Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple is covered by the Baylor Scott & White Health Financial Assistance Policy, document BSWH.FIN.RC.BA.36.P, effective 1 January 2025 and last revised 19 September 2024.
Two ways to qualify
The policy sorts patients into two categories, and the second is the one people miss.
- Financially Indigent — household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You receive a 100% discount on the account balance.
- Medically Indigent — income above 200% and up to 500% of FPG, where your Baylor Scott & White bills come to at least 5% of your yearly income. You pay the lesser of your account balance or 10% of gross charges.
That second route matters. A household earning four or five times the poverty level is well outside most hospitals’ charity care, but a large enough bill can still qualify here.
The ceiling on what you pay
Whatever your category, once you qualify the policy says you cannot be charged more for emergency or other medically necessary care than the amount generally billed to patients who have insurance covering that care.
How to apply
You can start an application in person at the admissions office, over the phone, by post, or online at BSWHealth.com/FinancialAssistance. Baylor Scott & White can also open an application on your behalf.
The policy requires you to pursue other payment options, third-party funding and medical assistance programmes first. If you do not cooperate with that, assistance can be refused or withdrawn after approval.
What is not covered
The policy applies to the facilities listed in its own Attachment A. It does not cover services billed by physicians or other professionals who bill separately from the hospital — a separate bill from a surgeon, anaesthetist or radiologist is outside it, so ask each one about their own policy.