Understand Costs, Insurance and the Gillette Assistance Program

If you need Gillette services but can’t afford them, we’ll work with you on payment options. We evaluate each family’s situation based on income, assets and other resources. Our goal is to make each family’s payments manageable.

You might benefit from setting up a payment plan. And you might be eligible for the Gillette Assistance Program (GAP), our financial service for families who can’t afford the costs of care at Gillette. Just call a Gillette financial specialist at 651-325-2177 to learn more.

You might also want to apply for a grant from UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation.

GAP is a financial assistance program that provides discounts on eligible costs billed by Gillette. GAP is for families who can’t afford the costs of care at Gillette. The size of a GAP discount is based on a recipient’s household size and annual income.

Although we work with many private and public insurance providers, we know that not all insurers cover all of the services we provide. And we know that some families have high deductibles, high copayments, or no coverage at all. In such cases, you might want to apply for GAP.

If you have insurance coverage, or if you’re eligible for government programs, you must use up those benefits before you’ll receive help from GAP. You’ll also have to spend any funds in your health savings account before receiving GAP assistance.

Who Is Eligible?

Any Gillette patient can apply for GAP. In fact, we encourage you to do so—whether or not you have health insurance. 

If you apply when you first get a referral to Gillette, we can often tell you before your first appointment if you’re eligible for financial help. You can also apply for GAP at any time while receiving care at Gillette.

We evaluate each situation based on income, assets and other resources. The only thing we consider is financial need. We don’t take age, gender, race, immigration status, sexual orientation or religious affiliation into account.

Gillette provides financial assistance to patients who are uninsured, underinsured, ineligible for any government health care benefit program, or unable to pay for part or all of their care.

We base eligibility on a determination of financial need in accordance with our financial assistance policy (PDF).

You can also read our financial assistance policy in the following languages:

• Gillette Assistance Plan Policy in Hmong - Txoj Cai: Gillette Phiaj Xwm Kev Pab (PDF)
• Gillette Assistance Plan Policy in Somali - Xeerka: Qorshaha Caawimada Gillette (PDF)
• Gillette Assistance Plan Policy in Spanish - Política: Plan de asistencia de Gillette (PDF)

This list of providers (PDF) identifies which providers' professional charges are covered by the Gillette financial assistance policy.

The income guidelines we use to qualify applicants for GAP are based on the federal poverty level (FPL), an amount published annually in the Federal Register. Your annual gross income determines the size of the discount you receive through GAP.

GAP Eligibility Income Guidelines

Patients eligible for GAP won’t be charged more than the amounts generally billed for the same services to patients who have health insurance through private companies or Medicare.

You’ll need to follow these steps to apply for GAP. If you have questions, please call a Gillette financial specialist at 651-325-2177.

1.  Complete the financial assistance application (PDF). You can also ask our front desk or a social worker for a GAP application. The GAP application is also available in Spanish (PDF), Hmong (PDF) and Somali (PDF).

2.  Attach documentation, such as:

• Your IRS Form W-2 (Wages and Tax Statement).
• A copy of your most recent tax return.
• Copies of recent paycheck remittance forms.
• The name, address and phone number of your employer, if applicable.
• A copy of recent bank statements.
• A copy of payment remittance forms for Social Security, Worker’s Compensation, unemployment insurance or other appropriate proof of your reported income, if applicable.

3.  Mail the completed information and supporting evidence to us at:

    Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare
    Attn: Central Business Office - GAP
Internal: 455120
    200 University Ave. E.
    St. Paul, MN 55101
   
Or fax it to us at 651-325-2174

We’ll send you a letter approving or denying your completed application within 30 working days of the date we receive it. If you aren’t eligible for GAP, we have other options that might help you. For example, you might benefit from setting up a payment plan. Our goal is to help make your Gillette payments manageable.

If you’re paying for all of your Gillette costs yourself (without insurance or government assistance), you’re eligible for a self-pay discount. If you receive medically necessary services at Gillette that are excluded from your insurance plan, you may be eligible for a self-pay discount on that particular service.