At UHS, we believe that fear of a medical bill should never be a reason to avoid seeking necessary care. With the future of healthcare coverage uncertain for millions of Americans, preexisting anxieties about the cost of care have only been compounded. For patients with concerns about payment, UHS' financial assistance program is here to help you navigate your hospital and provider bills.
To deliver patient financing and flexible medical payment plan options to our patients, UHS has partnered with Curae to offer several different tools that help relieve the burden of medical costs. These tools include:
- Patient financing – Curae offers a line of credit up to $10,000 through an experienced direct lender to help reduce the stress of healthcare bills for patients. Patients can learn if they qualify through a quick application process, and if approved, select a monthly repayment plan that best fits their budget.
- Coverage sponsorship – Through this new offering, Curae sponsors a qualifying patient’s insurance premium for up to one year, depending on the patient’s level of need. Potential qualifying factors include if you are facing delinquency on your premium for a Marketplace plan, as well as circumstances such as financial hardship. This is not a loan, so patients do not have to pay back the premium. This is an innovative offering within the healthcare space that puts money back in the patient’s pocket to help with everyday costs, providing essential support for individuals who may otherwise have to delay care because of expenses.
November marks the open enrollment period for 2026 healthcare coverage, and UHS patients who do not qualify for Medicaid, Medicare, or disability can receive sponsorship through HealthFund Solutions (offered by Curae) as they enroll in coverage. HFS can assist with enrollment into the Marketplace and COBRA benefits for patients who have lost employer-sponsored insurance. Patients can learn more at https://www.healthfundsolutions.com/.
While the number of patients who will have to pay more out-of-pocket for their premium is estimated to substantially increase in the next year, the Financial Assistance team at UHS is committed to meeting patients where they are and helping them through circumstances that can cause stress and uncertainty. UHS is proud to work with our partners on these offerings that aim to minimize heartache and financial strain for our patients.
Coverage for Veterans
UHS’ commitment to providing essential support for patient populations most in need includes financial assistance for U.S. military Veterans and active service members. UHS is contracted with VA Community Care Network – a program that connects Veterans to community providers when VA cannot provide the care they need. This partnership makes UHS a preferred, in-network provider for service members who are retired, honorably discharged, recently discharged, or active-duty in the military, all while minimizing out-of-pocket expenses.
UHS sees Veterans for most types of care they may need, from neurology to orthopedics to behavioral health, and usually sees them within several weeks, so there is no concern about being discouraged by long waitlists. With this program, UHS is making sure Veterans can receive the high-quality, compassionate care they need, right in the community where they live.
Innovation that puts patients first
Patient-centered care is at the heart of everything we do at UHS – and that mission extends beyond the providers and caregivers who administer care directly beside patients and their families. It also includes all of the teams who work behind the scenes to ensure the very best quality of care and a positive patient experience.
The Financial Assistance team at UHS is one such group who are hard at work every day, advocating for each individual’s needs and improving processes to provide ease of mind for patients. For example, in fall 2022, the Financial Assistance team introduced “self-pay and patient forensics,” a process that addresses patients’ financial challenges by taking into account their entire financial situation and other barriers they may face.
The team monitors payment history and reaches out to individuals directly when they notice a patient may need assistance, proactively engaging patients so they don’t feel the need to ask for help and tailoring the support that best suits their unique situation. With this hospitality approach, UHS prioritizes patient convenience, offering personalized support to help patients navigate financial challenges and prioritize their well-being.
In recognition for the ways UHS is helping patients navigate payment, UHS Chief Revenue Cycle Officer Ken Hogue was nominated for the 2025 Revenue Cycle Management Innovation Award. The award recognizes healthcare organizations that demonstrate outstanding progress and innovative approaches in their revenue cycle management practices, adopting new technologies and implementing process improvements that enhance the patient experience.
Begin your patient-centered care journey with UHS today
With our suite of financial assistance offerings, UHS is here to help each and every patient through their unique care journey, no matter the circumstance. If you are in need of care, it is important to remember that no person, regardless of ability to pay, will be refused medical services in accordance with the Internal Revenue Services 501(R)(4) Regulation. For more information or to find a provider today, visit nyuhs.org.