Benefits · Healthcare

How to apply for OSU Wexner Medical Center + OhioHealth Grant/Riverside + Mount Carmel — Financial Assistance (Franklin County)

Franklin County hospital safety net: OhioHealth (Columbus headquarters — Grant Medical Center downtown trauma center + Riverside Methodist, Columbus's largest hospital), OSU Wexner Medical Center (Ohio State academic flagship), Mount Carmel Health System (Trinity Health Catholic), Nationwide Children's (pediatric). Distinctive — Columbus is headquarters for THREE major systems (OhioHealth's 16 hospitals, Mount Carmel, OSU Wexner) all competing in one county.

Who it's for

Franklin County hospital safety net: Franklin = OhioHealth (Grant trauma + Riverside, Columbus headquarters) + OSU Wexner (Ohio State academic) + Mount Carmel (Trinity Catholic) — three-system competition in OhioHealth's home county. Ohio's Hospital Care Assurance Program (HCAP) requires hospitals receiving HCAP funds (essentially all Ohio acute-care hospitals) to provide basic, medically necessary hospital-level services free of charge to Ohio residents at or below 100% FPL; each hospital's own Financial Assistance Program (typically sliding to 200-400% FPL) layers above HCAP. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.ohiohealth.com/billing-insurance/pay-your-bill/financial-assistance. Phone: 614-566-5594.

Franklin: Franklin = OhioHealth (Grant trauma + Riverside, Columbus headquarters) + OSU Wexner (Ohio State academic) + Mount Carmel (Trinity Catholic) — three-system competition in OhioHealth's home county. Ohio HCAP guarantees free basic hospital-level care at or below 100% FPL; each hospital's own FAP slides above that.

What you'll need

Proof of household income
Proof of Franklin County / Ohio residency
Photo identification
Proof of uninsured status or insurance gap
Hospital bill or pre-treatment estimate

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 614-566-5594

Renewals

per-encounter or annual

Official source →Last verified · June 12, 2026

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