How to apply for Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Financial Assistance in Florida

Who it's for

Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola — formerly Sacred Heart Hospital — is a 566-bed tertiary-care hospital at 5151 N 9th Avenue, Pensacola, and is the principal hospital serving Escambia County and the Northwest Florida Panhandle as a referral center for Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and adjacent counties. As an Ascension Health Florida affiliate, the hospital follows the Ascension system-wide Financial Assistance Policy: patients at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) qualify for 100% free care for emergency and medically necessary services. Patients with documented income between 251% and 400% FPL receive partial discounts on a sliding-scale basis. Ascension is a Catholic faith-based system with a stated mission to help the most vulnerable; uninsured patients who don't qualify under the standard FAP may still receive a separate uninsured discount program. Application can be completed online or by scanning the QR code on a paper bill; determinations are typically issued within 30 days. Apply by calling Ascension Sacred Heart financial assistance at 866-869-9677 or via the Ascension online application portal.

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)

Where to apply

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Financial Assistance. I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may 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 — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Step by step

1. Gather your required documents before starting: a completed Ascension Financial Assistance Application (online or paper), recent proof of household income (such as pay stubs, a Social Security award letter, a tax return, or an SSA-1099), proof of household size, a photo ID, and documentation of your insurance status (such as an insurance denial letter, a Medicaid denial notice, or proof that you are uninsured).
2. Choose how you want to apply. You can apply online through the Ascension online application portal or by calling Ascension Sacred Heart financial assistance at 866-869-9677. A paper application can also be started by scanning the QR code on your hospital bill.
3. Complete the application fully and accurately. Make sure all household income and family size information matches your supporting documents.
4. Submit your completed application along with all required documents through your chosen channel — online portal, phone, or paper.
5. If you are an ongoing patient or receive care in a future encounter, be aware that financial assistance is reviewed per encounter. You will need to refresh your documentation for each new application period.
6. After submitting, follow up with Ascension Sacred Heart at 866-869-9677 if you have questions about your application status or need help gathering documents.

What to expect: After you submit your application and documents, Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola will review your file. Decisions are typically issued within 30 days of a complete application submission, though processing times can vary — contact the financial assistance team at 866-869-9677 for a status update. If your household income is at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level, you may qualify for 100% free care on emergency and medically necessary services. If your income falls between 251% and 400% of the Federal Poverty Level, you may receive a partial discount on a sliding-scale basis. Uninsured patients who do not qualify under the standard policy may still be considered for a separate uninsured discount program. Because financial assistance is reviewed per encounter, ongoing patients will need to reapply and provide updated documentation for future care. If you were referred to Ascension Sacred Heart from another hospital in the area, note that each hospital system has its own financial assistance program — an approval here does not cover bills from other facilities.

Renewals

per encounter; documentation refresh required for ongoing patients