Financial Assistance with Your Beaufort Memorial Bills

It is our policy to provide financial assistance for patients in need. This includes assisting patients in qualifying for the Medicaid program or the Hospital-Sponsored Financial Assistance Program. We use federal poverty guidelines as a baseline for determining the amount of assistance we can offer.

Medicaid

Medicaid is South Carolina's aid program by which the federal and state governments share the cost of providing medical care for needy persons who have low income. Please note that SC Healthy Connections Medicaid resumed annual eligibility reviews on April 1, 2023. Learn more about the program and use their online tools to update your address, check your review status or upload files.

Medicaid and Medicare are two different programs. Medicare is a health insurance program for all people age 65 and over or who have received Social Security disability benefits for a minimum of 24 months.

Beaufort Memorial Financial Assistance Policy

Beaufort Memorial Hospital will provide financial assistance for patients who receive medically necessary services and meet the eligibility requirements under the policy. If eligible for financial assistance, patients will receive up to a 100% discount. The financial assistance program does not cover elective services.

Am I eligible?

In order to qualify for Financial Assistance, all of the following conditions must be met:

• The patient must be unable to access other programs that would cover medical expenses.
• The patient's annual family Income must be less than 320% of the current year federal poverty guidelines.
• The patient must not have substantial cash assets.
• The patient must not have declined health insurance through an employer.
• The patient must not be ineligible for government-sponsored coverage because of noncompliance with requirements.
• The service must be considered medically necessary (generally defined as urgent or emergent).
• The application and supporting documentation must be submitted to the hospital Patient Financial Services Department within 30 days.

How will I know if I have been approved?

Once all requested documents are received the application will be reviewed. An approval or denial letter will be mailed to each applicant. The Financial Assistance Application and documentation must be updated every six months or when the patient's income or other key circumstances change. Every outpatient service requires pre-authorization during the 6-month qualification period.

Exclusions

This policy only applies to services rendered at Beaufort Memorial Hospital and Beaufort Memorial Physician Partners Medical Practices. It does not apply to services rendered by any independent physicians or practitioners that are not employed by Beaufort Memorial Hospital. This includes, but is not limited to, Anesthesiologists, Radiologists, Pathologists, Psychiatrists and Teleconsultants. No individual who is eligible for financial assistance will be charged more than amounts generally billed for emergency or other medically necessary care to individuals who have insurance covering such care.

Applying for Financial Assistance

Please submit the following items as part of your financial assistance application:

1. Completed financial aid assistance application (English, Spanish)
2. Proof of income for both patient and spouse
   If the patient does not have any income, please have whoever is supporting them complete the support provider form. (English, Spanish)
3. Most recent tax return
   If the patient does not file taxes, please complete a 4506-T form. (English, Spanish)
4. One month's bank statement

Completed applications should be submitted to:

Beaufort Memorial Hospital
Attn: Patient Financial Services
955 Ribaut Rd
Beaufort, SC 29902

Patients can request assistance with completing the financial assistance application by calling 1-855-852-0456.

Looking for other helpful tips to help with health care expenses? See the article "6 Ways to Save on Your Health Care."