Southwestern Vermont Medical Center — Financial Assistance & Charity Care

What Vermont law guarantees

Under Vermont's hospital financial assistance law (18 V.S.A. §9482), Southwestern Vermont Medical Center must provide FREE care to uninsured patients at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, and discounted care for patients up to 400%.

This is the legal minimum — Southwestern Vermont 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 — Vermont law bars hospitals from considering it. Eligibility depends only on your household income.

Vermont law also caps your total bill: if your household income is at or below 600% of the Federal Poverty Level, the hospital must lower the bill so you never owe more than 20% of your household income.

How to apply

When 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?”