If you are an undocumented immigrant living in Illinois, you may still get help with medical debt and hospital bills. You do not need to qualify for public health insurance like Medicaid.

Hospital financial help (charity care)

Illinois law protects all people with medical debt, no matter their immigration status.

Here are some things you should know:

• Most hospitals must have financial assistance programs, sometimes called charity care. These programs help reduce or eliminate your medical debt, based on your family's income. These programs can help undocumented immigrants and people who do not live in the US full-time. This is required under a law called the Fair Patient Billing Act.
• You do not have to apply for public benefits like Medicaid if you are worried about how it could affect your immigration status. The hospital can still check to see if you qualify for help with your bill.

👉 Learn about your rights during the financial screening process.

Public health insurance options for some non-citizens

Most undocumented immigrants cannot get full Medicaid. But Illinois has created health programs for older immigrants and victims of certain crimes. These programs include:

• Health Benefits for Immigrant Seniors, and
• Medical Assistance for Victims of Trafficking, Torture, or Other Serious Crimes.

To see a list of all programs immigrants may be eligible for, visit GetCareIllinois.org. 

Illinois used to have a program to provide health care to immigrant adults, but the program ended in July 2025.