Cook County Health: financial assistance and insurance denials

Cook County Health financial assistance at a glance

• CareLink is for Cook County residents aged 19–64 without insurance.
• You must have lived in Cook County at least 30 days; immigration status does not bar you.
• Discounts use a sliding scale by gross income and family size (100% and 50% tiers on the official table).
• Enroll with a Cook County Health financial counselor.

Questions about the policy: call a Cook County Health financial counselor.

Source: Cook County Health, CareLink Program, 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.