# Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago

Hospital in Chicago, IL. Verified from the hospital's own policy.

Presence Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $39,900 for 1 person, $54,100 for 2, $68,300 for 3, $82,500 for 4, $96,700 for 5 or $110,900 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $95,760 for 1 person, $129,840 for 2, $163,920 for 3, $198,000 for 4, $232,080 for 5 or $266,160 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

| Household size | Free care if yearly income is up to | Discount if yearly income is up to |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $39,900 | $95,760 |
| 2 | $54,100 | $129,840 |
| 3 | $68,300 | $163,920 |
| 4 | $82,500 | $198,000 |
| 5 | $96,700 | $232,080 |
| 6 | $110,900 | $266,160 |

Dollar amounts use the 2026 federal poverty guidelines.

## Discount steps

- 0% to 250% of poverty level, patient pays nothing (100% discount)
- 251% to 300% of poverty level, patient pays 5% of the bill (95% discount)
- 301% to 400% of poverty level, patient pays 10% of the bill (90% discount)
- 401% to 600% of poverty level, patient pays 15% of the bill (85% discount), uninsured patients only

## How to apply

- Call 833-272-7585 and ask for financial assistance.
- [Application form](https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap-application/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-application.pdf)
- [Financial Assistance Policy, Alexian Brothers Health System d/b/a Ascension Illinois affiliates](https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf)
- [Plain language summary](https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/plain-language-summary/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy-summary.pdf)
- The policy gives 240 days to apply. Ask the billing office which date the count starts from.
- Bring proof of income (at least one, for example 2 most recent pay stubs, latest tax return, Social Security or pension award letter, bank statements from the last 3 months, or unemployment benefits), proof of income for a spouse or partner you have lived with for 6 months or longer, bills for outstanding medical and pharmacy costs.
- Residency. Illinois resident
- Savings and property. The policy counts savings or property, not only income.
- Very large bills. Uninsured patients on the sliding scale pay no more than 20% of family income over 12 months. Above 600% of poverty level (400% if insured), help is possible if total medical debt equals or exceeds household income

## If you have insurance

Insured patients can also apply for help with deductibles and copays.
Keep your insurance. Financial assistance covers bills from this one place only.

## What is covered

Covered. Emergency and other medically necessary care, including care from doctors the hospital employs and behavioral health. Scheduled future care must be approved by the hospital's chief medical officer to count as medically necessary.

Not covered. Care that is not emergency or medically necessary is not covered. Some doctors who work in the hospital are not covered, so check the list of covered providers. If your insurance treats the hospital as out of network, help may be reduced or denied.

## State program in Illinois

### 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.

How to apply. 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

Source https://ftp.ilga.gov/ILCS/Ch%200210/Act%200089/021000890K10.html, checked 2026-11-11

## Notes

Free care up to 250% of the poverty level. Uninsured patients get 85% to 95% off up to 600%. Insured patients get 90% to 95% off their share up to 400%. Apply within 240 days of the first bill after discharge to get the full benefit. You can still apply later, but then help only covers what you have not paid yet. Uninsured patients must work with a financial counselor to apply for Medicaid or other programs first. Ascension may also approve help without an application by checking public records. A denial can be appealed within 14 days. Patients who do not qualify still get an uninsured discount and may get a prompt pay discount. People enrolled in SNAP, WIC, LIHEAP, the Illinois free lunch program and some other programs are presumed eligible for free care. Assets above 600% of your poverty level amount can make you ineligible. The billing office says help applies to hospital charges, and separate doctor bills are handled separately.

## Sources

- Free care level https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Patients with income less than or equal to 250% of the Federal Poverty Level income ("FPL"), will be eligible for 100% discount
- Discount level https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > uninsured Patients with incomes above 250% of the FPL but not exceeding 600% of the FPL, will receive a sliding scale discount
- Discount level https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Patients with insurance and with incomes above 250% of the FPL but not exceeding 400% of the FPL, will receive a sliding scale discount
- Discount steps https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > 401% - 600% FPL 85%
- Insured patients https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > on the portion of the charges in which the Patient is responsible following payment by an insurer, if any
- Asset test https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > if such Patient is deemed to have sufficient assets to pay pursuant to an "Asset Test."
- Residency https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > "Community" means the State of Illinois.
- Very large bills https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > collections over 12-month period shall be additionally capped at 20% of the patient's family income.
- Very large bills https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > A Patient will be eligible for financial assistance pursuant to the Means Test if the Patient has excessive total medical debt
- Deadline https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > submits a financial assistance application (an "Application") on or prior to the 240th day after the Patient's first discharge bill
- Documents https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap-application/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-application.pdf
  > Copies of 2 most recent paystubs from employer
- Covered facility https://healthcare.ascension.org/-/media/healthcare/financial-assistance/illinois/fap/runningfile_ilchi_english_financial-assistance-policy.pdf
  > Saint Joseph Hospital - Chicago

Last checked 2026-11-11.

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