Benefits · Healthcare

How to apply for Carroll County Hospital Reach (FHN Freeport + CGH Sterling + Iowa) — Financial Assistance (Carroll County)

Carroll County hospital safety net: Carroll County (Mount Carroll / Savanna) has no in-county acute hospital; residents are served by FHN Memorial Hospital (Freeport, Stephenson County), CGH Medical Center (Sterling, Whiteside County), and Iowa hospitals across the Mississippi River (MercyOne Clinton / UnityPoint). (Illinois hospital financial assistance)

Who it's for

Carroll County hospital safety net: Carroll = no in-county hospital; served by FHN Freeport + CGH Sterling + Iowa (Clinton) across the river. DISTINCTIVE to Illinois: state law (the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act + Fair Patient Billing Act) REQUIRES hospitals to provide financial assistance — uninsured patients at or below 200% (rural/critical-access) or 300% (urban) of the Federal Poverty Level generally receive free care, with capped discounts above that. Most Illinois hospitals have a robust charity-care policy as a result. Apply at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.fhn.org/patientVisitorMain.stm. Phone: 815-599-6000.

Carroll: Carroll = no in-county hospital; served by FHN Freeport + CGH Sterling + Iowa (Clinton) across the river. Illinois LAW mandates hospital financial assistance (free care to ~200-300% FPL).

What you'll need

Proof of household income
Proof of Carroll County / Illinois residency
Photo identification
Proof of uninsured status or insurance gap
Hospital bill or pre-treatment estimate

Where to apply

Apply online: official application

By phone: 815-599-6000

Renewals

per-encounter or annual

Official source →Last verified · June 14, 2026

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Not legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.