Free Care

It is the policy of MaineHealth to provide financial assistance to patients who qualify through the guidelines established in this document. Under Maine law, no hospital shall deny services to any Maine resident solely because of the inability of the individual to pay for those services. Every hospital is required to adopt and adhere to a free care policy that provides for a determination of inability to pay, defines the service to be provided as free care, and takes into account other sources of payment for care, consistent with the standards established in Chapter 150 of the governing rules of the Maine Department of Health And Human Services, Office of Mainecare Services.

• Free Care Policy
• Free Care Plain Language Summary
• Free Care Application

MaineHealth hospitals and physician practices provide medically-necessary care for all people regardless of their ability to pay. If needed, you may qualify for financial assistance from MaineHealth, from public programs or from other community resources. Learn more about financial assistance services.

MaineHealth must also render medical care to patients in a cost-effective manner. We follow established business practices regarding patients who are delinquent in paying their accounts. View the MaineHealth Billing & Collections policy. This policy applies to all MaineHealth system hospitals and physician practices.

MaineHealth provides financial assistance to patients who meet the criteria outlined in our Financial Assistance Policy. After financial assistance has been granted, the patient is responsible for any remaining balance. This amount shall be no more than the amounts generally billed (AGB) to individuals who have Medicare fee-for-service and private health insurance for emergency and other medically-necessary care.

Amounts Generally Billed

• MaineHealth Behavioral Health
• MaineHealth Franklin Hospital
• MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital
• MaineHealth Maine Medical Center - Biddeford/Sanford
• MaineHealth Maine Medical Center - Portland
• MaineHealth Memorial Hospital
• MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital
• MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital
• MaineHealth Stephens Hospital
• MaineHealth Waldo Hospital

MaineHealth uses "The Look Back Method" to determine AGB. You may request a copy of this summary document at no charge via MyChart or by calling 866-804-2499 (toll-free) Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Please be sure to check with your provider's office to confirm their acceptance of our financial assistance determination. Not all providers are employed by MaineHealth or one of its organizations, and may not accept our financial assistance determination.