Financial Assistance Policy

In the spirit of our Catholic Jesuit tradition, Loyola Medicine is committed to providing healthcare services to all patients based on medical necessity.

Loyola is committed to:

• Assisting patients who cannot pay for all or part of the care they received
• Caring for all persons, regardless of their ability to pay for services
• Providing access to quality healthcare services with compassion, dignity and respect for those we serve, particularly the poor and the underserved in our communities

For patients who require financial assistance or who experience temporary financial hardship, Loyola Medicine offers several assistance and payment options, including charity and discounted care as well as short-term and long-term payment plans.

Uninsured Patients

Loyola extends discounts to all uninsured patients who receive medically necessary services. Uninsured discount amounts are based on federal poverty level (FPL) guidelines. All medically necessary services qualify for uninsured discounts. Loyola may qualify patients based on residency requirements. 

Services such as cosmetic procedures, hearing aids and eye care that normally are not covered by insurance are priced at packaged rates with no additional discount. All payments are expected at the time of service.

Presumptive Eligibility for Uninsured Patients

Loyola offers presumptive financial assistances for uninsured patients who demonstrate one or more of the following:

1. Deceased with no estate.
2. Enrollment in the following assistance programs for low-income individuals having eligibility criteria at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines:
   
   1. Women, Infants and Children Nutritional Program (WIC)
   2. Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
   3. Illinois Free Lunch and Breakfast Program
   4. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
   5. Organized community-based program providing access to medical care that assesses and documents limited low-income financial status as a criterion for membership.
   6. Receipt of grant assistance for medical services.
3. Homelessness.
4. Medicaid eligibility, but not on date of service or for non-covered services.
5. Mental incapacitation with no one to act on the patient’s behalf.

Payment Plans

We offer extended payment plans to patients through our partner AccessOne. They offer no-interest and flexible low-interest payment plans that are tailored to your health and financial situation. Their program covers all patients regardless of credit history—and they never report to credit bureaus. Their customized payment options offer many benefits:

• No credit reporting
• Everyone is accepted
• No hidden fees
• Easy payment methods: online, phone, check, auto pay
• Combined statements that include other medical bills and family members

Their patient advocates will work with you to determine the right plan for your situation, helping you pay in regular low-monthly installments you can realistically manage. To learn more, speak to one of their Patient Advocates by calling 888-394-3133 or visit their website at www.AccessOneMedCard.com.

Financial Assistance Policy

A 100% discount for medically necessary services is available to patients who earn 200% or less of the federal poverty level guidelines. Elective services, such as cosmetic surgery, are not included in our charity program. Individuals who earn between 200 and 400% of the federal poverty level guidelines are eligible for a partial discount equal to the Medicare discount rate.

The Medicare discount rate is calculated by the Amount Generally Billed (AGB) for Loyola Medicine's ministries for each fiscal year. The current AGB calculations and discounts are listed for each ministry below:

• Loyola University Medical Center
  • Amounts Generally Billed Discount = 77.2%
  • Calculation of AGB: (Gross Reimbursement $627,721,972/Medicare Charges $813,363,061) = .772*100 = 77.2%
• Gottlieb Memorial Hospital
  • Amounts Generally Billed Discount = 80%
  • Calculation of AGB: (Gross Reimbursement $120,233,381/ Medicare Charges $150,366,626 = .799*100 = 80%
• MacNeal Hospital
  • Amounts Generally Billed Discount = 83%
  • Calculation of AGB: (Gross Reimbursement $207,742,958/ Medicare Charges $172,378,133) = .829*100 = 83%

Discounts are also available for patients who are facing catastrophic costs associated with their medical care. Catastrophic costs occur when a patient’s medical expenses for an episode of care exceed 20% of their annual income. In these cases, patient copays and deductibles may also be included in the discount.

You may read the full policies below:

• Loyola Medicine
  • English
  • Polish
  • Spanish

You can read our plain language summaries here:

• Plain language summary - English
• Plain language summary - Polish
• Plain language summary - Spanish

Applying

To apply for financial assistance, please complete and submit the application found here:

• English
• Polish
• Spanish

Copies of the application and the complete policy also can be obtained by calling Patient Financial Services at 708-216-5014 (ext. 5) or by sending a request in writing to the Patient Financial Services department. These documents are also available in the language of any population consisting of 10 percent or more of the community population the hospital serves.

• Loyola Medicine Provider Listing

Patient Financial Services

Financial Counselors are available to work with patients in completing financial assistance applications to determine what assistance is available, which includes assessing eligibility for Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchange plans. To speak with a financial counselor, please call 708-216-5014 (ext. 5).

No patient who qualifies for financial assistance will be charged more than the amounts generally billed by the hospital, which are Medicare rates.

The Health Insurance Marketplace

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires everyone legally living in the United States to have health insurance. It also gives access to health plans at different cost levels to millions of individuals with too little or no insurance. The law provides financial assistance to those who qualify based on family size and income. Please contact a financial counselor at 708-216-5014 (ext. 5) for more information.

Why some patients may not qualify

Common reasons include: *

• Loyola Medicine was out of network (3 patients).
• The patient did not live in Illinois when they received care (3 patients).
• The patient’s income was above the maximum limit for assistance (339 patients).
• The patient asked to stop the assistance or said that it was no longer needed (185 patients).
• The patient did not respond to assistance (354 patients).

* Number of patients affected from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.