UPMC

UPMC Altoona

Financial assistance information last checked September 9, 2026

Who may qualify
Uninsured patients, plus insured patients whose out-of-pocket costs are large relative to income. Primary residence, retirement funds and primary vehicle are not counted as income.
Income guidelines
Free care where family income falls below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Discounted care for uninsured patients between 301% and 400%. Above 300%, a hardship discount is possible where out-of-pocket costs are large relative to income.
How to apply
Submit an application to Patient Financial Services. You must also apply for public coverage such as Medicaid if you may be eligible. UPMC decides within 30 days, and allows a further 30 days if documents are missing.
Deadline
The policy sets no fixed application deadline, and states that a patient denied assistance may re-apply at any time.
Financial assistance office
1-833-298-7321 option 2
Official application form Read the hospital’s financial assistance policy

UPMC Altoona is covered by UPMC’s system-wide Financial Assistance policy, document HS-RE0722-PA, which names this hospital in its own list of covered Pennsylvania facilities. The terms below are taken from that document.

Who the program is for

The policy covers uninsured patients, and also insured patients whose share of the cost is large compared to what they earn. UPMC calls the second route financial or medical hardship.

Income limits

UPMC measures income against the Federal Poverty Guidelines:

  • Below 300% — treated as indigence, and the balance is written off in full.
  • Between 301% and 400%, uninsured — discounted care.
  • Above 300% with high costs — a hardship discount may still apply where out-of-pocket expense or patient liability is large relative to family income.

What counts as income, and what does not

This is worth knowing before you assume you earn too much. UPMC explicitly excludes from the calculation:

  • Your primary residence
  • Retirement funds
  • Your primary vehicle

Income it does count includes wages, support letters and other income such as trust funds and charitable foundations.

How to apply

Applications go to Patient Financial Services Center, UPMC Quantum 1 Building, 2 Hot Metal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, or by phone on 1-833-298-7321, option 2.

As a condition of assistance you are required to apply for public coverage you may be eligible for, such as Medicaid, and to pursue other insurance options.

UPMC processes a request within 30 days of receiving it and notifies you in writing. If documentation is missing, you get a further 30 days to supply it.

If you are turned down

The policy states that a patient denied assistance may re-apply at any time. A denial is not final, and circumstances that change after a decision are grounds to ask again.

UPMC hospitals this policy does not cover

The policy’s facility list leaves four UPMC hospitals unchecked, meaning they run their own separate financial assistance policies:

  • UPMC Chautauqua (New York)
  • UPMC Western Maryland
  • UPMC Washington
  • UPMC Greene

If you were treated at one of those, ask that hospital for its own policy.

About This Entry

FairMedicalBills is an independent consumer information website. We are not this hospital, its billing office, an insurer or a government agency. We do not process financial assistance applications or decide eligibility. This entry reflects what the hospital had published when we last checked it, and policies change without notice — confirm current requirements with the hospital before relying on them.