How to apply for SIH Harrisburg Medical Center — Financial Assistance (Saline County)

Who it's for

Saline County is home to SIH Harrisburg Medical Center (Harrisburg) — a 71-bed community hospital, part of Southern Illinois Healthcare, that serves as the regional hospital hub for six southeastern Illinois counties (Saline, Gallatin, Hardin, Pope, White, and Williamson); the larger SIH hospitals in Carbondale and Herrin are a short drive west. SIH's Healthcare Assistance Program (HAP) provides discounts on a sliding scale up to 100% of hospital charges for income-eligible patients, and the CHESI community health center also offers sliding-fee primary care locally. 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 SIH Patient Financial Services (1-800-457-1393) or at https://www.sih.net/patients-and-visitors/financial-resources/healthcare-assistance-program.

What you'll need

• Proof of household income
• Proof of Saline 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