Advocate Lutheran General Hospital: Financial Assistance & Charity Care
Can't afford a bill from Advocate Lutheran General Hospital? You may not have to pay all of it. Nonprofit hospitals must offer financial assistance — here are this hospital's actual income limits and how to apply, taken from its own published policy.
Quick facts
Free care: Free care if your household income is at or below 300% of the federal poverty level — a 100% discount on what you owe for emergency and medically necessary care.
Discounted care: Discounted care if your household income is between 301% and 600% of the federal poverty level — Illinois hospitals discount your bill under the state's hospital discount law, and you are never charged more than insured patients pay for the same care.
How to apply: Advocate Health Care: Financial assistance
Phone: 847-795-2300 — Customer service for Illinois hospitals.
How to apply
- Check the income limits above — free care is based on your household income compared to the federal poverty level for your family size.
- Call the customer service number above to start, or download the financial assistance application from the link above.
- Fill out the application and mail it to the Financial Advocate / Financial Counseling team with proof of income (a tax return, pay stubs, or W-2s) and ID.
- You will be notified of the decision by mail or in person. If approved, the help covers your open balances, and for uninsured patients it can cover future eligible care for up to 180 days.
Good to know
- You can apply up to 240 days after your first bill — even if the bill already went to collections.
- A new bill means a new application — you can apply more than once. More in our guide You Might Not Have to Pay That Hospital Bill.
- Whatever remains after assistance can still be negotiated: How to Negotiate a Hospital Bill.
- Free help applying: Dollar For walks you through it at no cost.
See what Advocate Lutheran General Hospital charges
Check if you qualify at other hospitals
Sources
- Policy details above come from the hospital's own published materials, linked below. Policies change — if a link breaks or a number looks off, call the hospital and please tell us.
- Advocate Health Enterprise Financial Assistance Policy
- Advocate Health Care: Financial assistance for patients