SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital -Centralia

Nonprofit acute care hospital in Centralia, IL.

Verified from the hospital's own policy

SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital -Centralia likely gives free care to households with a yearly income up to $31,920 for 1 person, $43,280 for 2, $54,640 for 3, $66,000 for 4, $77,360 for 5 or $88,720 for 6. It likely gives a discount to households with a yearly income up to $63,840 for 1 person, $86,560 for 2, $109,280 for 3, $132,000 for 4, $154,720 for 5 or $177,440 for 6.

The hospital makes the final decision.

Discount steps

• 0% to 200% of poverty level, you pay nothing (100% discount)
• 201% to 250% of poverty level, you pay 20% of the bill (80% discount)
• 251% to 300% of poverty level, you pay 40% of the bill (60% discount)
• 301% to 350% of poverty level, you pay full amount up to $2,000, then 50% of the amount over $2,000
• 351% to 400% of poverty level, you pay full amount up to $2,000, then 80% of the amount over $2,000

How to apply

1. Call 888-918-3512 and ask for financial assistance.
2. Application form
3. Operations - Financial Assistance Policy (Charity Care)
4. Plain language summary
5. Bring signed application, proof of income for the last two months for all household members 18 and over, most recent federal tax return with all schedules, or IRS non-filing letter, bank and savings statements for the last three months (may be requested), Medicaid approval or denial letter (if screened as possibly eligible).
6. The policy gives 240 days to apply. Ask the billing office which date the count starts from.

Residency

May be limited to people who live in the hospital's service area. International and traveling patients generally do not qualify, except for emergencies.

Savings and property

The policy counts savings or property, not only income.

Very large bills

Case-by-case help for catastrophic medical costs (medical indigence). Generally the bill is cut to no more than 25% of gross family income.

Languages

English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese

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 medically necessary care at SSM Health hospitals. The discount can apply to what is left after insurance pays.

Not covered

Cosmetic care, bariatric surgery and other care a doctor finds not medically necessary are not covered. Non-emergency care from an out-of-network SSM hospital may not qualify when an in-network option is nearby. Some doctors are not covered, so check the provider list.

State program in Illinois

Notes

The same SSM Health policy covers this hospital and the rest of the system. Free care up to 200% of the poverty level, and smaller discounts up to 400%. Assets over $5,000 count as income, but a home (half the equity up to $50,000), retirement accounts and some other items are protected. Approval lasts six months. A Social Security number is not required. You may be asked to apply for Medicaid first. Uninsured patients may get an automatic discount first, and financial assistance is applied after it. Apply by mail to SSM Health, Attn Financial Assistance, PO Box 411997, St. Louis MO 63141, by fax at 314-989-6734, by email at financialaid@ssmhealth.com, or in person with a financial counselor at the hospital. The application says Illinois patients who are presumed eligible under Illinois rules, or by family income, do not need to fill in the assets and expenses section.

Sources

• Free care level

  0% – 200% 100%

• Discount level

  351% - 400% 20% of amount over $2,000 Over 400% 0%

• Discount steps

  201% - 250% 80% 251% - 300% 60% 301% - 350% 50% of amount over $2,000

• Insured patients

  The discount is applied to the patient's remaining liability after insurance for insured patients

• Asset test

  Available assets in excess of $5,000, excluding the protected assets listed below, will be added to current year’s income

• Residency

  Eligibility for financial assistance may be restricted to residents in the primary service areas of SSM Health’s care sites.

• Residency

  Financial Assistance will not be available to International/Traveling patients. Exceptions may be made for emergent occurrences

• Very large bills

  Generally, patient liability will be adjusted to no more than 25% of gross family income.

• Deadline

  ends on the 240th day after the hospital provides the individual with the first post-discharge billing statement

• Documents

  Verification of income (last two months) • Last year’s federal tax return or non-filing letter

• Languages

  Our Financial Assistance documentation is available to download in 11 languages:

• Financial counseling phone

  Questions about the FAP may be directed to SSM Health Customer Service at 888-918-3512

• Covered facility

  Illinois: (1) SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital – Centralia and (2) SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital – Mt. Vernon

Last checked. 2026-11-11