How to apply for Hospital Financial Assistance (Reachable Hospitals) — Edwards County

Who it's for

Edwards County has NO hospital of its own. The nearest hospitals are Fairfield Memorial Hospital (Fairfield, Wayne County) and Wabash General Hospital (Mount Carmel, Wabash County) — both not-for-profit community/critical-access hospitals — with Richland Memorial (Olney) and Carmi-area / Evansville options also within reach. Each 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. Reach Fairfield Memorial at 618-842-2611.

What you'll need

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

Where to apply

Renewals

per-encounter or annual