Illinois bill requires hospital discounts for patients without insurance

A groundbreaking bill extending hospital discounts to people without health insurance has become law after the Illinois legislature overturned Gov. Rod Blagojevich's amendatory veto. The legislation requires hospitals to offer significant discounts to uninsured Illinoisans. Instead of paying the full sticker price—typically two to three times the actual cost of care—consumers will pay charges based on the actual cost plus a 35% markup.