Getting the healthcare you need sometimes involves more than a visit with a health professional. When affordability is a barrier, financial assistance programs can help.
Through ChristianaCare’s Financial Assistance Program, eligible patients who are uninsured or underinsured can qualify for free care.
“Providing care at no cost to those in need is one way we demonstrate our mission of service,” said Christina Corkery, vice president of Revenue Cycle with ChristianaCare. “Too often, people delay care or worry about medical bills because they assume financial assistance isn’t available to them. We want to remind people help is available.”
ChristianaCare’s Financial Assistance Program is available to individuals and families with household incomes at or below 400% of the federal poverty level. A family of four with an income at or below $132,000 may qualify.
Through the program, medically necessary services in the hospital and by ChristianaCare-employed physicians are provided at no cost to the patient. Financial assistance is available to eligible residents in Delaware as well as patients living in Cecil County, Maryland; Salem County, New Jersey; and Delaware and Chester counties in Pennsylvania.
Even individuals and families who would not normally qualify may be eligible for support. Patients facing catastrophic costs, where the medical expenses for an episode of care exceed 20% of the annual income, can apply for financial assistance. And patients who are uninsured and with a household income greater than 400% of the federal poverty level are eligible for a 15% discount.
ChristianaCare has simplified its eligibility process to reduce paperwork and make it easier for patients to get the help they need. That includes making the eligibility process more flexible, and in some situations, by allowing people to use different types of documents to show they qualify.
Through its Health Guides program and other community-based caregivers, ChristianaCare helps patients overcome barriers to care by connecting them with financial assistance, Medicaid coverage and other community resources.
Patients interested in learning more about financial assistance can visit the Financial Assistance Program webpage and download an application in English, Spanish or Mandarin. They can also email financialassistance@christianacare.org or call Patient Financial Services at 302-623-7440.
Applicants should be prepared to provide documentation such as proof of income and proof of residency as required by federal and state regulations.
ChristianaCare’s mission extends beyond hospital walls through community benefit programs that expand access to care, address food insecurity, support housing stability and improve health outcomes through community partnerships. These efforts, guided by ChristianaCare’s community health needs assessments, help improve health outcomes while promoting affordability and long-term community well-being.
ChristianaCare provided $20.4 million in financial assistance in fiscal year 2025, helping make care more affordable for people in need. That support has grown in recent years as ChristianaCare expanded eligibility for free care to more patients and families.
“Everyone deserves access to the care they need, without the worry that cost will stand in their way,” Corkery said. “If you’re worried about how you’ll pay for care, please talk with us. We’re here to help.”
