All4integrity U.S.
New Jersey
Your one-stop page for hospital bills, insurance, and patient rights in New Jersey.
Start here
Start with your hospital’s Patient Financial Services department — ask directly about New Jersey’s Charity Care Program. If you need help figuring out where to turn, dial 211 for free local referrals. If a large bill is your main concern, applying for Charity Care first is usually the fastest path to relief.
Organizations
Organizations that can help directly — consumer advocates, state agencies, and nonprofits, each one listed with what it actually does.
Dollar For
Nonprofit that fills out the financial assistance (Charity Care) application on your behalf with the hospital. Free to the user — funded by donors. Useful when the hospital’s own process is confusing or slow.
Phone: Online tool (no direct phone line)
Website: https://dollarfor.org
End Med Debt NJ
Free, detailed manual (134 pages) with sample dispute/negotiation letters and step-by-step help for New Jersey medical debt cases.
Phone: No direct hotline
Website: https://endmeddebtnj.org
Linda Michelson — The Medical Bill Advocate (Englewood)
Independent patient advocate based in Englewood, NJ, offering bill review, negotiation, and help with insurance issues. Free initial consultation.
Phone: Contact via directory
Greater National Advocates directory · free initial consult
NJ 211
Statewide referral line connecting residents to local financial counselors, patient advocates, and general bill-help resources.
Phone: 211
(text your ZIP code to 898-211)
Website: https://nj211.org
NJ Charity Care Program (Hospital Care Payment Assistance)
New Jersey’s official Charity Care program. Handles free/reduced hospital bills, applications, and eligibility questions.
Phone: 1-866-588-5696
(toll-free); 609-292-4709 (Mon–Fri, business hours)
Website: https://nj.gov/health
NJ Dept. of Banking & Insurance (DOBI)
State regulator handling insurance claims, billing disputes, and surprise bill complaints in New Jersey.
Phone: 1-800-446-7467
Website: https://dobi.nj.gov
NJ Dept. of Health Main Line
General inquiry line for New Jersey’s Department of Health, covering broad health and billing questions.
Phone: 1-800-367-6543
Website: https://nj.gov/health
NJ Division of Consumer Affairs
State office handling medical debt complaints and enforcing patient rights under New Jersey’s Louisa Carman Act (hospital billing protections).
Phone: 1-800-242-5846
973-504-6200
https://njconsumeraffairs.gov
Patient Advocate Foundation
National organization offering free case management for insurance disputes, medical bill navigation, appeals, and support for people with serious illnesses.
Phone: 800-532-5274
Website: https://patientadvocate.org
FAQs
Quick answers to the questions that come up again and again, before you dive into contacts or a specific case.
I don’t know where to start — is there a single number I can call?
Yes. Dial 211, or text your ZIP code to 898-211, for free referrals to local financial counselors, patient advocates, and bill-help resources anywhere in New Jersey.
Is there a free guide to negotiating my bill in New Jersey?
es — End Med Debt NJ publishes a free, detailed manual with sample dispute and negotiation letters written specifically for New Jersey cases.
What is NJ Charity Care and how do I apply?
New Jersey’s Charity Care Program reduces or eliminates hospital bills for eligible low-income patients. Apply directly through the hospital, or call the state’s Charity Care line at 1-866-588-5696.
What is the Louisa Carman Act?
A New Jersey law requiring hospitals to offer reasonable payment plans based on a patient’s ability to pay — it protects low-income patients from unaffordable lump-sum payment demands.
What should I do first when I get a hospital bill in New Jersey?
Request an itemized bill with CPT codes and compare it to your insurer’s Explanation of Benefits (EOB) — this is the fastest way to catch errors before disputing or paying anything.
Glossary
U.S. healthcare terms explained.
Charity Care
A hospital’s financial assistance program, required by law in most U.S. states, that reduces or eliminates a patient’s bill based on income — often up to 300-400% of the federal poverty level.
Explanation of Benefits (EOB)
A statement from your health insurer showing what was billed, what insurance covered, and what you may still owe. It is not a bill — compare it against the hospital’s itemized bill to catch mismatches or errors.
Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
An income threshold set annually by the U.S. government, used to determine eligibility for many assistance programs, including hospital Charity Care. Eligibility is often expressed as a percentage of FPL (e.g. “up to 400% of FPL”).
Itemized Bill
A detailed, line-by-line breakdown of every charge on a hospital bill (procedure codes, medication charges, room fees, etc.), instead of a single lump-sum total. U.S. hospitals must provide one on request.
Managed Care Plan
A type of health insurance (HMO, PPO, etc.) that contracts with a specific network of providers and often requires referrals or pre-authorization for certain care.
No Surprises Act
A federal law protecting patients from unexpected out-of-network bills, especially in emergencies or when an out-of-network provider is involved at an in-network facility without the patient’s knowledge. Some states, including California, add extra protections on top of the federal law.
Self-Pay Discount
A reduced rate some hospitals offer to patients who don’t have insurance and pay out of pocket directly — often close to what an insurer would have negotiated.
Reviewed September 2026.
Need more information or found an outdated contact? Let us know
This information is provided as general guidance only and may change without notice. All4Integrity does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Always confirm current details directly with the relevant organization before relying on them. This is not legal, financial, or medical advice.
