Free Care

It is the policy of MaineHealth to provide financial assistance to patients who qualify through the guidelines established in this document. Under Maine law, no hospital shall deny services to any Maine resident solely because of the inability of the individual to pay for those services. Every hospital is required to adopt and adhere to a free care policy that provides for a determination of inability to pay, defines the service to be provided as free care, and takes into account other sources of payment for care, consistent with the standards established in Chapter 150 of the governing rules of the Maine Department of Health And Human Services, Office of Mainecare Services.

• Free Care Policy
• Free Care Application Instructions
• Free Care Application (Online Form)
• Free Care Application (PDF)
• Please call 866-804-2499 to receive a Free Care Application by mail.

Plain Language Summary

Maine law requires that free medical care must be provided to Maine residents with income less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. New Hampshire residents who receive care at MaineHealth Memorial Hospital and/or other associated MaineHealth physician practices may also qualify for the free care program.

To apply for financial assistance, please contact us toll free at 866-804-2499, Monday through Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm.

Charges will not exceed amount generally billed to Medicare

If you are approved for financial assistance under our policy and your approval does not cover 100 percent of our charges for the service, you will not be billed more for emergency or other medically necessary care, than the amount generally billed to patients having insurance.

Only necessary medical care is given as free care. If you do not qualify for free medical care, you may ask for a fair hearing. We will tell you how to apply for a fair hearing.

Free care exclusions/limited services

• Cosmetic surgery, a procedure performed for the sole purpose of improving the appearance of the patient (excluding reconstructive surgery) is not covered by free care.
• Bariatric surgery is covered by Free Care if the physician provides a written statement of medical necessity.
• Dental surgery, a procedure performed for the sole purpose of removing infected or impacted teeth, is covered by Free Care only if the physician provides a written statement of medical necessity.
• Procedures related to infertility are not covered by Free Care
• Procedures related to sterilization are covered by Free Care only if the physician provides a written statement of medical necessity.

Financial assistance policy

Copies of the MaineHealth Financial Assistance policy are available at the following locations:

• MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor, 123 Andover Road, Westbrook, ME 04092 
• MaineHealth Franklin Hospital, 111 Franklin Health Commons, Farmington, ME 04938 
• MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital, 35 Miles Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543
• MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital, 6 St. Andrews Lane, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538
• MaineHealth Maine Medical Center – Biddeford, 1 Medical Center Drive, Biddeford, ME 04005 
• MaineHealth Maine Medical Center – Portland, 22 Bramhall Street, Portland, ME 04102 
• MaineHealth Maine Medical Center – Sanford, 25 June Street, Sanford, ME 04073 
• MaineHealth Memorial Hospital, 3073 White Mountain Highway, North Conway, NH 03860 
• MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital, 123 Medical Center Drive, Brunswick, ME 04011 
• MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital, 6 Glen Cove Drive, Rockport, ME 04856
• MaineHealth Stephens Hospital, 181 Main Street, Norway, ME 04268 
• MaineHealth Waldo Hospital, 118 Northport Avenue, Belfast, ME 04915

The MaineHealth Financial Assistance policy is available in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Lingala, Portuguese, Somali, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Provider Directory

Our free care policy applies only to providers who are directly employed by MaineHealth.

View a list of employed providers who are covered by the MaineHealth free care policy.

View a list of non-employed providers who are not covered by the MaineHealth free care policy.

MaineHealth hospitals and physician practices provide medically-necessary care for all people regardless of their ability to pay. If needed, you may qualify for financial assistance from MaineHealth, from public programs or from other community resources. Learn more about financial assistance services.

MaineHealth must also render medical care to patients in a cost-effective manner. We follow established business practices regarding patients who are delinquent in paying their accounts. View the MaineHealth Billing & Collections policy. This policy applies to all MaineHealth system hospitals and physician practices.

MaineHealth provides financial assistance to patients who meet the criteria outlined in our Financial Assistance Policy. After financial assistance has been granted, the patient is responsible for any remaining balance. This amount shall be no more than the amounts generally billed (AGB) to individuals who have Medicare fee-for-service and private health insurance for emergency and other medically-necessary care.

Amounts Generally Billed

• MaineHealth Behavioral Health
• MaineHealth Franklin Hospital
• MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital
• MaineHealth Maine Medical Center - Portland/Biddeford
• MaineHealth Memorial Hospital
• MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital
• MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital
• MaineHealth Stephens Hospital
• MaineHealth Waldo Hospital

MaineHealth uses "The Look Back Method" to determine AGB. You may request a copy of this summary document at no charge via MyChart or by calling 866-804-2499 (toll-free) Monday through Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Please be sure to check with your provider's office to confirm their acceptance of our financial assistance determination. Not all providers are employed by MaineHealth or one of its organizations, and may not accept our financial assistance determination.