Help Paying Your Bill

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health offers financial assistance for patients who are uninsured or having trouble paying medical bills. These programs are available to families who meet eligibility requirements based on income, insurance coverage, and medical costs.

If you think you may qualify, our Financial Counseling team can explain your options and guide you through the application. Paper copies of our policy, plain-language summary, and application are available at no cost. Language services and accessible formats (large print, Braille, audio) are also provided free of charge.  

Step 1: Complete the application.
Download the Financial Assistance Application in the language you prefer (English, Spanish, and more).

Step 2: Gather documents.
Collect proof of income (for example, recent pay stubs or your most recent tax return).

Step 3: Send us your application and proof-of-income documents.

  • Mail:
    Patient Financial Assistance
    Stanford Medicine Children’s Health
    4700 Bohannon Drive, 2nd Floor
    Menlo Park, CA 94025-9840
  • Fax: (650) 497-8610
  • Email: PFA@stanfordchildrens.org
  • In person: Drop off at our Menlo Park office:
    4700 Bohannon Drive, 2nd Floor
    Menlo Park, CA 94025-9804

What happens next
We’ll review your application and send you a decision in writing. There is no time limit on applying for financial assistance.

Need help with the form?
Call (650) 736-2273 (CARE). Translation help, large print, and Braille are available at no cost.  

You may qualify for a financial hardship discount or charity care if your family income is at or below 400% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

If your family income is at or below 400% of the FPL and you have high medical costs
If you are insured and your health insurance plan covers the service, you may receive a 100% waiver of what you still owe.

If you are insured and your health insurance plan does not cover the service, you will pay no more than the lesser of

  • what Medi-Cal would pay, or
  • the amount that Stanford Medicine Children’s Health generally bills to insured patients.

If you are uninsured and your family income is at or below 400% of the FPL
You will pay no more than the lesser of

  • what Medi-Cal would pay, or
  • the amount that Stanford Medicine Children’s Health generally bills to insured patients.

What counts as “high medical costs”?

  • Annual out-of-pocket expenses at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health that are more than 10% of your family income (this year or last year), OR
  • Annual out-of-pocket medical expenses, as long as you provide documentation that your medical expenses paid by you or your family for the past 12 months are more than 10% of your family income. (“Out-of-pocket medical expenses” means any expenses for medical care that are not reimbursed by your health insurance, such as a copayments or deductibles.)

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health also considers, for charity care eligibility, uninsured patients and patients with high medical costs who qualify for a financial hardship discount but still are unable to pay their bills.

The Hospital Bill Complaint Program is a state program, which reviews hospital decisions 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.

Visit HospitalBillComplaintProgram.hcai.ca.gov for more information and to submit a complaint.  

Financial counseling is available to help you navigate the financial component of getting care at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. Financial counselors are dedicated to serving as a resource to you and your family by:

  • Explaining your insurance coverage and benefits.
  • Estimating your financial responsibility for services not covered by insurance.
  • Identifying possible ways for you to pay for your care if you do not have adequate funds or health insurance.
  • Helping you identify and obtain coverage for government programs, where available.
  • Addressing questions or concerns regarding your insurance coverage and financial assistance.

Reach a financial counselor at (650) 736-2273 (CARE), Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. PT.

Financial counseling contact information

Billing Customer Service (questions about your billing statements, payments, and plans to pay over time)

Language and Accessibility Services
Interpreter services are available 24/7. We also offer Braille, large print, audio, and other formats at no cost. Call (650) 497-8000. 

Insurance coverage help
Before your visit, contact your insurance company to confirm network status and covered benefits. Have these ready if asked:

  • SMCH Physicians Group—NPI: 1417907940 | Tax ID: 26-0089066
  • Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford—NPI: 1467442749 | Tax ID: 77-0003859
  • (Tip: Write down the insurance company representative’s name and any reference number they give you.)  

View our financial assistance policies and related information in your preferred language.

Applications and core policy documents

Other policies and resources

Pay your bill

Pricing and estimates

  • See Price Transparency for our machine-readable file, the Guest Estimation tool, and how estimates work.
  • For estimates, call Financial Counseling at (650) 736-2273 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.).

Special billing topics