Benefits · Healthcare

How to apply for Clay County Hospital (Flora) — Financial Assistance (Clay County)

Clay County Hospital — Illinois critical-access hospital financial assistance

Who it's for

Clay County's hospital is Clay County Hospital in Flora — a critical-access hospital (managed by SSM Health) with emergency, inpatient, surgical, and outpatient services and medical clinics across the county. It offers a Charity Care / financial-assistance program with discounts on a sliding scale for income-eligible patients. 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 through Clay County Hospital Patient Financial Services (618-662-2131) or at https://claycountyhospital.org/.

Clay = Clay County Hospital (Flora, CAH, SSM-managed — claycountyhospital.org) Charity Care. Illinois LAW mandates financial assistance (free care to ~200-300% FPL).

What you'll need

  • Proof of household income
  • Proof of Clay 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: 618-662-2131

Renewals

per-encounter or annual

Official source →Last verified · June 14, 2026

Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.

Find my benefits

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