Guides ยท Last reviewed October 21, 2026
Advocate Health Care (Illinois) financial assistance in 2026
Advocate's patient page lists a 100% discount for household income up to $47,880 for one person (about $99,000 for a family of four), and says to apply within 240 days of your first billing statement. Uninsured patients also get an automatic 50% discount on medically necessary services.
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Which Advocate is this?
This guide covers the financial assistance page for Advocate Health Care, the Illinois system. Advocate's larger organization also includes other health systems with their own policies, so check the policy of the hospital that billed you.
Who qualifies
Advocate says financial assistance is for patients in need, including people who are uninsured, underinsured, or facing other financial challenges. Patients who qualify may receive discounts of up to 100 percent of hospital charges, and eligible patients should not be charged more for medically necessary care than the amounts generally billed to insured patients.
2026 income table: 100% discount
Advocate's page lists the household income below which the discount is 100%:
| Family size | Federal poverty level | 100% discount for income below |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $47,880 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $64,920 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $81,960 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $99,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $116,040 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $133,080 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $150,120 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $167,160 |
| Each additional person | $5,680 | $17,040 |
Partial discounts may be available at higher incomes. Advocate's page does not list those tiers, so ask the financial assistance office what applies to you.
Other discounts to ask about
- Uninsured discount: 50% off gross charges for medically necessary services, applied automatically to uninsured patients, according to Advocate's page.
- Hardship Discount Program: for Illinois residents with a catastrophic medical event who don't qualify based on income. The remaining balance must be greater than 10% of total household income.
- Payment plan: Advocate says it can set up an extended-time payment plan for deductibles, coinsurance, and other patient balances.
How to apply
- Apply within 240 days of your first billing statement.
- Complete the Financial Assistance Application (English or Spanish), or the separate Hardship Discount Application. Paper copies are available in Advocate emergency departments and registration areas.
- Submit it through your LiveWell account under Billing, by phone at 630-645-2400, by mail (Advocate Health Care, P.O. Box 3039, Oak Brook, IL 60522), by fax at 630-645-4691, by email at SRCO-Financialassistance@aah.org, or in person with a patient financial advocate at any hospital.
- Include any supporting documents Advocate asks for. The page says you may also need to provide health insurance information and apply for government programs when applicable.
Contact numbers listed on the page: 800-3-ADVOCATE (800-323-8622) and 630-645-2400 for financial assistance.
While you wait
Keep copies of everything you send and note the date. Ask the billing office to place the account on hold while your application is reviewed. Advocate refers to a separate Billing and Collections Policy for how unpaid accounts are handled, so read it if you get a collections notice. For the federal rules that apply to nonprofit hospitals, see our hospital financial assistance guide, and to check your bill for errors first, see how to get an itemized bill.
Common questions
How long do I have to apply for Advocate financial assistance?
Advocate says to apply within 240 days of your first billing statement.
Do uninsured patients get a discount automatically at Advocate?
Advocate's page says uninsured patients receive a 50% discount off gross charges for medically necessary services, applied automatically. A larger discount may be available if you apply for financial assistance.
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Sources
- Advocate Health Care: Financial assistance for patients (reviewed October 21, 2026)
Billmira is a self-help information tool, not a law firm, and this isn't legal or medical advice. Billmira is not affiliated with or endorsed by Advocate Health Care. Policies change and differ by hospital; check the official source above and your own documents.