Benefits · Healthcare
How to apply for Hospital Financial Assistance (Reachable Hospitals) — White County
Reachable Illinois hospitals — financial assistance (White County's hospital closed in 2005)
Who it's for
White County has had NO hospital since the Carmi hospital (White County Medical Center) closed in 2005, leaving the county a federally designated medically underserved area. The nearest hospitals are Fairfield Memorial Hospital (Fairfield, Wayne County) and Hamilton Memorial Hospital (McLeansboro), with SIH Harrisburg Medical Center and Evansville, Indiana hospitals also within reach; local primary care is available through community clinics. Each hospital offers a Charity Care / financial-assistance program with discounts on a sliding scale for income-eligible 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. Reach Fairfield Memorial at 618-842-2611.
White = HOSPITAL-LESS since 2005 (Carmi hospital closed; medically underserved area). Reach Fairfield Memorial (Wayne) + Hamilton Memorial (McLeansboro) + SIH Harrisburg + Evansville IN. Illinois LAW mandates hospital financial assistance.
What you'll need
- Proof of household income
- Proof of White 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: 618-842-2611
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.