Marlborough Hospital

Nonprofit acute care hospital in Marlborough, MA.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

Marlborough Hospital 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 $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.

Yearly household income, before taxes, using the 2026 federal poverty guidelines (free up to 150%, discount up to 600% of poverty level).
People in householdFree care up toDiscount up to
1$23,940$95,760
2$32,460$129,840
3$40,980$163,920
4$49,500$198,000
5$58,020$232,080
6$66,540$266,160

Discount steps

  • 0% to 150% of poverty level, you pay nothing (Health Safety Net, Massachusetts residents)
  • 150.01% to 300% of poverty level, you pay Health Safety Net yearly deductible (Massachusetts residents)
  • 0% to 600% of poverty level, you pay UMass Memorial program pays down the bill to no more than 27% of gross charges; insured patients have copays and deductibles capped at 27% of gross charges

How to apply

  1. Call 508-334-9300 and ask for financial assistance.
  2. Application form
  3. UMass Memorial Health Hospitals Financial Assistance and Credit & Collection Policy (effective 7/11/2025)
  4. Plain language summary
  5. Bring 2 most recent pay stubs, most recent pension, Social Security, unemployment or other benefit statement, last 3 months profit and loss statement if self-employed, most recent tax return (under 6 months old), employer statement of gross weekly income, court decree or check for alimony or child support, signed statement of support if no income.
  6. The policy gives 240 days to apply. Ask the billing office which date the count starts from.
Very large bills
Health Safety Net Medical Hardship for Massachusetts residents at any income
Languages
English, Albanian, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese

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
Urgent, emergency and medically necessary care provided by the hospital itself, including inpatient, observation, outpatient and land ambulance.
Not covered
UMass Memorial hospitals do not employ their own physicians, so physician and clinician bills in many specialties (including anesthesiology, emergency medicine, radiology, pathology, surgery) are not covered. Cosmetic surgery, infertility services, hearing aids and social or vocational services are excluded.

State program in Massachusetts

Apply for MassHealth first

Apply for MassHealth first. In Massachusetts one application (ACA-1) checks you for MassHealth, Health Connector plans and the Health Safety Net together. Hospital financial counselors help with it for free, and most hospital financial assistance policies require you to apply before the hospital will review its own discounts. MassHealth phone is (800) 841-2900.

Applications and qualifications are available on line here: Member Booklet for Health and Dental Coverage and Help Paying Costs (ACA-1).

Source, checked 2026-11-10

Health Safety Net

The Health Safety Net (HSN) pays for some care at Massachusetts acute care hospitals and community health centers for low-income Massachusetts residents who are uninsured or underinsured. It is not insurance. With family income up to 150% of the poverty level there is no deductible. From above 150% up to 300% there may be a yearly deductible based on income. It can pay after other insurance, including private plans, Medicare and some MassHealth programs. You apply with the same application used for MassHealth, so MassHealth is checked first. There is no member card. You must renew every year. HSN pays the hospital's own charges. Doctors who bill separately, and labs or x-rays run by private companies, may not be covered. HSN Medical Hardship can help residents at any income when medical bills are a large share of income.

Income levels in the program are free up to 150%, discount up to 300% of poverty level.

Applies to acute care hospitals and community health centers.

Residency. Massachusetts resident

Fill out the MassHealth application (ACA-1), online through the Health Connector, on paper, or with a hospital or health center financial counselor. The same application decides MassHealth, Health Connector plans and HSN. Bring proof of identity. Medical Hardship needs a separate application that a hospital or health center counselor submits for you.

Program phone (800) 841-2900

Massachusetts residents with income between 0-150% of the FPL may be eligible for the Health Safety Net.

Program source, checked 2026-11-10

Health Safety Net Medical Hardship

A Massachusetts resident at any income can get help through HSN Medical Hardship when allowable medical bills are larger than a set share of countable income. The share is 10% of income up to 205% of the poverty level, 15% from 205.1% to 305%, 20% from 305.1% to 405%, 30% from 405.1% to 605%, and 40% above 605.1%. You pay that share. A hospital or health center financial counselor files the application with itemized bills, proof of income, proof of Massachusetts residency and proof of identity.

Applies to acute care hospitals and community health centers.

Ask a hospital or community health center financial counselor to submit a Medical Hardship application.

Income Level Percentage of Countable Income 0 - 205% FPL 10% 205.1 - 305% FPL 15% 305.1 - 405% 20%

Program source, checked 2026-11-10

Notes

Help comes in two layers. Massachusetts residents up to 300% of the poverty level go through the Health Safety Net (free to 150%, deductible above). On top of that, UMass Memorial's own program covers households up to 600% of the poverty level, which is unusually high. Approved patients pay no more than 27% of gross charges, and insured patients have their copays and deductibles capped at 27% of gross charges. You must apply for any state or government program you may qualify for. Approval lasts one year and reaches back 12 months. Missing documents are due within 30 days of a follow-up letter. A 20% prompt-pay discount may be offered. Counseling is centralized in Worcester. The plain language summary page linked for Haitian Creole points to the Arabic summary.

Sources

  • Free care level
    If any member of the PBFG has an income that is below 150% of the FPL there is no deductible
  • Discount level
    Income and family size must be between 0-600% of the federal poverty level.
  • Discount steps
    the amount being charged to patients who are deemed eligible ... is 27% of gross charges.
  • Insured patients
    who have insurance coverage will have their financial obligations (such as copayments and deductibles) after payments by insurance capped at no more than 27%
  • Very large bills
    A Massachusetts resident at any countable income level may apply for Medical Hardship
  • Deadline
    Initiate the application process within 240 days from the date of the first bill/statement.
  • Financial counseling phone
    UMMH Patient Financial Counseling 67 Millbrook Street, Worcester, MA 01606 Telephone: 508-334-9300
  • What is not covered
    UMass Memorial Health Hospitals does not employ its own physicians.
  • Covered facility
    UMass Memorial Health - Harrington Hospital, Inc., UMass Memorial HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, Inc, Marlborough Hospital
  • Hsn list
    Marlborough UMass Memorial - Marlborough Hospital 157 Union Street 01752

Last checked. 2026-11-10

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