Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for Northwest Florida Community Hospital Financial Assistance
Northwest Florida Community Hospital (NFCH) — independent nonprofit acute-care hospital at 1360 Brickyard Road, Chipley FL 32428; principal hospital safety net serving Washington County and adjacent rural Holmes, Jackson, and Bay County borders; operates a Financial Counselor on-site M-F 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST and offers Repaytient-partnered interest-free payment plans
Who it's for
Northwest Florida Community Hospital (NFCH) is the principal acute-care hospital serving Washington County, located at 1360 Brickyard Road in Chipley. NFCH offers financial assistance to uninsured and underinsured patients — the hospital provides emergent services and most medically necessary services regardless of financial status or ability to pay, consistent with Florida nonprofit hospital obligations. Eligibility for financial assistance is calculated based on Federal Poverty Guidelines; the specific threshold is not published on a dedicated FAP page, so the modeled income gate uses the conservative 200% FPL standard typical of FL community hospitals — patients above this may still qualify based on individualized hardship assessment. A Financial Counselor is available M-F 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. CST to assist with applications. NFCH partners with Repaytient to offer interest-free payment plans for patients with out-of-pocket balances they cannot pay immediately. Apply by downloading a Financial Assistance Application from nfch.org, completing it with supporting documentation (W-2s, tax returns, pay stubs, bank statements), and returning it to the Financial Counselor or business office. For tertiary or specialty care beyond NFCH's scope, Washington County patients are typically referred to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (Panama City) or Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare.
NFCH is a small rural community hospital — for tertiary, specialty, complex cardiac, or trauma care, Washington County seniors are typically referred to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (Panama City) or Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. When NFCH refers a patient, the receiving hospital's FAP applies separately. The modeled $31,200 income gate uses the 200% FPL single-person 2026 threshold as a conservative FL community-hospital standard; NFCH's specific published threshold may vary so individualized hardship assessment is the practical determinant. NFCH's distinctive feature is the Repaytient-partnered interest-free payment plan — for patients who don't qualify for charity but face balances they can't pay in full, the interest-free plan can stretch payments over 12-60 months without finance charges. This is genuinely valuable for retirees on fixed Social Security income who need to manage large medical bills without interest erosion. Florida law's 240-day post-billing application window applies.
What you'll need
- Completed NFCH Financial Assistance Application (download from nfch.org or pick up from Financial Counselor)
- Proof of household income (W-2s, tax returns, recent pay stubs, Social Security award letter, SSA-1099)
- Bank statements (recent months)
- Proof of family/household size
- Photo identification
- Documentation of insurance status (insurance denial letter, Medicaid denial, or proof of uninsured status)
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 850-638-1610
Renewals
per encounter; documentation refresh required for ongoing patients
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.