(a) Hospitals may make the availability of a discount and the maximum collectible amount under this Act contingent upon the uninsured patient first applying for coverage under public health insurance programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, AllKids, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or any other program, if there is a reasonable basis to believe that the uninsured patient may be eligible for such program.
     (b) Hospitals shall permit an uninsured patient to apply for a discount within 90 days of the date of discharge or date of service.

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 210 ILCS 89/15

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • individual: shall include every infant member of the species homo sapiens who is born alive at any stage of development. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.36
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Month: means a calendar month, and the word "year" a calendar year unless otherwise expressed; and the word "year" alone, is equivalent to the expression "year of our Lord. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.10
  • State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14

     Hospitals shall offer uninsured patients who receive community-based primary care provided by a community health center or a free and charitable clinic, are referred by such an entity to the hospital, and seek access to nonemergency hospital-based health care services with an opportunity to be screened for and assistance with applying for public health insurance programs if there is a reasonable basis to believe that the uninsured patient may be eligible for a public health insurance program. An uninsured patient who receives community-based primary care provided by a community health center or free and charitable clinic and is referred by such an entity to the hospital for whom there is not a reasonable basis to believe that the uninsured patient may be eligible for a public health insurance program shall be given the opportunity to apply for hospital financial assistance when hospital services are scheduled.
         (1) Income verification. Hospitals may require an
    
uninsured patient who is requesting an uninsured discount to provide documentation of family income. Acceptable family income documentation shall include any one of the following:
            (A) a copy of the most recent tax return;
             (B) a copy of the most recent W-2 form and 1099
        
forms;
            (C) copies of the 2 most recent pay stubs;
             (D) written income verification from an employer
        
if paid in cash; or
            (E) one other reasonable form of third party
        
income verification deemed acceptable to the hospital.
        (2) Asset verification. Hospitals may require an
    
uninsured patient who is requesting an uninsured discount to certify the existence or absence of assets owned by the patient and to provide documentation of the value of such assets, except for those assets referenced in paragraph (4) of subsection (c) of Section 10. Acceptable documentation may include statements from financial institutions or some other third party verification of an asset’s value. If no third party verification exists, then the patient shall certify as to the estimated value of the asset.
        (3) Illinois resident verification. Hospitals may
    
require an uninsured patient who is requesting an uninsured discount to verify Illinois residency. Acceptable verification of Illinois residency shall include any one of the following:
            (A) any of the documents listed in paragraph (1);
             (B) a valid state-issued identification card;
             (C) a recent residential utility bill;
             (D) a lease agreement;
             (E) a vehicle registration card;
             (F) a voter registration card;
             (G) mail addressed to the uninsured patient at an
        
Illinois address from a government or other credible source;
            (H) a statement from a family member of the
        
uninsured patient who resides at the same address and presents verification of residency;
            (I) a letter from a homeless shelter,
        
transitional house or other similar facility verifying that the uninsured patient resides at the facility; or
            (J) a temporary visitor’s drivers license.
     (c) Hospital obligations toward an individual uninsured patient under this Act shall cease if that patient unreasonably fails or refuses to provide the hospital with information or documentation requested under subsection (b) or to apply for coverage under public programs when requested under subsection (a) within 30 days of the hospital’s request.
     (d) In order for a hospital to determine the 12 month maximum amount that can be collected from a patient deemed eligible under Section 10, an uninsured patient shall inform the hospital in subsequent inpatient admissions or outpatient encounters that the patient has previously received health care services from that hospital and was determined to be entitled to the uninsured discount.
     (e) Hospitals may require patients to certify that all of the information provided in the application is true. The application may state that if any of the information is untrue, any discount granted to the patient is forfeited and the patient is responsible for payment of the hospital’s full charges.
     (f) Hospitals shall ask for an applicant’s race, ethnicity, sex, and preferred language on the financial assistance application. However, the questions shall be clearly marked as optional responses for the patient and shall note that responses or nonresponses by the patient will not have any impact on the outcome of the application.