Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act (210 ILCS 89), metro hospitals

Illinois law says hospitals in metro areas must help uninsured Illinois residents with medically necessary care. If your family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for a free hospital bill for care over $150 per visit or stay. If your income is at or below 600%, you may qualify for a discount. The bill is cut to about 135% of what the care cost the hospital. For people who get the discount, the most a hospital can collect in 12 months is 20% of family income. Hospitals may ignore that cap for people with large assets, not counting a home or retirement savings. This state law covers uninsured patients only. If you have insurance, the hospital's own policy may still help with what you owe. You may have to apply for Medicaid or other public coverage first if you might be eligible. You must apply. The hospital decides.

Income levels in the program are free up to 200%, discount up to 600% of poverty level.

Applies to every Illinois hospital licensed under the Hospital Licensing Act or run under the University of Illinois Hospital Act that is not a Critical Access Hospital and is inside a metropolitan statistical area; uninsured Illinois residents only.

Ask the hospital's financial counseling or billing office for its financial assistance application. Apply within 90 days of discharge, the date of service, the hospital's screening, or a denial of Medicaid or other public coverage. The hospital may ask for proof of income (a tax return, W-2, two recent pay stubs, or an employer letter) and proof that you live in Illinois. If you have a problem, call the Illinois Attorney General's Health Care Hotline at 1-877-305-5145.

shall provide a charitable discount of 100% of its charges for all medically necessary health care services exceeding $150

Program source, checked 2026-11-11

Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act (210 ILCS 89), rural and Critical Access Hospitals

Illinois law sets lower levels for Critical Access Hospitals and hospitals outside metro areas. If you are an uninsured Illinois resident and your family income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, you may qualify for a free bill for care over $300 per visit or stay. If your income is at or below 300%, you may qualify for a discount. The bill is cut to about 135% of what the care cost the hospital. For people who get the discount, the most a hospital can collect in 12 months is 20% of family income. This state law covers uninsured patients only. If you have insurance, the hospital's own policy may still help. Many hospitals offer more than the law requires, so check the hospital's own policy too. You must apply. The hospital decides.

Income levels in the program are free up to 125%, discount up to 300% of poverty level.

Applies to Illinois Critical Access Hospitals and licensed hospitals outside a metropolitan statistical area; uninsured Illinois residents only.

Ask the hospital's financial counseling or billing office for its financial assistance application. Apply within 90 days of discharge, the date of service, the hospital's screening, or a denial of Medicaid or other public coverage. The hospital may ask for proof of income (a tax return, W-2, two recent pay stubs, or an employer letter) and proof that you live in Illinois. If you have a problem, call the Illinois Attorney General's Health Care Hotline at 1-877-305-5145.

A rural hospital or Critical Access Hospital shall provide a charitable discount of 100% of its charges

Program source, checked 2026-11-11

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