Hospital charity care in Illinois
Illinois goes beyond the federal floor with the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act, which requires hospitals to provide free care to lower-income uninsured patients and sliding-scale discounts well up the income ladder — making it one of the more patient-friendly states for financial assistance.
Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act
210 ILCS 88, enacted in 2005 and amended multiple times since, establishes mandatory charity care and discount obligations for Illinois hospitals beyond the federal 501(r) requirements.
Up to 600% FPL
Illinois requires sliding-scale discounts for uninsured patients up to 600% FPL at some hospitals — significantly above the federal baseline.
Free care under 200% FPL
Hospitals must provide free care to uninsured patients whose income falls at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.
All licensed hospitals
The Illinois Act applies to all hospitals licensed in the state, including for-profit facilities — broader than the federal 501(r) rule which covers only nonprofits.
Who qualifies for free or discounted care in Illinois
Illinois's Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act creates a tiered system of mandatory discounts for uninsured patients. The specific tiers depend on individual hospital policy, but the state law sets these minimum floors:
| Income level | Minimum required benefit |
|---|---|
| Under 200% FPL ($31,920 for 1 person) | 100% free care — no charge |
| 200%–300% FPL | Sliding-scale discount required |
| 300%–600% FPL | Discount available at many hospitals |
| Above 600% FPL | Depends on individual hospital policy |
Illinois's 600% FPL upper range is one of the highest in the country. That means a family of four earning up to roughly $198,000 per year may qualify for at least some discount at participating hospitals. The law also applies to for-profit hospitals, which the federal 501(r) rules do not cover.
What Illinois law requires hospitals to do
- Required
Free care mandate under 200% FPL
Hospitals must provide completely free care to uninsured patients at or below 200% FPL — this is not discretionary.
- Required
Written notice at admission
Illinois hospitals must inform patients in writing about the availability of financial assistance at or before the time of service.
- Protected
No collections during review
Collection activity must cease while a financial assistance application is being reviewed by the hospital.
- Broader coverage
For-profit hospitals included
Unlike federal law, Illinois's Act applies to for-profit hospitals — giving more patients legal protections regardless of hospital type.
Medical hardship provision
Even if your income exceeds the standard thresholds, Illinois hospitals may consider 'medical hardship' — situations where your medical bills represent a significant portion of your annual income. Ask specifically about hardship provisions if your income is above 200% FPL.
How to look up a specific hospital's rules
Illinois does not have a single state database like California's HCAI. To find your hospital's policy, search the hospital name plus "financial assistance policy" or "charity care application" on Google — all nonprofit hospitals must post this document publicly under federal law. You can also visit the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board website for licensed hospital information, or call the hospital billing department and ask for the "Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount" application.
Where this page's claims come from
- 1.Illinois Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act, 210 ILCS 88 — ilga.gov
- 2.Illinois Attorney General, Patient Rights — illinoisattorneygeneral.gov
- 3.IRS Section 501(r) Requirements for Nonprofit Hospitals — irs.gov
General information, not legal advice
State law and hospital policies change regularly. Confirm current details with your state's health department or the specific hospital's financial assistance office before relying on this page for a decision.