How to apply for Decatur Memorial Hospital (Memorial Health) + HSHS St. Mary's — Financial Assistance (Macon County)

Who it's for

Macon County hospital safety net: Decatur is a regional medical hub anchored by two nonprofit systems — Decatur Memorial Hospital (a Memorial Health hospital) and HSHS St. Mary's Hospital. Both offer Patient Financial Assistance / Community Care programs with 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 either hospital's financial counseling office: Decatur Memorial at https://www.memorial.health/patients-and-visitors/billing-and-insurance/financial-assistance (217-876-8121), or HSHS St. Mary's (https://www.hshs.org/st-marys-decatur/patients-guests/patient-financial-services, 833-464-1778).

What you'll need

• Proof of household income
• Proof of Macon 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