There's a new bill being proposed in Illinois that would force unvaccinated patients to pay for their own hospital bills - if they get infected with COVID-19.

The proposal is meant to encourage people to get vaccinated - and consider the costs of their consequences on the health care system.

One of the largest hospital groups in Illinois says the average unvaccinated person stays hospitalized three times longer than a vaccinated patient.

The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services says COVID-19 related hospitalization costs about $24,000 on average.  

The bill would require unvaccinated patients to cover COVID-19 medical costs even if they have health insurance.