Advocate Health (Illinois): financial assistance and insurance denials

Advocate Health (Illinois) financial assistance at a glance

• A 100% discount for income below about 3 times the federal poverty level (the page lists dollar limits by family size, e.g. below $99,000 for a family of four).
• Uninsured patients automatically get a 50% discount off gross charges on medically necessary services.
• A Hardship Discount Program reviews catastrophic balances greater than 10% of household income.
• You must apply within 240 days of your first billing statement.
• Apply in LiveWell (Billing), by mail, fax, email or in person with a patient financial advocate.

Questions about the policy: call 630-645-2400.

Source: Advocate Health, Financial Assistance for Patients, checked 2026-10-17

The Illinois minimum

Whatever the hospital’s own policy says, the Illinois Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act sets a floor for uninsured Illinois residents:

• Uninsured Illinois residents with family income up to 200% of the federal poverty level get a 100% discount on medically necessary care at non-rural hospitals.
• Uninsured residents with income up to 600% of the federal poverty level qualify for a discount on bills over $150 per visit.
• A hospital may collect no more than 20% of family income in a 12-month period from an eligible uninsured patient (assets may be considered).
• Rural and Critical Access Hospitals use different thresholds.

Source: Illinois Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act, checked 2026-10-17

If your insurance denied the claim

Financial assistance lowers what the hospital charges you; it does not change what your insurer owes. If the insurer denied the claim — “not medically necessary”, out-of-network, missing prior authorization — you can appeal. Deadlines depend on the plan: 180 days for most job-based and Marketplace plans, 65 days for Medicare Advantage, 60 days for Illinois Medicaid plans.