MedEligible Services provides advocacy support to patients who have difficulty paying their medical bills. MedEligible Services staff members can educate you about and help you apply for federal, state and county services like these:

• Medicaid and Medicare
• Social Security
• Veteran's Administration
• food stamps
• emergency food and shelter
• drug discount program

Our Partners Care Program was established to assist patients who do not qualify for Medical Assistance or Minnesota Care and whose annual incomes are at or below 275 percent of the federal poverty level. The application is brief and asks for information on family size, employment, income, banking and insurance.

If patients meet the guidelines, their total Allina Health balance will be zero, with the exception of balances for some elective services. An eligible individual will be covered by the program for up to one year barring any significant change in income.

Patients may be asked to apply for Medical Assistance and Minnesota Care and be found ineligible for those programs before they can qualify for Partners Care.

Allina Health Partners Care Program system-wide policy

If you do not have health insurance and do not qualify for Medicaid or Allina Health Partners Care, you still will receive a discount on medically necessary hospital charges. The discount will be reflected on your bill.

Patients with insurance who receive medically necessary services that are not covered by their insurance may also be eligible for this discount.

Allina Health Uninsured Discount Program system-wide policy

If you have any questions about the uninsured discount, please call 612-262-9000 or 1-800-859-5077.

There may be a circumstance where patients experience a catastrophic event that puts them in a devastating financial position. Allina Health program representatives will determine how to best support them financially.

MedCredit Financial Services provides a financing option to patients who can't afford to pay their medical bills. With MedCredit you can consolidate your health care expenses from any participating provider that offers MedCredit to patients.

There is no credit application required.  No annual fees or dues. The annual percentage rate is 8 percent.  If the account balance is paid in full within 90 days, from the day listed with MedCredit, the interest will be waived.

For more about MedCredit, call 763-585-8444 or 1-800-755-0965.

United Hospital and Abbott Northwestern Hospital refer children under the age of 12 to Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. For information about financial resources at:

• Children's - Minneapolis, please call 612-813-6432
• Children's - St. Paul, please call 651-220-6367.