Insurance Counseling

Navigating insurance and medical bills can be overwhelming. HAVEN's Medical Debt & Insurance Counseling (MDIC) department is here to help. MDIC is an internal HAVEN department staffed by trained volunteers who can assist you with applications, bills, and insurance questions at no cost to you.

Important: YNHH Financial Assistance coverage expires every 6 months and must be renewed before it lapses to ensure uninterrupted coverage. The renewal process can take 6 to 8 weeks, so don't wait until your coverage expires — contact MDIC well before your expiration date to begin the process.

If you receive a bill for any services provided by or referred through HAVEN Free Clinic, please do not ignore it and do not pay it before speaking with us. Contact MDIC first at hfc.billing@yale.edu — we may be able to help reduce or eliminate the balance. See the MDIC/Billing Guide below for how HAVEN can assist and what documents are required.

What MDIC Can Help With:

Reviewing and explaining medical bills from HAVEN-referred services
Assisting with applications for Medicaid, HUSKY, or YNHH Financial Assistance
Helping navigate insurance enrollment and coverage questions
Advocating on your behalf for billing adjustments or payment plans

Documents You May Need:

Photo ID
Proof of income (pay stubs, tax return)
Proof of address (utility bill, lease agreement)
Any medical bills or insurance correspondence you've received

Renewal Reminder:

Free care coverage must be renewed every 6 months. To avoid any gaps in coverage, please contact MDIC before your current coverage expires so we can help you complete the renewal process on time.

Understanding Your Bill

Medical bills can be confusing — and Yale's medical system has two separate billing organizations. A single visit can produce a bill from each. Knowing which is which tells you who to contact.

Yale Medicine

Physician & provider services

Covers the professional services of the Yale Medicine doctor or provider who treated you.

Yale Medicine Patient Services: (800) 826-9922, Mon–Fri 8:30 am–5:00 pm, or patient.services@yale.edu. Pay online through MyChart.

Yale New Haven Health / Hospital

Hospital & facility services

Covers hospital and facility charges — the facility where you were seen and hospital services such as labs and imaging.

YNHH Patient Financial Services: (855) 547-4584, Mon–Fri 7:30 am–5:00 pm. Pay online through MyChart.

Check the top of each statement to see which organization issued it, and use the matching contact above. When in doubt, contact MDIC at hfc.billing@yale.edu and we'll help you figure out which bill is which.

Need help reading either bill? Reach out to MDIC at hfc.billing@yale.edu and we can review it with you and figure out which organization to contact.

For more detail and a sample statement, see YNHH's Understanding Your Bill page or Yale Medicine's Pay a Bill page.

Application Assistance

Yale New Haven Hospital's program provides free or reduced-cost care to patients who qualify based on income. MDIC can help you navigate the application process at no cost.

Not insurance: It covers services at YNHH facilities but does not function like a health insurance plan and is not transferable to other providers.

Proof of income is required — for you and, if applicable, household members. Recent pay stubs, your most recent federal tax return, or Social Security benefit statements are commonly accepted.

Remember: Coverage expires every 6 months. You must renew before it lapses to maintain uninterrupted free care, and renewal can take 6 to 8 weeks — contact MDIC ahead of your expiration date to start the process.

Download the guide in your preferred language:

Medicaid (known as HUSKY in Connecticut) is a state and federal program that provides free or low-cost health coverage for eligible low-income individuals and families.

Proof of income is required as part of the application — recent pay stubs, your most recent federal tax return, or Social Security benefit statements.

MDIC can help you determine your eligibility and assist with the application process at no cost. Contact us at hfc.billing@yale.edu to get started.

YNHH Free Care: Step-by-Step Application Guide

A complete, plain-language walkthrough of the Yale New Haven Health Financial Assistance (Free Care) application — what it is, how to fill out every section, and how to submit. You can do this yourself, and our MDIC team is here to help.

Free Care is Yale New Haven Health's commitment to help patients who cannot afford their medical bills. It is not insurance — it covers care at YNHH facilities only, and you must renew it about every 6 months.

Free Care is not insurance. There is no card, and it only applies at Yale New Haven Health facilities. You apply, provide proof of income, and are approved for roughly 6 months before renewing. It can be applied to bills you already have, and non-citizens are welcome to apply — immigration status does not disqualify you.

This guide walks you through the application, section by section, so you can complete it yourself. HAVEN's MDIC team will help you through it the first time. After that, for your 6-month renewals, we encourage you to file on your own using this guide — and we're here whenever you get stuck.

Download the application guide:

English French (Français)Haitian Creole (Kreyòl)

How to fill out the application, section by section

The official form is the YNHH Application for Financial Assistance Programs (Form F6304). Below is every section of the form explained in plain language. Tap each one to expand it.

Need the form itself? Download it above, ask HAVEN's MDIC team at any Saturday clinic, or call YNHH at 855-547-4584.

This is the top of the application. It identifies who is applying. Fill out every line — leave nothing blank. If you don’t have a medical record number, write "N/A" — it is not required.

Last name and First name

Required

Write your legal name exactly as it appears on any ID or medical paperwork. Use the same name consistently — misspellings can slow processing.

Example: García, Maria

Tip: Use your full legal name, not a nickname.

Street address, City, State, Zip code

Required

Write your current home address. If you stay with someone else, use their address. YNHH will mail your approval letter here — make sure it is correct.

Example: 123 Grand Ave, New Haven, CT 06511

Tip: If your mailing address is different from where you live, note both.

Date of birth

Required

Write your birth date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

Example: 03/15/1980

Telephone number

Required

A number where YNHH can reach you. If you don’t have a personal phone, write a number of someone who can give you a message.

Example: (203) 555-0100

Tip: YNHH may call you to verify information or inform you of your decision.

Medical record number

Optional

This is a number assigned by YNHH when you receive care there. You can find it on any YNHH bill, discharge papers, or by calling 855-547-4584. If you don’t have it, leave it blank — it is optional.

Example: MRN: 1234567

Tip: Check the top of any YNHH bill — the MRN is usually printed there.

Proof of income

This is the step people most often get wrong — a missing or incorrect proof of income is the most common reason an application stalls. You must attach proof of income to your application. Find your situation below.

Paid by check or direct deposit

2 recent pay stubs

Must be from the past 6 months. Get them from your employer or your bank app. Both stubs must show your name and the pay amount.

Paid in cash by employer

Letter from your employer

Your employer writes a letter confirming your pay. Use the template below — fill in the blanks and have your employer sign it.

Supported by family or a friend

Letter from the person supporting you

The person supporting you writes a letter confirming what they give you monthly. Use the template below.

Unemployed with no income

Letter from financial supporter

If no one supports you and you have no income, bring a letter saying so. HAVEN’s MDIC team can help you write this. Call us at 203-200-0673.

Receiving Social Security or disability

SSA award letter or benefit statement

Get this from SSA.gov or the letter Social Security mailed you. Must show your benefit amount. Call 800-772-1213 if you need a copy.

Self-employed

Most recent tax return (Schedule C)

Use your federal tax return Schedule C. If you don’t file taxes, a letter from yourself stating your earnings is acceptable. MDIC team can help.

Letter templates — fill in the blanks and have the person sign

Letter written by your employer (if paid in cash)

[Your Employer's Letterhead if they have one]

[Today's date]

To whom it may concern,

This letter serves as verification that [your full name] is employed by [employer name]. [Your name] performs [brief job description] and is paid [$____ amount] [weekly / biweekly / monthly] in cash. If you have questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact me at [employer phone number].

Sincerely,

[Employer's printed name], ______________________
(Employer's signature)

Letter written by the person who supports you financially

[Today's date]

To whom it may concern,

I, [supporter's full name], am the [relationship] of [your full name]. I currently provide monthly financial support to [your name] in the amount of [$____ amount] [weekly / biweekly / monthly] to provide food and shelter. If you have any questions, I can be reached at [supporter's phone number].

Sincerely,

[Supporter's printed name], ______________________
(Supporter's signature)

Submitting your proof of income: email photos or scans to hfc.billing@yale.edu, or drop it off at HAVEN any Saturday, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM.

How to submit your application

YNHH gives you several ways to submit. All require your signed application and your proof of income attached.

Mail it

Print, complete, sign, and mail your application with proof of income attached. Allow 2–3 weeks for processing.

Yale New Haven Health SBO, Attn: Financial Assistance PO Box 1403 New Haven, CT 06505

Email proof of income

Send photos or scans of your proof of income documents directly to the HAVEN billing team, who will submit with your application.

hfc.billing@yale.edu

Bring it to HAVEN

Come to HAVEN clinic any Saturday between 8:30 AM and 1:00 PM. Our MDIC team will review your application, catch any errors, and submit for you.

Saturdays 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM HAVEN Free Clinic New Haven, CT

Call YNHH directly

If you have questions about your application status, a specific bill, or need help — call YNHH’s financial assistance line directly.

855-547-4584 YNHH Financial Assistance

After you submit:processing usually takes 2–4 weeks. YNHH will contact you by mail or phone with your decision. If you are approved, keep your approval letter safe — you will need it at future YNHH appointments. If you are denied, contact HAVEN's MDIC team; we can help you understand why and whether to appeal.

Renewing your coverage

Free Care expires — you must renew about every 6 months. It is not a one-time approval. If you miss your renewal window, your coverage lapses, even in the middle of treatment. When you apply through HAVEN, our MDIC team tracks your renewal date and reminds you when it is time. Renewals are the best time to file on your own using this guide — the process is the same, and you already have everything you need.

Frequently asked questions

Need help with your Free Care application? HAVEN's MDIC team is here every Saturday.

203-200-0673 hfc.billing@yale.eduSaturdays 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Have questions about insurance, bills, or coverage? Contact MDIC — we're here to help you every step of the way.

hfc.billing@yale.edu