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North Shore Medical Center - — Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Salem, Essex County, MA
Under Massachusetts law, North Shore Medical Center - must offer free or discounted care to eligible low-income and uninsured patients. Here's what the law guarantees — and how to apply.
What Massachusetts law guarantees
Under the Massachusetts Health Safety Net (M.G.L. c.118E; 101 CMR 613.00), North Shore Medical Center - must provide FREE care to uninsured patients at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level, and discounted care for patients up to 300%.
This is the legal minimum — North Shore Medical Center - may offer more generous help. The only way to know is to apply, and applying is always free.
Your immigration status cannot be used to decide if you qualify — Massachusetts law bars hospitals from considering it. Eligibility depends only on your household income.
Massachusetts sets no income limit for its Medical Hardship help: if your allowable medical bills are more than about 10% of your income — a higher share if you earn more — the Health Safety Net can cover the rest. Apply even if your income is above the limits listed here.
Based on the Massachusetts Health Safety Net (M.G.L. c.118E; 101 CMR 613.00), checked against the official source on 2026-08-22 — an automatic check, not a review by a person. See the official source ↗
See the exact wording
3. Health Safety Net - Partial. A Low Income Patient eligible for either Health Safety Net - Primary or Health Safety Net - Secondary who documents MassHealth MAGI Household income or Medical Hardship Family Countable Income ... greater than 150% and less than or equal to 300% of the FPL is considered Health Safety Net - Partial and must meet the Health Safety Net - Partial deductible ... For Health Safety Net - Partial Low Income Patients with MassHealth MAGI Household income ... greater than 150% and less than or equal to 300% of the FPL, there is an annual deductible if all members of the PBFG have an FPL above 150%. If any member of the PBFG has an FPL equal to or below 150% there is no deductible for any member of the PBFG. ... (a) General. A Massachusetts Resident at any Countable Income level may qualify for Medical Hardship if allowable medical expenses exceed a certain percentage of his or her Countable Income as specified in 101 CMR 613.05(1)(c). ... (c) Percentage of Countable Income. ... Income Level Percentage of Countable Income 0 - 205% FPL 10% 205.1 - 305% FPL 15% 305.1 - 405% 20% 405.1 - 605% FPL 30% >605.1% FPL 40%
How to apply
📞 (978) 741-1215When you call, say: “I'd like to apply for financial assistance (charity care) for a hospital bill. Can you send me the application and tell me which documents I need?”
Not sure if you qualify?
Answer 3 quick questions and get a personalized plan plus a ready-to-send request letter — free, in your language.
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