How to apply for Carle BroMenn Medical Center (Normal) + OSF St. Joseph (Bloomington) — Financial Assistance (McLean County)

Who it's for

McLean County hospital safety net: Bloomington-Normal is served by two nonprofit systems — Carle BroMenn Medical Center (Normal, part of Carle Health) and OSF St. Joseph Medical Center (Bloomington, part of OSF HealthCare). Both offer financial-assistance / Community Care programs with free or discounted care on a sliding scale by family size and income. 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: Carle BroMenn at https://carle.org/patients-visitors/financial-assistance (888-712-2753), or OSF St. Joseph (https://www.osfhealthcare.org/hospitals/st-joseph/patients-visitors, 309-665-5000).

What you'll need

• Proof of household income
• Proof of McLean 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 Carle BroMenn Medical Center (Normal) + OSF St. Joseph (Bloomington) — Financial Assistance (McLean 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 mclean 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