Medical bill help in Illinois: hospital discounts and your rights

Step 1: Check the bill

Under the Illinois Fair Patient Billing Act, a hospital bill must list the dates of service, a description of the services, the amount owed and how to contact the hospital, plus a statement about financial assistance. You can ask for an itemized bill (210 ILCS 88/20). The CFPB suggests checking that the bill is yours, that you got every service listed and that your insurance information is right (CFPB).

Hospitals must have a way to question or dispute a bill, with a phone number on the bill. It must return your call within 2 business days and answer a letter within 10 business days (210 ILCS 88/25).

Step 2: Apply for a hospital discount if you’re uninsured

The Illinois Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act covers uninsured Illinois residents who get medically necessary care costing more than $150 ($300 at rural and Critical Access hospitals) (210 ILCS 89/10).

• Most hospitals. Family income up to 600% of the federal poverty level qualifies for a discount, and income up to 200% qualifies for a 100% charitable discount, meaning free care (210 ILCS 89/10).
• Rural and Critical Access hospitals. The limits are lower: up to 300% of the poverty level for a discount and up to 125% for free care (210 ILCS 89/10).
• Yearly cap. The most a hospital can collect from an eligible uninsured patient in a 12-month period is 20% of family income. You need to tell the hospital at later visits that you’ve already received care (210 ILCS 89/10).
• Deadlines. You generally have at least 90 days after discharge or the date of service to apply, and the hospital may ask you to apply for public coverage such as Medicaid first (210 ILCS 89/15).
• Assets. The hospital may consider assets, but your home and retirement accounts aren’t counted (210 ILCS 89/10).

For 2026, the federal poverty guideline is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four (HHS), so 600% is $95,760 for one person and $198,000 for four. Check which year’s figures your hospital uses.

Step 3: Know the limits on collections

Before a hospital sends an uninsured patient’s bill to collections, Illinois law says it must screen you for public programs and financial assistance, apply any discount you qualify for, and offer you a chance to review the bill, apply for help and set up a reasonable payment plan. It must give you at least 90 days to apply for financial assistance (210 ILCS 88/30). The CFPB says debt collectors must verify a debt if you ask, and they can’t report a medical bill to credit bureaus without first trying to collect from you (CFPB).

Have insurance? The CFPB says nonprofit hospitals are required by law to offer financial assistance programs (CFPB).

Surprise bills and estimates

• Since January 1, 2022, the No Surprises Act protects most people from surprise out-of-network bills for emergency care and for some care at in-network hospitals (CMS).
• If you’re uninsured or paying without insurance, you can get a good faith estimate before scheduled care. If the final bill is $400 or more above the estimate, you may be able to dispute it (CMS, CFPB).

Where to get help

• Illinois Attorney General Health Care Bureau. Call 1-877-305-5145. Its mediators help with billing disputes and coverage denials (Illinois Attorney General).
• Medical Debt Relief Program. Illinois works with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to buy and cancel medical debt for residents with household income at or below 400% of the poverty level, or with medical debt of 5% or more of income. There’s no application. If your debt is canceled, you get a letter (Illinois HFS).
• Medicaid members. HFS says providers can’t bill Illinois Medicaid members for covered services. Call 1-800-843-6154 for help (Illinois HFS).
• Get coverage. Uninsured? Open enrollment for 2027 plans runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 at Get Covered Illinois.

Watch for scams. The CFPB warns against paying anyone who charges an up-front fee or promises to keep medical bills off your credit report (CFPB).

More help: our Illinois health insurance guide, prescriptions without insurance and subscriptions and bills guide.