You have the right to be screened for help

If you are getting care at a  hospital in Illinois and do not have insurance, the hospital must offer to screen you for financial help under a law called the Fair Patient Billing Act. 

This includes:

• Public health insurance programs like Medicaid, and
• The hospital’s own financial help program, sometimes called charity care.

You do not have to agree to screening right away. If you say no or are not sure, you can still ask for it later. But it helps to start early. If you qualify for Medicaid, it may pay for care from up to 90 days before you applied. That means you might not have to pay for care you already received.

If you are getting care at a nonprofit hospital, you have at least 240 days from your first bill to apply for financial assistance.

Need help? Dollar For is a nonprofit that helps people apply for financial assistance for free.  

You may qualify for big discounts or free care

If your family makes less than a certain amount, you may get help paying your bill:

• Most families who earn less than 600% of the federal poverty guidelines (FPG) (under $198,000 a year for a family of four),
• In some rural areas, the limit is 300% FPG (under $99,000 a year for a family of four),
• If you earn under 200% FPG (under $66,000 a year for a family of four), you may get free care after paying just $150 per hospital visit.

🏥 The hospital may ask you to apply for Medicaid first. This is part of the process and may help cover your care.

You have the right to know about financial help

Hospitals must make sure you know help is available. They must:

• Offer to screen you for help,
• Post information on their website and bills, and
• Give you at least 90 days after you leave the hospital to apply.

You have the right to get answers

If you have questions or need help applying, the hospital must respond:

• Phone calls: within 2 business days,
• Letters or emails: within 10 business days.

A business day is any day the hospital billing office is open.

You have the right to language help

If you do not speak English well, the hospital must give you an interpreter. This helps you understand your rights and what help is available.

If Medicaid says no, you still have options

If you are denied Medicaid, you can still ask to be screened for hospital financial help. You have 90 days from the denial date to make this request.

You are protected from collections and lawsuits

A hospital cannot send your bill to collections or sue you unless:

• They offered to screen you (or you said no and did not ask again within 90 days), and
• If you said you cannot pay, they must offer a payment plan based on your income.

Special help for survivors of sexual assault

If you are treated for a sexual assault, you should not get a bill for emergency care, exams, or medicine related to the assault.

If you do get a bill, contact the hospital and the Illinois Attorney General’s Office right away.

You have a right to report a hospital that doesn't follow these rules

If a hospital doesn't follow these rules: 

• They could be fined
• They could lose their license

If a debt collector violates these rules, they could be in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Call a consumer law advocate and report them to the Attorney General's Office.