New York Attorney General Letitia James today released guidance to help New Yorkers understand and exercise their right to financial assistance for hospital bills under New York’s Hospital Financial Aid Law. All hospitals in New York state are required to offer financial aid to eligible patients who cannot afford their bills, but many New Yorkers are unaware of this protection or do not know how to apply for it. In new guidance released today, Attorney General James breaks down who qualifies for hospital financial aid, what the law covers, and how patients can apply for help paying their medical bills, as well as financial aid protections for immigrant patients.

“No New Yorker should have to choose between their health and their financial security. As federal cuts strip health coverage away from hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, I urge anyone struggling to pay a hospital bill to use this guidance to understand their rights. Hospitals have a legal obligation to help patients who are eligible for financial assistance, and no one should be pushed into medical debt because they did not know where to turn.” – AG James