What is MEDICAID?
Medicaid is a public health coverage program that is jointly administered by the federal and state governments. It covers a wide range of people, and you may know it by other names, such as All Kids, Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, CountyCare, Meridian or Molina.
Medicaid eligibility is based on several financial and non-financial factors, including household income and family size, with various additional requirements for certain populations. In Illinois, household with income of up to 138% of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive benefits. Children and pregnant persons qualify for Medicaid at higher household income levels.
Our Benefits Services Team is here to help
Email: Benefits@GoBeyondHunger.org
Phone: (708) 386-1324 ext. 1106
- Phone hours: Tuesday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Hotline: (708) 406-7295
MEDICAID IS CHANGING
Take action to keep your benefits.
On July 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a bill that includes significant changes for the Medicaid public health coverage program. While these changes are coming from the federal government, all states are required by law to implement them.
The federal government plans to implement several cuts and changes to Medicaid that may result in the loss of health insurance coverage for people who utilize this program. Most of the federal changes affecting Medicaid will not take effect right away (key changes the federal government plants to make will take place over the next 3 years.). However, Illinois has begun planning to support Medicaid customers through these changes.
The State of Illinois' primary goal will be to keep as many eligible Illinois Medicaid customers enrolled as possible.
New Mandatory Work Requirements
Impact Date: January 1st, 2027
Some adult Medicaid customers may need to report work hours or certain activities to continue receiving coverage.
New federal work requirements will, generally, apply to individuals in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion population, often referred to as ACA Adults. This group of Medicaid customers generally includes those who are:
- aged 19 - 64.
- not receiving Medicare, and,
- do not have a dependent child under 18 years old in their home.
Customers enrolled in Medicaid in Illinois as ACA adults will either need to prove they meet the new work, education or community service requirements, or claim an allowable exemption based on a circumstance or condition, in order to continue receiving coverage.
Explanation of the particular circumstances or conditions that mean a customer does not have to meet these new requirements are forthcoming.
Many other Medicaid customers (for example, individuals not in the ACA Adults group) will not be subject to work requirements.
Medicaid Redeterminations
Impact Date: January 1st, 2027
Currently, the state is required to verify Medicaid customer eligibility annually.
The new law requires that states verify eligibility for customers in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expansion population every six months.
New Medicaid Costs
Impact Date: October 1st, 2028
The law will impose new cost sharing and co-payments for some Medicaid customers within the ACA expansion population.
WHAT CAN I DO NOW?
- The most important thing Medicaid customers can do now is make sure that you have provided up-to-date contact information to the State of Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS).
- Be sure to use an address where mail always reaches you. Otherwise, you could miss correspondence and could risk losing your Medicaid coverage.
- To verify or change your contact information:
- Visit abe.illinois.gov and click 'Manage My Case', or
- Fill out the Medicaid Address Change Form.
STAY INFORMED
- Visit HFS' online Federal Resource Center for important updates about federal changes.
- Watch your mail for important communications from the Department of Healthcare and Family Services. They will communicate any upcoming coverage changes directly with Medicaid customers.