Virginia Health Care Foundation

Hospitals and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) play a critical role in helping low-income and uninsured Virginians get needed care.

Is there financial assistance available to help me afford hospital care?

Yes. All Virginia hospitals have financial assistance programs to help patients pay their hospital bills. Free or discounted care is usually based on the patient’s household income and size, though other criteria may apply. Financial help may also be available to individuals with health insurance.

Each hospital or health system has its own policies for discounted or free care. To learn about a hospital’s financial aid policy, click here to go to the hospital price transparency part of the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) website. There, you will be able to search for the financial assistance information and estimated prices for hospital services.

You can also call the hospital’s general information number and ask to speak with the financial assistance office.

To find a hospital near you, see this list of hospitals across Virginia.

How can my local Health Department help?

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) provides public health services through its 35 local health district offices and 119 local health departments statewide. Some also provide medical care (like prenatal, STD). A few offer dental care. Usually, patients are charged for services on a sliding fee, which is calculated using household size and income.

Contact your local health district to find out which services it provides; who is eligible; what, service cost; and, the days/hours of operation. To find your local health district, check out this interactive map of local health districts statewide.

Last Updated on October 16, 2024