Options for Free or Reduced Cost Health Care

If you don’t fit these criteria, you need to look to other resources to obtain health care.

Some of the resources available for health care are:

• One of Illinois’ free or low-cost clinics. Physicians will often volunteer their services at free clinics, or if not a free clinic, you may be charged a small fee based on your income.  You can locate some of these clinics through the following links.
  • http://www.fcglr.org/directory/Illinois/il-home.htm
  • http://www.uniteforsight.org/freeclinics.php
  • http://www.freemedicalcamps.com/index.php
  • http://ask.hrsa.gov/pc/
• Some health care is available at local public health departments, ranging from children’s immunizations, vision or dental care, and environmental health. Cost can vary ranging from free, to a sliding scale.  Click her to find Public Health Programs in Your Community
• Federally Qualified Health Centers provide health care on a sliding scale based on household income. Income must be below 200% of FPL. For information about clinics in the Illinois go to  http://www.accesscommunityhealth.net

Health Care Reform

Recently the Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress.  The law is being implemented over the next few years.  To keep up with some of the new options becoming available or the actual implementation of the law you can chedk out the HealthCare.gov website. 

Hospital Charity Care or Financial Assistance

Most hospitals have programs that are able to provide free or reduced cost care to individuals who meet the qualifications for the programs.  Most of these programs are mandated by law.  You have to check with your hospital to ask about these benefits.

If you want more information about the laws that check out the Illinois Hospital Association site: