Charity care in Illinois: who gets free or discounted care
Illinois has a law that requires hospitals to give free or discounted care to people with income up to 600% of the federal poverty level (the exact level depends on the hospital and your situation).
Charity care means free or discounted care for people with low income. Hospitals also call it financial assistance.
Checked against official sources: October 30, 2026.
What the law says in Illinois
| Income (% of poverty level) | What you get | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 200% | Free care | If you are uninsured and your family income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, the hospital must give you a 100% discount (free care) for medically necessary care over $150 in one hospital stay or visit. Hospitals other than rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals |
| 201% to 600% | Discount | If you are uninsured and your family income is above 200% and up to 600% of the federal poverty level, the hospital must give you the uninsured discount for medically necessary care over $150 in one stay or visit. The discount is set by a formula based on the hospital's own costs. Hospitals other than rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals |
| Up to 125% | Free care | If you are uninsured and your family income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level, a rural hospital or Critical Access Hospital must give you a 100% discount (free care) for medically necessary care over $300 in one stay or visit. Rural hospitals (outside a metropolitan statistical area) and Critical Access Hospitals |
| 126% to 300% | Discount | If you are uninsured and your family income is above 125% and up to 300% of the federal poverty level, a rural hospital or Critical Access Hospital must give you the uninsured discount for medically necessary care over $300 in one stay or visit. Rural hospitals (outside a metropolitan statistical area) and Critical Access Hospitals |
These are the income levels written in the law. Each hospital decides using its own policy.
- The law
Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act and Fair Patient Billing Act
- Which hospitals
All hospitals licensed in Illinois, including for-profit hospitals, and the University of Illinois Hospital. Hospitals that do not charge for their services are exempt. The income levels are lower at rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals.
- Who can get help
The required discounts are for uninsured Illinois residents (no health insurance, public coverage, workers' compensation or other third-party coverage). Moving to Illinois only to get health care does not count as residency. Insured patients can ask the hospital to screen them for its own financial assistance.
- Rural hospitals
Rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals have lower income levels: free care up to 125% and discounts up to 300% of the poverty level, for care over $300 per stay or visit.
- The most you can be charged
If you qualify for the uninsured discount, the hospital may not collect more than its charges minus the uninsured discount. The discount formula is based on the hospital's cost-to-charge ratio multiplied by 1.35, so the price is tied to the hospital's costs. In any 12-month period, the most a hospital may collect from an eligible patient for its services is 20% of family income. To get this yearly cap on later visits, tell the hospital that you were found eligible before.
- Savings and other assets
Limited. A hospital may ask you to certify and document your assets. It may refuse the 20%-of-income yearly cap if your assets are worth more than 600% of the poverty level (300% at rural and Critical Access Hospitals). Your home, personal property protected from judgments and retirement accounts do not count.
- Who counts as your family
Family income means your family's yearly earnings and cash benefits from all sources before taxes, minus child support you pay.
Law: 210 ILCS 89/5, 89/10, 89/15; 210 ILCS 88/15, 88/16, 88/27
How to apply in Illinois
- Deadline to apply
The hospital must let you apply for a discount within 90 days of the date of discharge or service, the date the hospital finished screening you, or the date an application for public health coverage was denied. If you do not send requested documents within 30 days, the hospital can stop processing, but the file can be reopened within 90 days of discharge, service or screening.
- Screening for help
Hospitals must screen each uninsured patient who agrees, at the earliest reasonable moment, for public health coverage (such as Medicaid) and for the hospital's financial assistance, and help with the application. Screening must follow the state language-assistance law. If you have insurance, the hospital must offer to screen you if you ask, if you contact it about a bill, or if it learns you may not be able to pay.
Law: 210 ILCS 88/16; 210 ILCS 89/5, 89/10, 89/15; 210 ILCS 88/15, 88/16, 88/27
- Applying for coverage first
A hospital may require you to first apply for Medicaid, Medicare, All Kids or another public program if there is a reasonable basis to think you qualify. If you worry about immigration consequences, it may refer you to a free resource, and it may still screen you for its own financial assistance. If your public coverage application is denied, the time to apply for the hospital discount starts again.
- Notice you must get
Every bill to an uninsured patient must say that you may qualify for an uninsured discount and how to apply. Hospitals must post signs in admission and registration areas, in English and any language that is the primary language of at least 5% of their patients, and post a notice and the application on their website. Brochures or applications must be available in the emergency room and admission or registration areas.
- If you disagree
The application must tell you to contact the hospital's financial counseling department with questions, and that complaints about the discount or financial assistance process can go to the Health Care Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General.
Law: 210 ILCS 89/5, 89/10, 89/15; 210 ILCS 88/15, 88/16, 88/27
Check your income level
Find out what percent of the federal poverty level your household income is, and compare it with the income levels in Illinois law.
Free tools, letters and checklist
Where to complain in Illinois
- Hospital bills and financial assistance: Illinois Attorney General, Health Care Bureau · 1-877-305-5145
A hospital did not give you a required discount, did not screen you, billed you wrongly or sent your bill to collections without following the Fair Patient Billing Act. - Health insurance: Illinois Department of Insurance, Office of Consumer Health Insurance · 1-877-527-9431
Problems with a state-regulated health insurance plan or HMO, including surprise bills and denials. - Debt collectors: Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR)
A licensed collection agency broke state collection rules. - Attorney general: Illinois Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division · 1-800-386-5438
Other consumer complaints, including credit reporting of medical debt.
Questions about medical bills in Illinois
Does Illinois require hospitals to give free or discounted care?
Illinois has a law that requires hospitals to give free or discounted care to people with income up to 600% of the federal poverty level (the exact level depends on the hospital and your situation).
Who counts as family for charity care in Illinois?
Family income means your family's yearly earnings and cash benefits from all sources before taxes, minus child support you pay.