Financial assistance at Montage Health helps local student focus on college
In October 2023, only days away from departing for his freshman year of college at Pepperdine University, 18-year-old Nathan Jennings saw his future flash before his eyes.
“I went to the Emergency department at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula because I started experiencing chest pains,” says Jennings, who was a recent Pacific Grove High School graduate. “I thought I was having some kind of heart problem.”
The Emergency department doctor who examined the teenager had good news: His pains were not heart-related but likely the result of costochondritis, a condition that causes inflammation of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone.
“I was told that it might have been from lifting weights or something akin to that,” Jennings says of the alarming episode.
But another scare soon followed. Jennings’ insurance — which the student and his family believed would cover the entire Emergency department visit — paid for none of it.
“My mom, grandfather, and I went to the Patient Business Services offices at the hospital to talk to them about my situation,” recalls Jennings, who was eagerly looking forward to his first semester of college. “Especially considering my upcoming tuition, I was nervous.”
Financial assistance through Montage Health's Sponsored Care program
Waiting to alleviate their anxiety was 33-year Community Hospital veteran Robin Arriola, a professional problem solver at Patient Business Services.
“I just listened to Nathan’s story,” Arriola says. “He told me he was 18, had just graduated high school, was about to go off to college, and insurance wouldn’t cover his Emergency department visit.”
Arriola learned that Jennings, like many recent college-bound students, was not employed, and determined that he was eligible for Montage Health’s Sponsored Care program, which is available to patients who need financial assistance.
Jennings filled out one form and his mother wrote a letter of support on his behalf. The result? He was eligible for full relief through Sponsored Care, and Montage Health picked up the entire tab.
Grateful to receive free care so he can focus on his education, Jennings plans to graduate in 2027 with a degree in international business.
Jennings and his mother wrote a letter to Arriola expressing their gratitude.
“Dear Robin, thank you for helping my son, Nathan, get through the financial assistance process,” his mother wrote. “You were truly so sweet and a godsend.” Jennings added, “Thank you dearly for helping us and providing us with the coverage we needed.”
Montage Health cares for everyone
Arriola says the Sponsored Care program exists so all community members can access high-quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.
“Nathan is a terrific young man,” she says. “It’s wonderful to be able to help patients in such a meaningful way.”
How to apply for financial assistance at Montage Health
