How to apply for Ascension Sacred Heart Bay Financial Assistance

Who it's for

Ascension Sacred Heart Bay is a 323-bed acute-care hospital at 615 N Bonita Avenue in Panama City, serving Bay County and the central Panhandle. As an Ascension Health Florida affiliate, the hospital follows the Ascension system-wide Financial Assistance Policy: patients at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) qualify for 100% free care for emergency and medically necessary services. Patients with documented income between 201% and 400% FPL receive partial discounts on a sliding-scale basis. The FAP applies to all emergency and medically necessary care including employed physician services and behavioral health. Patients are eligible for up to 100% financial assistance if they submit an application within 240 days of their first discharge bill — Florida law's standard charity care application window. Apply by calling Patient Financial Services or online via the Ascension Billing Florida portal. For tertiary, complex cardiac, or specialty care beyond Sacred Heart Bay's scope, patients may be referred to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (566-bed tertiary referral) under the same Ascension system FAP. Sacred Heart Bay was rebuilt after Hurricane Michael (2018) and is the only acute-care hospital in Panama City following the hurricane.

What you'll need

• Completed Ascension Financial Assistance Application (online or paper)
• Proof of household income (recent pay stubs, Social Security award letter, tax return, SSA-1099)
• Proof of family/household size
• Photo identification
• Documentation of insurance status (insurance denial letter, Medicaid denial, or proof of uninsured status)
• Application must be submitted within 240 days of first discharge bill

Where to apply

Renewals

per encounter; documentation refresh required for ongoing patients; 240-day window from first discharge bill