Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf Financial Assistance
Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf — Ascension Health Florida market hospital; 19-bed critical-access acute-care hospital at 3801 U.S. 98, Port Saint Joe FL 32456; principal hospital safety net serving Gulf County and adjacent coastal Panhandle communities; sister facility to Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (regional tertiary referral center)
Who it's for
Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf is a 19-bed critical-access acute-care hospital at 3801 U.S. 98 in Port Saint Joe, serving Gulf County and adjacent coastal Panhandle communities. The hospital delivers primary care, specialty care, and 24/7 emergency care. 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. There is additionally an Uninsured Discount Program for patients without insurance who don't qualify under the standard FAP. Patients are eligible for up to 100% financial assistance if they submit an application within 240 days of their first discharge bill. Apply by calling Patient Financial Services at 866-869-9677 or via the Ascension Billing Florida online portal. For tertiary, complex cardiac, or specialty care beyond Sacred Heart Gulf's small critical-access scope, patients are referred to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (Panama City) or Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (566-bed tertiary referral) under the same Ascension system FAP.
Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf is a SMALL CRITICAL-ACCESS HOSPITAL (19 beds) — for tertiary, specialty, complex cardiac, trauma, or oncology care, Gulf County seniors are typically referred to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (Panama City, about 60 minutes northwest) or Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola (about 3 hours west). When Sacred Heart Gulf refers a patient, the receiving Ascension hospital applies the SAME Ascension system FAP — patients don't need to re-apply if already approved at Gulf. The modeled $31,200 income gate is the 200% FPL single-person 2026 threshold for the 100% free care tier; scales up by household size. Critical timing: 240-day application window from first discharge bill. The 19-bed critical-access designation means many specialty services aren't available in Port St. Joe — for non-emergency planned procedures, traveling to Sacred Heart Bay or Pensacola may be necessary, with coordinated transit through Gulf County Transit (Big Bend Transit can arrange longer-distance medical trips).
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
Apply online: official application
By phone: 866-869-9677
Renewals
per encounter; documentation refresh required for ongoing patients; 240-day window from first discharge bill
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Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.