How to apply for SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital (Centralia) + Salem Township Hospital — Financial Assistance (Marion County) in Illinois

Who it's for

Marion County has two hospitals: SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital in Centralia (a 115-bed hospital, part of the SSM Health system) and Salem Township Hospital in Salem (a 25-bed critical-access hospital). SSM Health offers a Financial Assistance / Charity Care program with discounts on a sliding scale for income-eligible patients, and Salem Township Hospital has its own charity-care policy. Illinois law (the Hospital Uninsured Patient Discount Act) requires hospitals to discount bills for uninsured patients who apply: most hospitals must give a discount up to 600% of the Federal Poverty Level and free care (for charges over $150 per visit) at or below 200%; rural and critical-access hospitals must give a discount up to 300% and free care (for charges over $300 per visit) at or below 125%. Apply through SSM Health customer service (888-918-3512) or a hospital Financial Counselor; see https://www.ssmhealth.com/resources/pay-my-bill/Financial-Assistance.

What you'll need

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

Where to apply

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital (Centralia) + Salem Township Hospital — Financial Assistance (Marion County). I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need proof of household income, proof of Marion County / Illinois residency, photo identification — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Renewals

per-encounter or annual