Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for OSF St. Mary Medical Center (Galesburg) — Financial Assistance (Knox County)
OSF HealthCare (Illinois hospital financial assistance)
Who it's for
Knox County hospital safety net: OSF St. Mary Medical Center (Galesburg) is the county's anchor — a nonprofit OSF HealthCare hospital serving Galesburg since 1909 across a seven-county area (Knox, Warren, Henry, Mercer, Henderson, McDonough, and Fulton). OSF St. Mary now also operates the former Galesburg Cottage Hospital site and Knox Clinic. OSF's financial-assistance / Community Care program gives free or discounted care for low-income and uninsured 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 at the hospital financial counseling office or at https://www.osfhealthcare.org/hospitals/st-mary. Phone: 309-344-3161.
Knox = OSF St. Mary Medical Center (Galesburg, OSF HealthCare; the regional anchor, also runs ex-Cottage Hospital/Knox Clinic). Illinois LAW mandates financial assistance (free care to ~200-300% FPL).
What you'll need
- Proof of household income
- Proof of Knox 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: 309-344-3161
Renewals
per-encounter or annual
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.
