- If your household income is at or below 300%, or in some regions up to 400%, of the federal poverty guidelines, you may be eligible.
- If you’re experiencing high medical expenses as compared to your income, regardless of household income, you may be eligible.
Medical Financial Assistance
Improving health care access for people with limited income and resources is fundamental for Kaiser Permanente's mission.
Our Medical Financial Assistance program provides temporary financial assistance to help qualified patients pay for health care based on their financial need. This includes emergency, urgent, or medically necessary care, as well as pharmacy services and products received from Kaiser Permanente providers or facilities.
Patients who qualify may receive financial assistance for some or all of their medical costs, regardless of whether they have health insurance, are uninsured, or are underinsured.
Qualifying for financial assistance does not guarantee access to nonurgent or nonemergency services, which may be subject to availability, medical necessity, and other clinical or operational criteria.
Watch our video for a quick overview of MFA, who is eligible, what it covers, and how to apply online.
Frequently asked questions
The policy, application, and plain language summary are available online, by email, in person, by telephone, or by U.S. mail.
Please select the region where you received your service below to find these resources.
The MFA program covers:
- Emergency and medically necessary health care services
- Pharmacy services and products
- Medical supplies provided at Kaiser Permanente facilities (such as hospitals, medical centers, and medical offices), at Kaiser Permanente outpatient pharmacies, or by Kaiser Permanente providers
The MFA program does not cover:
- Health care premiums
- Health care services provided and billed outside of Kaiser Permanente
- Ambulance or other medical transportation
- Services that are not considered emergency or medically necessary as determined by a Kaiser Permanente provider, including cosmetic surgery and services, infertility treatments, retail medical supplies, and surrogacy services
- Services related to third-party liability or workers’ compensation cases
The most convenient option for most people is to apply online.
Alternatively, you can apply via fax, mail, or drop-off.
For more details or to start the application online, see “Get Started” below and select the region where you received the services you need help paying for.
We will make every reasonable effort to process your application promptly. Once we receive the completed application, we’ll send you a letter confirming the outcome within 30 business days. If it is not approved, we will provide a reason for the denial and instructions on how to appeal the decision if you disagree.
You’ll need the following information to apply:
- Household size and income information for all adults in the household
- Health care costs
- Proof of income
Income verification is part of determining eligibility for medical financial assistance. Including proof-of-income documentation with your application will assist in confirming the accuracy of your income during the review process.
Patients who choose to verify their financial status by providing financial documentation may submit their most recent pay stubs or income tax return for the current tax year as proof of income. Kaiser Permanente will also accept additional proof-of-income documentation as outlined below.
The table lists the optional documents to submit according to your household income source(s).
Household income source(s) | Provide only one of the following per income source |
---|---|
Business, rental income |
|
Employment income, wages |
|
Received pension, retirement, annuities income |
|
Self-employed income |
|
Social Security, Supplemental Security Income |
|
Unemployment benefits, disability income |
|
Veteran benefits income |
|
Government assistance (ex. Medicaid, TANF, SNAP, WIC, or low-income housing) |
|
Interest or dividends income |
|
Spousal/child support payments received |
|
No household income |
|
Kaiser Permanente offers a variety of bill pay options and resources to help you manage your medical costs. You can pay your bill, set up a payment plan, or view other bill pay options at Help Paying Your Bills.
If you don’t have health care coverage and would like more information, call us at 1-800-479-5764 (TTY 711) Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to learn more about coverage options.
We’re here to support you however we can. If you need help with essentials like food, housing, paying for internet or other utilities, and more, the Kaiser Permanente Community Support Hub can help connect you to resources in your community. Call 1-800-443-6328 (TTY 711), Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Get started
For program materials or to start the application process, please select the region where you received your service:
Apply online
To request a link to the online application, please provide your full name and email in the form below. Once submitted, you will receive instructions via email on how to start a new application.
You can also use the form to add information to an existing application. You can also use it to start an appeal.
Note: There are required fields.
How do I get program information?
You can download the program application, plain-language summary, policy, and other documents. These include translated and screen reader-accessible versions. Program information is also available at the Admitting, Emergency Room, and Patient Financial Advisors departments at any Kaiser Permanente medical office in Northern California.
Counselors are available by telephone to provide information, determine MFA eligibility, or help with the MFA application process. Counselors can be reached at 1-800-390-3507 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific time.
You can request program information by mail. Information requests can be mailed to:
Kaiser Permanente MFA Program
P.O. Box 30006
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Alternative ways to apply
Further details
Medical Financial Assistance award amounts are based on your household income as a percentage of the federal poverty guidelines:
2025 federal poverty level guidelines
If your household or family size is: | 100% award for gross monthly household income at or below 200% of FPG | 50% award for gross monthly household income between 201% and 400% of FPG |
---|---|---|
1 | Up to $2,608 | $2,609 to $5,217 |
2 | Up to $3,525 | $3,526 to $7,050 |
3 | Up to $4,442 | $4,443 to $8,883 |
4 | Up to $5,358 | $5,359 to $10,717 |
5 | Up to $6,275 | $6,276 to $12,550 |
6 | Up to $7,192 | $7,193 to $14,383 |
Visit aspe.hhs.gov/poverty to find the guidelines for larger households.
Disclaimer
Past MFA award recipients aren’t guaranteed future awards. Kaiser Permanente reserves the right to change the terms and conditions of the MFA program at any time. An MFA award is not a covered benefit and does not change the services covered or cost-sharing owed under your plan.
If your application was recently denied or you believe you qualify for a larger award, you can appeal the decision.
Start an appeal application by providing your full name and email address in the form. Once submitted, you will receive instructions via email on how to file an appeal.
You will need to provide:
- The reason why you’re appealing (job loss, for example)
- Current financial documentation of your total gross household income to support your appeal (refer to the table shown in the “What information will I need to apply” section above for the required documentation of your income)
You may also file an appeal if your medical expenses exceed 10% of your annual gross household income over the previous 12 months.
To do this, you should provide the following:
- Proof of income for your annual gross household income
- Proof of non-Kaiser Permanente medical and/or dental expenses
- You must provide an itemized bill with the following information:
- Provider’s name and address
- Patient’s name
- Description of services or supplies provided
You will not be refunded for any payments you make before an appeal is approved.
You have 30 days to file an appeal. After 30 days, you will be asked to submit a new application.
To appeal for a larger award, you may appeal at any time before the award end date.
If you didn’t provide the requested financial documentation or if your income changed, you can submit additional documentation. See the “What information will I need to apply” section above for the required income documentation.
To submit your appeal via fax or mail, complete and return the Appeal Request form included with your award letter along with supporting documentation:
To submit your appeal letter and documentation, please fax or mail using the contact information below:
- By fax: 1-800-687-9901
- By mail:
Kaiser Permanente MFA Program
P.O. Box 30006
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Send copies of official documents; originals are not required.
Write the following information on the first page of your proof of income:
- First and last name
- Medical record number (if any)
- Home address
- Date of birth
Once we receive the requested documentation, we’ll send you a letter regarding the decision on your appeal within 30 days. If you file an appeal without including any additional information with your request, we’ll automatically deny your appeal. All appeal decisions are final.
A patient who has received eligible hospital services at a Kaiser Permanente facility and is eligible for the MFA program but has not received an MFA award or has declined an MFA award is not charged more than the amounts generally billed for those services. Amounts generally billed , or AGB, is based on the lowest average of the amounts that were paid to a Kaiser Permanente facility by private health insurers and Medicare fee-for-service (and copays and deductibles) for emergency or medically necessary services, based on actual claim data from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, which is consistent with the look-back method. Total expected payment from allowed claims was divided by total billed charges for such claims, and that number was subtracted from 1 to calculate the AGB percentage. The 2025 AGB reduction, also known as an adjustment, to gross charges is 69% for hospital charges.
Interpreters are available to you at no cost. The application, policy, and policy summary may be available in your language. For more information, call 1-800-464-4000.
Accessible alternative formats include large print, Braille, and audio.
For help or questions about the medical financial assistance application process or other questions, please call 1-800-390-3507 or speak to a financial counselor in the Admitting Department at any Kaiser Permanente medical facility.
Help paying your bill
There are free consumer advocacy organizations that will help you understand the billing and payment process. You may call the Health Consumer Alliance at 1-888-804-3536 (TTY 711) or go to healthconsumer.org for more information.
Hospital Bill Complaint Program
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. Go to HospitalBillComplaintProgram.hcai.ca.gov for more information and to file a complaint.