How to apply for Franklin Hospital (Benton) + SIH Primary Care — Financial Assistance (Franklin County)

Who it's for

Franklin County's hospital is Franklin Hospital in Benton (Franklin Hospital District) — a community hospital with emergency, inpatient, and outpatient services; Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) also operates SIH Primary Care clinics in Benton and West Frankfort, and the SIH hospitals in Herrin and Carbondale are a short drive south. Franklin Hospital 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 Franklin Hospital Patient Financial Services (618-439-3161) or at https://www.franklinhospital.net/.

What you'll need

• Proof of household income
• Proof of Franklin 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