Patient Financial Assistance Options

Medical expenses can seem overwhelming, but you don't have to face them alone. We offer a variety of programs to help with bills for services received through our hospitals. These programs are under the John Muir Health HELP program and are listed below.

For more information or to apply for any of the HELP program services, please call our Patient Financial Services customer service line at (925) 947-3336, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. 

Please note: The assistance services listed below apply to hospital charges only. For assistance on any physician bill, call the Single Business Office customer service line at (925) 974-3336.

Eligibility Services

Although John Muir Health does contract with a number of County programs, we are not a contracted provider with any State Medicaid program. However, we do accept the fee schedule as our payment for those individuals who are enrolled in the Medi-Cal program and receive outpatient emergency services in the emergency department at one of our hospitals. To help our patients qualify for the Medi-Cal program, we do have onsite eligibility services, which are offered at no cost to patients. These are provided through a contracted vendor, who will help you through the state-mandated process.

For more information on the State of California Medi-Cal program, as well as the State of California Healthy Families Program, please visit medi-cal.ca.gov, or you can call (800) 709-8348 for the Medi-Cal program and (800) 880-5305 for the Healthy Families Program. 

Uninsured Patient Discounts

Uninsured patients are defined as not having medical insurance through a third party payer. For our uninsured patients who have had services at one of our hospitals, John Muir Health does offer a substantial discount off the billed charges. If the Patient Financial Assistance Program is applied and approved, the uninsured discount is reversed. Only one program discount applies.

Extended Payment Plans

Extended Payment Plans are offered at any time. The plans are interest-free on accounts which will be paid in three separate payments, at regular intervals at no more than 30 days apart. Arrangements to access the payment plan must be made within 30 days of the due date listed on the first patient bill. If you will need to continue to make payments for longer than the no-interest window, your extended payment plan can be set over longer periods of time.

Patient Financial Assistance Program

This program pays all or part of your hospital bills. Qualification for the program, as well as the amount covered, is based on your household income and your assets.

Learn more and how to apply.

View list of practitioners who participate in financial assistance plans.

Other Health Insurance Programs

There are a number of other programs sponsored by the county as well as the state, for which you may want to apply to help cover current or future health care services. Some of these programs are listed below.

Covered California

Covered California is a free service that connects you with health insurance providers and may be able to provide you with discounts on a health plan. You can find more information about Covered California at coveredca.com.

Basic Health Care

Basic Health Care (BHC) is offered through Contra Costa County, and is for low-income adults who do not qualify under Medi-Cal or other state healthcare programs. While this program does not currently cover any bills for services at John Muir Health hospitals, it will give you access to the services at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center for any follow-up or additional care. For more information on this program, please visit cchealth.org, or call (800) 771-4270.

California Victim Compensation Program

If your bill is for services provided for injuries you sustained as a crime victim, the state of California has a program to help with those expenses. For further information on this program or to apply for assistance, please call (800) 777-9229 or visit victims.ca.gov.

Health Consumer Alliance

Health Consumer Alliance offer free assistance to help people who are struggling to get or maintain health coverage or are having problems with their health plan. For more information on Health Consumer Alliance visit healthconsumer.org.

Hospital Bill Complaint Program

The Hospital Bill Complaint Program is a state program, which reviews hospital decision about whether you qualify for help paying your hospital bill.  If you believe you were wrongly denied financial assistance, you may file a complaint with the Hospital Bill Complaint Program.