How Much Does a Collaborating Physician Cost in Illinois? (2026)
By Chris Caulfield, RN, MSN, FNP-BC · Founder & CEO, NP Collaborator
In Illinois, a collaborating physician typically costs $424–$549 per month, with a median of $498/month — based on 50+ real contracts in Illinois. Total monthly fees including physician fees, platform fees, and physician malpractice insurance. Source: NP Collaborator Fair Price Report, Edition 1, 2026.
In Illinois, a collaborating physician typically costs between $424 and $549 per month, with a median of $498/month. That median is below the national median of $549/month. These figures come from our own analysis of 50+ real signed Illinois contracts in The Fair Price for Collaboration Report — the first all-in collaboration cost study funded by the NPs and PAs who pay these fees. You can see how every state compares on our collaborating physician cost by state page.
Why does Illinois price where it does?
Illinois is our most affordable state at $498/month. It's a reduced-practice state requiring a written collaborative agreement, but the deep physician supply in the Chicago metro and surrounding regions keeps collaboration fees at the very bottom of the national range. Supply competition pushes Illinois to the floor.
Sources
Rules summarized for context; verify current requirements with the state board.
For the specific licensing and collaboration requirements in Illinois, see our Illinois collaborating physician requirements.
What moves your price within the Illinois band?
Within Illinois' Fair Price Band, you move toward the lower end in the Chicago metro and suburbs where physician supply is deepest and most competitive, or when your collaborative agreement terms are straightforward. You move toward the upper end in rural Southern or Central Illinois where physician availability is thinner, or when your practice requires complex chart review or specialty oversight.
Fair Price Band = 25th–75th percentile of real signed contracts.
Illinois vs national: how does the cost compare?
Illinois's median monthly cost is below the national median, and its Fair Price Band sits within the national range. Here is the side-by-side.
| Metric | Illinois | National |
|---|---|---|
| Fair Price Band (25th–75th percentile) | $424–$549/mo | $499–$599/mo |
| Median monthly cost | $498/mo | $549/mo |
| Sample size | 50+ actual contracts | 2,000+ actual contracts |
How Illinois compares to similar states
Looking at other states with similar collaborating physician costs can give you a better sense of regional pricing patterns. Here are states with the closest median fees to Illinois's $498/month.
How do you know your Illinois quote is fair?
- The quote sits above Illinois's 75th percentile of $549/month with no stated reason.
- Physician malpractice insurance is excluded from the monthly fee (or left unclear).
- There are no written chart-review terms — cadence, volume, or turnaround.
- A one-time match or onboarding fee is not disclosed up front.
- The all-in monthly cost isn't put in writing against Illinois's $424–$549/mo band.
Collaborating physician cost in Illinois: FAQs
How much does a collaborating physician cost in Illinois?
In Illinois, a collaborating physician typically costs $424–$549 per month, with a median of $498/month, based on 50+ real contracts in Illinois. Total monthly fees including physician fees, platform fees, and physician malpractice insurance.
What is a fair price for a collaborating physician in Illinois?
A fair Illinois quote falls within that state's Fair Price Band of $424–$549/month, centered on a median of $498/month. A quote above $549/month with no stated reason is worth questioning.
Is a collaborating physician more expensive in Illinois than the national average?
Illinois's median of $498/month is below the national median of $549/month. Nationally, most nurse practitioners pay $499–$599/month.
Does the Illinois collaborating physician cost include malpractice insurance?
In our data it does — the Illinois figures reflect the total monthly fees including physician fees, platform fees, and physician malpractice insurance. Confirm in writing whether any specific quote bundles physician malpractice coverage.
How many contracts is the Illinois Fair Price data based on?
The Illinois figures are based on 50+ real signed contracts analyzed for the NP Collaborator Fair Price Report, Edition 1, 2026. We band sample counts rather than publishing exact totals.
Collaborating physicians available in Illinois now
Live, transparent listings — malpractice included, no startup fees. Prices below reflect real Illinois collaboration agreements. See all Illinois collaborating physicians →
76+ verified physicians · Fees $424–$1,199/mo · malpractice included
Licensed to collaborate with Illinois nurse practitioners
Licensed to collaborate with Illinois nurse practitioners
Licensed to collaborate with Illinois nurse practitioners
Licensed to collaborate with Illinois nurse practitioners
Browse collaborating physician listings in Illinois
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Last updated: August 18, 2026 · NP Collaborator Fair Price Report, Edition 1, 2026