (530) 332-6300 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=cda02725-caa8-4cc0-b06e-af8e6e5350cf)
- [Financial Assistance, Charity Care and Discount Policy (effective 12/09/2024)](https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd)
- 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.
- Bring at least two recent pay stubs for each working family member, or last year's tax return, insured patients asking for a discount: proof of medical bills from other providers, any Medi-Cal denial letter, if you have one.
- Very large bills. Insured patients at or below 450% of the poverty level can apply when medical costs in the past 12 months are over 10% of gross yearly income. From 401% to 450%, help starts only when out-of-pocket costs are over $15,000.
- 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. Emergency and medically necessary care from Enloe Health, its hospital-based clinics, home medical equipment, home care, hospice, and doctors billed by Enloe, including Chico Emergency Physicians and Enloe Specialty Physicians.

Not covered. Services a provider says are not medically necessary may not be covered. Doctors not on Enloe's list bill separately.

## 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.

How to apply. 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

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/frequently-asked-questions/, 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.

How to apply. 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.

Source https://hcai.ca.gov/affordability/hospital-fair-billing-program/hospital-bill-complaint-program/, 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.

How to apply. 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

Source https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=c7bdd7eb-bcc0-4a84-bcab-a21b5e578d9c, checked 2026-11-10

## Notes

Free care below 150% of the poverty level. From 151% to 300%, you pay $100 per account. From 301% to 400%, you pay what Medicare would pay or 45% of charges, whichever is less. From 401% to 450%, help applies only when your out-of-pocket costs are over $15,000. Insured patients with medical costs over 10% of income can apply at the same income levels. Uninsured patients who do not qualify get 55% off if they pay before the bill goes to collections. You must take part in screening for Medi-Cal. The policy does not mention savings or other assets. No deadline to apply is stated. Incomplete applications are held at least 60 days from filing or 240 days from the first bill, and you can still apply after that. A decision comes within 60 days of a complete application. Approval lasts 6 months. Appeals go in writing to the Chief Financial Officer. The phone number is Patient Financial Services. The file posted as the application is an earlier copy of the policy with the application form at the end.

## Sources

- Free care level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > If family income is less than 150 percent FPL: Free Care
- Discount level https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > If family income is 401 percent to 450 percent FPL, and current cumulative patient out-of-pocket amounts are greater than $15,000
- Discount steps https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > If family income is 151 percent to 300 percent FPL: Co-payment of $100 per eligible account.
- Insured patients https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > A patient who is insured, whose family’s income is at or below 450 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL)
- Very large bills https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > who has incurred medical expenses in the preceding 12 months that exceed 10% of their gross annual income
- What is covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > Physician services when collections are paid to Enloe Health
- What is not covered https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > Services determined to be not medically necessary by way of provider attestation may not be eligible for financial assistance
- Documents https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > If employed, please include a copy of minimum, two pay stubs for each family member.
- Languages https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > Currently, notices are published in English and Spanish.
- Financial counseling phone https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > A list of eligible physicians is available upon request from Patient Financial Services at 530-332-6300.
- Facility named in policy https://api.hdc.hcai.ca.gov/Public/Extract/Attachment?id=368ff8a6-ff2d-4ec6-9c26-536056a5f0cd
  > Enloe Health is committed to providing financial assistance to patients who are uninsured or insured with high out-of-pocket costs

Last checked 2026-11-10.

HTML page https://hospitalaid.org/hospitals/enloe-health-chico-ca/
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